Midnight Escape
Flora kept looking back in the direction of the front yard, only picking up her pace and catching up with Robin once she saw that no one was following.
Finally, they arrived at the old plum tree. Robin pointed at the trunk and whispered to Flora, "I always go out from here. Give it a try and see if you can get out."
Flora looked up at the tree, which was two heads taller than herself. Honestly, it was a bit challenging for her to climb up. She had never learned to climb trees when she was a child, and now she regretted not having acquired that skill.
"I can't climb up!" Flora said with a drooping face, looking at Robin with a helpless expression.
Robin rolled his eyes in annoyance and muttered, "Useless. Watch me." With that, he grabbed the thick tree trunk and started climbing up like a monkey, displaying his nimble and agile movements.
Flora watched him with admiration, but she had no idea how to perform such a high-level maneuver.
Looking around, she noticed a few lounge chairs not far from the swimming pool. She thought about dragging one over to give herself a boost; maybe that would help.
"Little Young Master," a respectful male voice suddenly echoed in the night.
Flora was startled, and Robin was even more terrified, letting out a surprised scream as he slipped and tumbled to the ground. Flora gasped and instinctively reached out to catch him as he fell.
The result was that they both ended up rolling on the ground, making wolf-like howling noises.
The man outside the wall didn't anticipate that he would startle Little Young Master and quickly climbed over the wall, rushing to Robin's side with concern, "Little Young Master, are you alright?"
Upon hearing the noise, other black-clad individuals quickly rushed over. Flora's mind went blank, and she thought, "This is bad!"
Robin rubbed his sore bottom with his hand and glared at the black-clad man who had startled him, saying irritably, "You scared me like that. Do you think I'll be okay? I'm going to tell my big brother!"
The black-clad man nervously nodded and kept apologizing. Even though Maxwell had ordered him to guard this place well tonight, he had terrified the little master. He felt like he needed to offer ten lives to make up for it. If only he hadn't spoken and simply brought him down right away!
Robin got up from the ground, brushed off the grass from his pants, and reached out to help the bewildered Flora to her feet. He said to the black-clad men, "Enough, now you all can leave. We're going for a walk."
"But…" The black-clad man hesitated and stood his ground. Maxwell had predicted that Miss White might try to escape tonight, which was why he ordered him to guard this place strictly. He couldn't let Robin go out, especially not Flora!
Flora was bewildered as she looked at Robin and then glanced at the group of black-clad men surrounding her. Was this kid going to take her outside? Did he have the ability to do so? She hoped more than anything that he did!
Unfortunately, fate doesn't always comply with our wishes. Flora had been doomed from an early age.
"Robin, go back to the room immediately!" A ghostly voice sliced through the stillness of the night. It wasn't loud, but it sent shivers down one's spine.
The black-clad men automatically stepped aside, and Flora saw that tall, handsome figure standing just a few steps away. He was using his ever-evil gaze to appraise her. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered what kind of torment awaited her next because Maxwell had countless strange and cruel ways of torturing her.
"Big Brother, we just wanted to go out to stargaze," Robin anxiously explained.
Flora gave him a grateful look, surprised that he was helping her. He was, after all, just a child—innocent and kind, unlike the devil standing before them. He was the only normal person she had encountered at this mansion.
"The stars inside the courtyard and outside the courtyard look the same. There's no need to sneak out to see them. Go back and sleep!" Maxwell's cold voice clearly showed his displeasure.
A black-clad man led Robin away. As he left, Robin turned back to look at Flora with a worried expression in his beautiful eyes.
Once Robin was out of sight, Maxwell lowered his head and sneered at Flora.
"Miss White, did you really sneak out just to stargaze?"
Flora looked at him defiantly and replied calmly, "You don't need to waste your words here. If you want to kill or harm me, go ahead. I may have fallen into your hands in this lifetime, which is my misfortune, but I won't beg you to spare me."
"Very well, quite spirited!" Maxwell lifted the corners of his lips slightly, giving her a dreamy smile and sneering, "Miss White, I must tell you that you are overly naive. Do you think you can escape from our Smith Family?"
"Even if there's only a one-in-a-million chance, I'm willing to try!" Even if it meant facing the likely humiliation and abuse that could lead to her death.
Maxwell chuckled, glaring at her, "Since you've already tried, should you now consider staying peacefully in the Smith family? Miss White, your ability to win people over is quite remarkable. You even managed to persuade Robin to help you escape."
Escape?!
Just the thought of this word filled Maxwell with anger. This audacious woman dared to play the escape game with him? Did she not want to live anymore? Since she seemed to dislike living a peaceful life, he would spice up her existence!
Flora fearlessly gazed at him and taunted, "It's not my cunning but the fact that Robin has a conscience. Unlike you, who are so brutal, like a bloodthirsty demon, twisted and enjoying tormenting others. Maxwell, your heart has become so distorted and inhuman that you will forever live in hatred and never find happiness. Someday, you will drown in the world of hatred that you have woven for yourself!"
She didn't know where his hatred originated from, or even the relationship between him and Joshua. She couldn't understand why he allowed Joshua to harm her at will, yet wouldn't allow her to break free from the marriage. Maxwell Smith was too domineering!