?Chapter 356:


    Maia set the fork down and gave a small, amused grin. “Not bad. You might actually be some kind of cooking genius,” she said.


    Chris’ whole face brightened like a kid on Christmas morning. He lifted an eyebrow and joked, “Making my wife happy is what I live for.”


    Maia didn’t waste her breath answering his cheesy flirting. She got to her feet, ready to head back to her room. But when she was halfway there, a thought popped into her mind. She stopped, turned around, and asked, “Have you been to the hospital for a check-uptely?”


    Chris froze for just a moment. Then he leaned back casually against the table, tilting his head to the side, azy grin tugging at his mouth.


    “Are you worried about me?” he asked.


    Maia shot back without missing a beat, “No.”


    She didn’t even pause. A single moment of doubt would have spilled her true feelings.


    All she cared about was making sure that nothing bad happened to Chris. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to carry out Zoey’s orders. That was it.


    Chris clutched at his chest like he’d been stabbed.


    “I thought you’d at least stop and think for a second. Didn’t expect you to shut me down so fast,” he said with a mock pout. He let out a loud, theatrical sigh. “Well, orders are orders. Guess that’s what life’s like for a guy who’s officially a kept man now.”


    He chuckled under his breath, full of mischief.


    But Maia’s mood flipped in a heartbeat. Her eyes turned cold and sharp as knives as she locked her gaze on him.


    “Is living off a woman really that much fun? You seem like you’ve had plenty of practice. Or have you had lots of employers before?”


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    Chris looked into Maia’s cool, sharp eyes and raised a browzily.


    “I’ve only ever been employed by one woman. And you know what? I’m not her secret lover, but a legal husband.”


    Maia found herself at a loss for words. It dawned on her that Chris was, without a doubt, talking about her. Flirting seemed second nature to Chris; he always knew how to charm women effortlessly!


    As she recalled the texts on his phone and the woman he had flirted with at the dance hall, a wave of anger bubbled up inside her. Throwing Chris a sharp look, she snapped, “If you keep flirting with women like this, your headache will only grow worse!”


    Chris let out an easyugh and teased, “No need to worry. You’re the only woman I’ll flirt with because I’m all yours. And I do believe you’ll treat my headache.”


    Maia’s irritation spiked. His shamelessness truly knew no bounds, leaving herpletely speechless.


    But she had given Zoey, her mentor and the one she respected most, her word. She had promised to help Chris rise to the top of the Cooper family. Until that mission wasplete, Chris’ health couldn’t be neglected, no matter how much he tested her patience.


    Once her responsibility ended, Chris’ fate would no longer matter to her. Whether he thrived or fell would be his own problem.


    Clinging to that thought, Maia forced herself to smile and faced Chris calmly. “Since you’re living under my roof now, I guess that means I get to call the shots, right?”


    Chris gave an agreeable nod. “Yeah, sure.”


    “Good. Then you’re going to the hospital for a full check-up, no excuses,” Maia ordered.


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