"You’re planning to show kindness to the Johnston Family and ally with them to deal with the Miller Family?"
In the hotel, Shirley Miller, wearing a bathrobe that exposed her pale legs, sat opposite Carson Flores.
Having lived together for a while, Shirley Miller now felt no discomfort sitting in front of Carson Flores in a bathrobe.
Shirley Miller could have gone straight to Carson Flores’ room when she returned, but she chose to go to her own room first, take a bath, change into a bathrobe, and then head to Carson Flores’ room.
Subconsciously, Shirley Miller didn’t want to give Carson Flores the impression that she was ’keeping a distance from him,’ as their encounters were usually in the bedroom, both of them dressed in sleepwear.
Even now, staying in a hotel, Shirley Miller didn’t want to break that atmosphere.
If she were dressed in a formal work outfit, it would always seem too detached, as if discussing work matters, rather than a casual exchange between two closely related individuals.
Carson Flores didn’t think much of it; after all, wasn’t this how they used to be at home?
Although Shirley Miller’s sleepwear was more conservative, wearing a bathrobe in a hotel was quite normal, wasn’t it?
Carson Flores, drying his hair and sitting on the edge of the bed, casually answered, "Yeah, I’ve been considering that. Since we met by chance, helping them is helping ourselves, right?"
Shirley Miller’s eyes sparkled: "The strength of the Johnston Family is very formidable, in no way inferior to the Miller Family. Moreover, the Miller Family’s main influence is in the business world, but the Johnston Family has huge influence in the military, political, and business sectors."
Carson Flores smiled and said, "We don’t need to have too clear a purpose. It’s always right to save someone when it’s convenient, and to make more friends. The more friends we have, the less isolated we’ll be when we finally deal with the Miller Family, and we can attack from more angles."
Shirley Miller smiled and said, "Anyway, I’ll listen to you."
Carson Flores smiled and asked, "What are your plans for Eithan Fuentes and his group?"
Shirley Miller sought Carson Flores’ opinion: "Since Remy Johnston has already instructed us and the favor is now owed, we can’t let it go to waste. We will find out how much they have embezzled from the company, make them spit it all out, give them a beating, and dump them at the company doorstep as a warning to others. What do you think?"
Carson Flores was slightly surprised: "Sounds good to me. I thought you were going to insist on following procedures to deal with them."
Shirley Miller pouted, giving Carson Flores a white look: "Do you think I’m that inflexible? If everyone is more afraid of the underground rules, then it’s better to use those to intimidate them. We wouldn’t talk about it if we didn’t have the means, but now that we do, I will certainly go ahead with it."
Pausing, Shirley Miller stared at Carson Flores: "I’ve realized that since you came along and I went through all these things, I’ve seen another set of rules in the world and learned quite a lot. I’ve matured quite a bit."
Carson Flores chuckled: "The rules of this world are not that clear-cut, filled with all kinds of negatives."
Shirley Miller shook her head: "Knowing a little more is always better. If it hadn’t been for you this time, when the Miller Group acquired the pharmaceutical factory, it would probably have been difficult to correct the prevailing practices there, and they might even have been extorted for protection money. There are many bright places in this world, but there are just as many dark ones."
Carson Flores responded offhandedly: "Where there’s light in the front, there naturally has to be shadows and darkness behind. It’s inevitable."
Shirley Miller leaned against the headboard, propping up her body, while Carson Flores threw a pillow over: "Why sit so formally? Lean back; it’s more comfortable to chat that way."
Shirley Miller uttered an "Mhm," arranged the pillow, then lifted her legs to lean back against the headboard. In that moment of lifting her legs, the hem of the bathrobe suddenly parted.
Carson Flores, who was already watching Shirley Miller, naturally glanced over and then caught sight of the enticing view beneath the bathrobe.
Carson Flores quickly averted his eyes, and Shirley Miller’s face turned crimson in an instant. She quickly pulled over the robe to cover her pale thighs, as well as the view that had inadvertently been exposed.
Shirley Miller glared at Carson Flores accusingly: "You did that on purpose!"
Embarrassed, Carson Flores just smiled: "It was all in good faith, an accident, an accident. I didn’t see anything!"
Shirley Miller snorted: "As if I’d believe you!"
Carson Flores laughed it off: "Hey, we’ve been living together in one room for so long; a little accident is normal, right?"
A sudden impulse surged in Shirley Miller’s heart as she asked softly, "You’ve had... quite a few women before, haven’t you?"
Carson Flores hadn’t expected Shirley Miller to ask such a sensitive question. He hesitated for a moment, then answered honestly: "Yes."
At his age, if he hadn’t been with a few women, that would have been quite sad.
Carson Flores didn’t say this out loud because from what he observed, Shirley Miller was probably still pure and untouched, never having had a boyfriend, let alone sexual experiences.
If he said it out loud, he would be fine, but wouldn’t that be mocking Shirley Miller?
Shirley Miller asked: "Girlfriends?"
Carson Flores shook his head, frankly responding: "I’ve never had a girlfriend. I used to travel abroad a lot, engage in casual hook-ups, perhaps to satisfy physical needs. We’re under a lot of stress too, sometimes we need a release... well, that’s about it."
With a red face, Shirley Miller looked down, not daring to meet Carson Flores’ eyes: "Is it... very difficult for you, very sad, to live together with me?"