Chapter 263: Max angrily rebuked Lily

**【Max's Perspective】**

I spotted Lily as soon as I approached the dining room. She rose immediately from her seat, a practiced smile spreading across her face.

"Max, good morning!" she called out cheerfully.

I halted mid-step, my expression darkening as I studied her. After several seconds of tense silence, I finally spoke.

"Was I unclear, or do you simply not understand English?" My voice was dangerously low.

Lily's smile faltered slightly, but her stance remained firm. "Max, I don't need a vacation."

"Then move out of this house," I replied without hesitation.

"But the commute would be so inconvenient," she protested in a hushed tone. "Kevin gets to live here—why am I the only one being forced to leave?"

Elizabeth, who had been observing our exchange with interest, quickly interjected: "Max, Morrison manor is enormous. We could house ten more assistants with room to spare. Why are you evicting your own assistant?"

I felt my irritation mounting as I observed Lily's wounded expression. Before I could formulate a response, a burst of laughter from the dining table caught my attention. Robert had apparently shared some joke that had everyone in stitches.

My eyes lingered on the scene, particularly on Luna seated among my brothers, before turning back to Lily with renewed resolve.

"Vacation. Move out. That's an order." Without waiting for her response, I strode purposefully toward the dining table.

Behind me, I heard Lily mutter stubbornly, "I don't want a vacation."

I ignored her completely.

---

"Good morning," I announced as I approached the table, drawing everyone's attention.

I immediately noticed how Luna's smile vanished at the sound of my voice. She kept her gaze fixed on her plate, continuing to eat as though I hadn't appeared.

I hesitated briefly when I saw how she was flanked by John and Robert. As I contemplated where to sit, John promptly stood.

"Morning, little brother. Here, take my seat," he offered genially.

Luna's hand shot out, catching John's wrist. "John, please stay right here."

John looked at me, confusion evident in his expression.

Robert, misinterpreting Luna's gesture, began to rise, only to be stopped when she grasped his sleeve, silently urging him to remain seated.

An awkward tension descended over the table as my brothers exchanged glances, clearly sensing the undercurrent between Luna and me.

I moved to take the seat beside Thomas instead, positioning myself diagonally across from Luna. I fixed my gaze on her.

My brothers hadn't failed to notice how Luna had kept her head lowered since my arrival, her earlier cheerfulness completely extinguished.

John, attempting to ease the strained atmosphere, asked brightly, "Your son is over a month old now. Have you decided on a name? Will he be a Morrison? What will you call him?"

I continued to watch Luna steadily, barely acknowledging when Edmund placed my breakfast before me.

After a moment's consideration, Luna replied flatly, "Whatever."

John's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Whatever Morrison?"

Robert chuckled. "That's a rather... casual name choice."

Thomas patted my shoulder. "You're on board with this too?"

I pressed my lips together in a bitter line, offering no response.

"No, that's not what I meant," Luna clarified hastily. "I meant, whatever name is fine."

"So you two haven't discussed naming your child yet?" John asked, perplexed.

Luna looked up nervously, her eyes momentarily meeting mine before she quickly looked away, clearly disturbed by the intensity she found there.

Neither of us answered John's question. The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken tension, my brothers clearly uncomfortable with the obvious strain between us. Everyone recognized the abnormality of our situation.

Just as the atmosphere threatened to become unbearable, Lily approached, tablet in hand.

"Max, I've arranged today's schedule for you," she announced, positioning herself beside me.

I noticed Luna freeze mid-bite, her expression immediately darkening. She set down her fork and stood abruptly.

"I'm finished. Please, continue without me," she stated coldly before walking away.

My brothers watched her retreat with concern, noting that she'd barely touched her meal.

"Why did she eat so little today?" John called after her, but received no answer as Luna disappeared from view.

In that moment, I understood with perfect clarity—it wasn't me Luna was avoiding, but Lily. The realization fueled my already simmering anger.

I drew a deep breath, struggling to contain my fury as I addressed Lily. "Lily, are you treating my orders as a joke?"

"Is it wrong to not want a vacation?" she replied, her voice small and wounded.

I closed my eyes, feeling my face flush with anger as I clenched my fist on the table, veins prominent against my skin.

I finally grasped why Lily had been so resistant to my orders—she believed herself untouchable, ignoring even the CEO's direct commands. No wonder Luna found her presence so intolerable.

My eyes snapped open, cold and severe. "Margot," I called sharply to the head maid, "pack Lily's belongings immediately and have the driver take her home."

Everyone at the table started at my tone.

"Yes, sir," Margot responded nervously before hurrying upstairs to execute my order.

Lily bit her lip, eyes glistening with unshed tears, the picture of injured innocence.

I rose from my chair, sliding my hands into my pockets as I delivered my verdict with icy detachment. "Kevin will take over all your responsibilities. Within a month, you'll be reassigned to a new position."

"Max?" Lily's voice trembled with emotion. "Is this because of Luna? Since when did you start mixing personal feelings with professional decisions?"

A cold laugh escaped me. "And you haven't interfered in my personal affairs? Have you maintained that professional boundary yourself?"

"That's because—" Lily began heatedly before glancing around, suddenly aware of the audience watching her display emotions hardly befitting an employee addressing her superior.

"Because what?" John prompted, curiosity evident in his tone.

Lily's chest heaved with agitation, her breathing uneven as she finally unleashed her grievances. "Because Luna isn't worthy of Max! She can't help him in life or work. I only stepped in and did extra because she was so inadequate!"

"Lily does have a point," Elizabeth agreed readily.

My expression darkened further as I fixed Lily with a piercing glare, my voice dropping to a dangerous timbre. "You know her so well, do you? So certain of your assessment?"

"I—" Lily attempted to defend herself.

"You know nothing about her," I cut her off sharply. "She married beneath herself. If we're discussing worthiness, I'm the one who doesn't deserve her. Regardless, our marriage is not subject to commentary from outsiders like you."

Lily lowered her head, hands clenched into fists, her expression so pitifully wounded that my brothers began shooting me disapproving looks for my harsh treatment of an employee.

I turned away from the table, taking two steps before pausing without looking back. "And stop pretending to be my friend. From now on, my only desire regarding you is to maintain distance."

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances as Lily began to cry quietly.

Elizabeth, unable to remain silent, approached me. "Max, Lily hasn't really done anything wrong. You're—"

My cold glare silenced her instantly. "Elizabeth, mind your own business."

She flinched at my tone, her objection dying in her throat.

Without another word, I strode from the room.

---

Outside the mansion, I found Kevin waiting beside the car.

"Good morning, Mr. Morrison," he greeted politely.

I scanned the driveway, noting a vehicle missing. "Where is my wife?"

"Mrs. Morrison just left with Violet," Kevin replied.

"Follow them," I ordered immediately, sliding into the passenger seat.

As Kevin started the engine, he ventured cautiously, "Sir, has something happened?"

"She hacked into the spa center's surveillance system," I explained, unable to keep the worry from my voice. "She's investigating Lily."

Kevin's brow furrowed in confusion. "What's there to investigate about Lily?"

"That's not the issue," I replied. "What matters is that she's uncovered something and intends to dig deeper."

"Mr. Morrison, are you concerned she might interfere with our plans?" Kevin asked carefully.

I remained silent, staring out the window as the mansion receded behind us.

The truth was, I cared little about our operational plans—those could always be adjusted. What truly terrified me was the thought of Luna encountering the same danger Lily had faced. The spa center had proven itself a dangerous location once before, when Lily was kidnapped during her investigation. I couldn't bear the thought of Luna placing herself in similar jeopardy.

I only hoped I wasn't already too late.