The Billionaire's Genius Wife

Maggie was utterly stunned.

"And, I could guess, at this moment, he wants to move on from his past... and this is your chance," Scarlett continued.

"How are you sure about that? I mean, do you know the woman he loves?" Maggie asked.

Scarlett couldn't help but smile while looking at Maggie before saying, "Of course I know, the woman Francis likes is right in front of you..."

Maggie closed her mouth with her hand, too shocked.

"Oh? Didn't you already know?" Scarlett asked.

Maggie shook her head, "So far, I've only guessed. But I don't have proof. Because Francis never talks about the woman he likes..."

"Well, it was me. His father, Grandpa Robert, tried to set us up. Still, I rejected the idea," Scarlett smiled when she saw Maggie's eyes widen, looking at her as if she was amazed. "So, you don't have to worry about me, sis, because I never had romantic feelings for Francis. To me, he is only an older brother..."

Maggie nodded faintly. However, her face slowly turned serious again.

"Scarlett, I want to apologize to you..." Maggie breathed deeply, feeling her chest tighten with guilt for Scarlett.

After a few seconds, she continued, "—I thought you were my love rival. I even asked someone to investigate you after our encounter at the hospital. Because I wanted to know about you. However, my investigation led me to the shocking information about your relationship with my father..." 

Scarlett smiled faintly at Maggie. She already knew about it. But she just let it go because she somehow felt that Maggie was not a threat to her.

"Sister Maggie, it seems we must stop talking about this now..." Scarlett said, reminding Maggie. When she saw her nod, she continued her conversation about Francis, "Do you want to know why I asked you to stop contacting Francis?" 

Maggie immediately nodded. She was very curious about Scarlett's idea because it sounded strange.

"Well, I know Francis is an icy, quiet person. So, he doesn't like women who easily express their feelings for him. He's not the type of man who likes that kind of woman..."

Maggie still couldn't understand her, but she didn't ask Scarlett anything. She just listened carefully.

"Mmm... Simply put, Francis didn't find excitement in you because you chased him. Because he is the type of man who will be passionate if he pursues a woman he is interested in." Scarlett paused when she saw Maggie's mouth form an O shape. "Sis, now, do you understand what I mean, right?"

Maggie nodded. "My goodness! So, I never succeeded because, in Francis's eyes, I'm not a challenge for him?" It was hard for her to believe this.

"Yeah, it's likely... That's why I suggest you stop doing anything you usually do with him. He will notice the change and start showing interest in you..." Scarlett said.

Even though Scarlett wasn't sure if this would help, it was worth trying, right? Besides, she didn't make this up to make Maggie happy; this was what she had heard from her colleagues in The Fox when they talked about women. A few of them didn't like it when a girl chased them.

She also planned to try to speak highly of Maggie to Francis. This may lead Francis to consider giving Maggie a chance.

****

While Scarlett and Maggie talked in the living room, Xander and Theodor were anxious in the library. 

Since then, they hadn't said much about anything but had kept their ears open and listened to the occasional commotion from the living room. But after a few minutes passed by, nothing happened. They could relax for a few more minutes.

However, Theodor couldn't hold it. He looked at Xander, whose eyes were closed while leaning on the recliner near the window facing the lake behind.

Theodor walked toward Xander and stood a few steps from him. "Xander, why are you letting them talk alone? What if they're fighting? What if Maggie hurts Scarlett?" he asked, sounding worried.

Xander frowned upon hearing Theodor's question. He slowly opened his eyes and stared back at him. "Theodor, did you forget who my wife is?"

Suddenly, Theodor's worry slowly faded as he remembered who Scarlett was; she was a member of The Fox and could kill someone without batting her eyelids. 

'Indeed, if they were to fight, Maggie wouldn't stand a chance; Scarlett would defeat her effortlessly...' Theodor chuckled inwardly.

When Xander didn't hear Theodor respond to his words, he stood up from the recliner, walked closer to Theodor, and stopped a few steps away from him. 

"And you! How dare you lie to me?" He asked, staring sharply at his eyes as if he wanted to punch Theo with his gaze. 

Seeing Xander's attitude change from being okay to being irritated and angry with him made Theodor confused. And hearing his words only added to his confusion. "Lie? Lie about what?"

Xander ignored his question and issued another threat, "Theodor Parker, this is your last chance to speak honestly to me. Tell me what you are hiding from me before I take matters into my own hands. Think carefully before you speak!"

Seeing Xander's seriousness, Theodor once again tried to recall what incident he had been hiding from his best friend. A few seconds later, images from the past, when he had pursued Scarlett for her talent as a hacker, resurfaced in his mind.

Slowly, Theodor's expression changed from confusion to tension, then to worry, and finally, regret was evident in his eyes.

"Xander Riley, my dear best friend..." Theodor tried to be as polite as he could. "I apologize to you for my stupidity in the past! That time, I didn't mean to push her to the point where she was hiding from the world, from me, just because I needed her talent—"

"No! Not because of that," Xander interrupted.

Theodore appeared confused as he scratched his head and asked, "Huh!? Another reason?" 

Xander didn't bother to reply to him. He simply fixed him with a chilling gaze.

Theodor frowned again, trying to rack his brain and figure out what he had missed. It didn't take him long to realize what Xander meant.

'Bloody hell! How did he find out about my past feelings for Scarlett?'

Theodor silently gulped and said, "Xander, I have to go now! I forgot that my father summoned me for a meeting... bye!" He flashed his awkward grin before hurriedly reaching the door to escape Xander's wrath.