Chapter 183: Chapter 171: A Tough Guy Pouting

The group was still heading toward the other half of the villa district when Morgan Sterling appeared before them with a graceful woman at his side.

"Flora Bloom, Mr. Bloom, where are you all headed? Since you’re in the villa district, why not stop by my place for a visit?" Morgan Sterling smiled at Flora Bloom with practiced familiarity. "I remember you liked milk last time, so I brought two cans for you."

Flora was lolling lazily in Lex Cross’s arms. Seeing that Morgan Sterling’s enthusiasm was a bit over the top, she quickly said, "There’s no need to stop by, but you can just have the milk sent to where I’m staying."

At Morgan Sterling’s arrival, Lex Cross’s brow furrowed and then smoothed in an instant. He glanced down at the woman in his arms. ’She likes milk? Excellent!’

"Don’t bother sending the milk. And you don’t need to come over, either."

Hearing the composed yet aloof words from the strange man before him, Morgan Sterling’s expression darkened for a moment, but he was soon smiling again. He watched Flora Bloom being held in this man’s arms, then began to size him up carefully.

Never mind his face—his physique alone was enough to make another man envious. He possessed an unyielding strength and radiated a dangerous, keep-your-distance aura.

"Oh? And this is?"

Morgan Sterling spoke with the air of a self-proclaimed host, as if Lex Cross were the uninvited guest.

"Sir, I’ll take Flora to rest first. I’ll leave this to you," Lex Cross said, glancing at Sherman Lynch to signal him to continue leading the way. He paid no mind to Morgan Sterling, not even bothering to spare a glance for the man left standing there awkwardly.

Flora wanted to look back. ’He has to send the milk, right?’ Too bad Morgan Sterling couldn’t hear her inner plea.

She hadn’t collected much milk in her storage space to begin with. If she wanted more in the future, she’d probably have to find an unmutated cow.

Milk has a short shelf life. The more time passed, the less value many of the items in the supermarkets held.

Only Lex Cross noticed Flora restlessly craning her neck to look at another man, and he suddenly quickened his pace.

Finally, led by Sherman Lynch, the group arrived at the other villa district, an area separated from the first by a single wall. Everyone had come along except for Caleb Bloom and Ethan Monroe, who remained behind to speak with Morgan Sterling.

As soon as they passed through the only ajar metal gate in the dividing wall, the grass, wildflowers, and large trees on both sides of the lawn seemed to sense Flora Bloom’s arrival, swaying gently in welcome.

In a large tree on the lawn, a huge beehive swayed slightly. A bee the size of a human head flew out and circled Flora Bloom twice, but after the man holding its master gave it an impatient glare, it wisely departed.

When the group arrived, it was as if they had entered a different world. The air was crisp and carried the natural fragrance of wildflowers. The moment they arrived, they felt invigorated.

The air here was fresher than it had ever been, even before the apocalypse.

"This part of the villa district hasn’t been cleared out since the apocalypse. Although there isn’t much danger anymore, everyone should still be careful. You can all choose which house to live in near these two lawns. Also, if you’re willing, you can organize yourselves to scavenge for useful items. Oh, right, and whatever you do, don’t leave the villa district."

Hearing Flora’s words, everyone smiled and went their separate ways. Ethan Monroe, carrying the still-unconscious man, walked with Shauna Wallace toward a villa on one side of the lawns.

Cynthia Grant shot Flora a suggestive look, her eyes darting to Lex Cross. She waggled her eyebrows, making it painfully obvious what was on her mind.

Jade was also beaming as she looked at the two of them, and she dragged Cynthia Grant along with her as she left.

Breathing in the fresh air, and with everyone now gone to pick out their houses, Flora pulled a bottle of water from thin air and started drinking.

The spiritual water flowed into her stomach, instantly reviving her.

"I’m fine now. You can put me down!"

Lex Cross studied her carefully, and only after confirming that the color had returned to her face did he slowly set her down.

The Crown Prince and the lynx tactfully made themselves scarce.

On the stone path between the two lawns, only Lex Cross and Flora Bloom remained.

Seeing Jade glance back at her and Lex with that knowing smile, Flora didn’t know what to say. ’My own mother sees her daughter being carried around by a strange man and doesn’t say a word? Instead, she just scampers off, snickering? What’s that supposed to mean?’

"Um, I need to find my mom. We just moved in, and I have to get my room sorted out. If you don’t mind, just find a villa for yourself." She said this while clutching her lower abdomen, preparing to make a quick escape. ’I can’t see through his power at all. If he’s at the Middle Level and tries to sense things intentionally, he might discover Polly Bloom’s existence.’

"Alright."

Lex Cross watched her retreating back, his gaze lowered slightly as he agreed quietly.

After a few steps, Flora noticed there was no sound of footsteps behind her—not a single stir. Confused, she turned to look.

’Good lord. He had the air of a tough guy, but his face was devastatingly handsome, almost demonic. He knew I’d turn to look, yet he just stood there, motionless.’

His sharp, sexy jawline was tilted up slightly as he gazed at the beehive in a nearby tree. His thin lips were pressed together in what looked like a pout.

’Deep breath. I’ve been reborn. How can I let myself be swayed by a handsome face?’

For some reason, the two damn lawns began to sway, their blades dancing toward the stone path as if applauding them. And as if that wasn’t enough to set the mood, a light breeze carried the unique scent of wildflowers to her, a fragrance so pleasant it made her relax in spite of herself.

Lex Cross suddenly met her gaze. He blinked—a seemingly natural gesture—but somehow, Flora saw a flicker of hurt in his eyes.

His brows arched rebelliously over his high brow bone. His lashes, though not especially long, were thicker than hers, and beneath them, the vortexes in his eyes were so deep it felt as though they would swallow her whole in the next second.

"I had such a hard time getting here from Argent."

SNAP! In that moment, his deep, magnetic voice seemed to snap the last, paper-thin layer of her defenses.

He continued, "Even if we were just ordinary friends, you’d offer some kind of welcome, wouldn’t you?"

’A tough guy trying to act pitiful isn’t so bad. But a handsome tough guy acting pitiful? That’s lethal.’

’And the worst part is, could you even call it acting pitiful? His tone was clearly cold, complaining. Yet it was paired with that dark, devilish gleam in his eyes that completely drew you in. He wasn’t just being pitiful; he was being proud and pitiful at the same time, and it was going to be the death of me.’

"Flora, do you really hate me that much?"

Looking at the hurt expression on the tough guy’s face after his little act, Flora was suddenly at a loss for words.

’Should I tell him I’m afraid he’ll find out I’m pregnant and try to take the baby from me when it’s born? Or is the truth that I’m simply afraid of getting into another relationship?’

’Once bitten, twice shy.’

’Lex Cross wasn’t a snake. He was something far more terrifying—a colossal direwolf, a predator who knew how to lure its prey, tempting her at every single moment.’

At this thought, the frantic pounding of her heart subsided, returning to a fragile calm. Flora offered a faint smile, her expression carefully neutral, as if she were completely unaffected by him.

"No, I don’t hate you at all."

Hearing her words, Lex Cross suddenly closed the distance between them. He stepped to her side and looked down into her carefully guarded eyes.