Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
Flossie cleared her throat awkwardly at the door.
Halston’s eyes opened slowly, and he turned to the doorway. His eyes immediately lit up but he quickly pretended to look aloof as he asked Flossie icily, “What are you doing here? Did you come to see if I’d died? Or are you here to finish the job?
“What are you saying?” Flossie asked sweetly as she shamelessly walked into the ward. “Would I get you supplements if I wanted you dead? I came to see you.”
“You came to see if I was dead, right?” Halston coughed twice, his large frame shuddering with the effort. Although he was not as cold and domineering as he usually was, he was still quite distant.
Flossie found it annoying.
“Yeah, that’s right. Since you’re alive, you should take revenge on me. If word gets out that you’re hospitalized because you were strangled by a woman, it’ll be very humiliating,” Flossie said mockingly as she pulled a chair out and sat beside his bed.
“How can you say that when I’m so weak? You’re merciless.” Although he said so, he didn’t seem overly bothered by it. He pursed his lips and demanded, “I’m hungry. Peel some fruits for me.”
Flossie was dumbstruck. ‘He doesn’t see me as an outsider at all.’ However, she had to do it since she was going to ask for his help later.
“How do you know my favorite fruit is kiwi? We must be quite close if you know that much,” Halston remarked casually as he smiled and ate his kiwi.
“Yes, you’re right. You nearly killed my brother, and I nearly killed you. That must make us close, right?” Flossie rolled her eyes and said.
“That’s right, so we’re even now. Can we let bygones be bygones and just move on?” Halston suddenly demanded, which reminded Flossie of Jovan’s shameless behaviour. It seemed like after Halston received Jovan’s blood, he inherited some of his characteristics too.
“I nearly broke your neck but you’re forgiving me so easily? Are you still the petty man I knew?” Raising her brows, Flossie asked.
“What about you? Do you forgive me?” Halston asked instead.
But Flossie averted her gaze and said nothing.
“Why aren’t you answering my question?” Halston smiled and urged, “Do you still hate me or have you forgiven me? Tell me.”
Flossie looked up and met his gaze. “Is it important?”
“Yes, it is.” Halston nodded eagerly. Something strange was happening to him these days-it was like
Flossie had taken over his mind. Sometimes, blurred scenes would flash in his mind, and he knew they were related to Flossie. His instincts told him that Flossie was important to him, and her attitude towards him only confirmed it.
‘I will give you one last chance.Tell me honestly-did you take off my brother’s oxygen mask?” Flossie was no fool. She could guess that the person who did it and engineered Quinton’s accident was not Halston. She knew he could be ruthless sometimes, but he would never use such wicked means to harm others. However, the fact that he was willingly taking the blame for it told her that he was probably trying to protect someone important to him… but Flossie hadn’t figured out who it was. All she knew was that him lying to her to protect somebody else made her heart ache.
“Yes, I did,” Halston answered calmly. Although he wasn’t the one who did it, Seraphina had harmed Quinton because of him. It made Halston feel that he had to be held responsible for it.
“Okay, so you still don’t want to tell me… Well, I’ll never forgive you for being the killer’s accomplice. You’re even more abominable than them!” Flossie choked out and glared at him, her eyes full of disappointment.
Flossie’s response did not surprise Halston, and he scoffed,” Why did you even come to see me if you hate me? You even pretentiously brought so many supplements. It’s hard for me to believe that you’re not here to kill me instead.”
Flossie glared at him. “I don’t bully the weak, and I already said that we’re even… but it doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you.”
“You baffle me…” Halston leaned back with his eyes closed, letting out a deep breath. “You can pick up where you left off. I won’t resist, and I promise that I’ll die for real this time.”
“Don’t drag me into this! Just open the window-l’m sure you can kill yourself by jumping off this eighteen-storey building,”
Flossie uttered grumpily. She felt that she was too softhearted if she could speak so nicely to such a wicked man. If it were someone else, they would have slapped him hard.
“So, you came to see me even though you hate me… What is it you really want?” Halston opened his eyes and stared at her shrewdly, not beating around the bush.
“Well, you’re certainly smart, Mr. Guajardo.” Flossie decided to be blunt too. “I want to ask you about someone.”
“Who is it?”
“Joanne.”
“Joanne?” Halston frowned and sneered, “You know which hospital she’s staying at, don’t you? You can go straight to her without asking me.”
“Don’t be a moron! Would I have come to you if I could find her myself?” Flossie snapped crossly. She sighed in frustration, then explained, “I went to the hospital today but her attending doctor told me that she had been discharged from the hospital a few days ago. I know that there’s no one else she can go to except you. You know where she is, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do,” Halston said without hesitation.
“Really? Where is she?” Flossie’s eyes brightened, and she sounded excited. She knew that she made the right choice coming here.
“Why should I tell you?” Halston scoffed disdainfully.
“You…” Flossie’s eyes widened, and embarrassment filled her.
“You’re said it yourself-you hate me, and I nearly died in your hands. We’re enemies, so why should I help you?” Halston argued.
Clenching her fists, Flossie found it hard to refute him. “So, you’re not going to tell me?”
“All you need to know is that she’s safe, and she just wants to recuperate peacefully. She also doesn’t want to meet certain people, and get back into that mess,” Halston said firmly, echoing Joanne’s words.
“She doesn’t want to meet him because they still have unresolved issues. These things can only be fixed after she meets him.” Flossie lowered her ego and asked him pleadingly, “Can you give them a chance and help”
“They?” Halston frowned, finding her words very interesting.
“Yeah, you know that my brother just got out of a coma. His character has changed, and he isn’t as violent as he used to be. He even told me that he’ll give up on the feud between you two… I just wanted Joanne to meet him to clear their understanding,” Flossie told Halston sincerely. She felt that Halston was not an unfeeling person despite his wickedness. If he mediated the conflict between Quinton and Joanne, it wouldn’t affect him at all, and they would owe him big-time. Of course, it was a good bargain.
“That’s your assumption.” Halston narrowed his eyes and sneered, “Men are very good at pretending, and they’ll do anything to get what they want. He was once Joanne’s closest brother, but you know the despicable things he did to her.”
Men knew men; there was no guarantee that Quinton had changed or whether he was just faking it.
Besides, Joanne was the most pitiful woman Halston had ever met, and she’d got into this mess because of him. He had to be responsible for it and keep her safe.
“Is there no way around it?” Flossie held her forehead and contemplated it, then looked up at Halston. “I won’t force you since we can’t reach a compromise, but can you help me pass a message to Joanne? Just tell her that she’s very special to Quinton and he feels sorry about her past…”
“Is that all? Doesn’t he regret it?” Halston asked, raising a brow.
Flossie remained silent. Quinton had never regretted the things he had done to Joanne, including the child he had forcefully aborted.
Thinking about it… maybe it was best if they didn’t see each other again.
“Joanne doesn’t need anyone to feel sorry for her. She just wants to start a new life peacefully,” Halston said coldly.
Those were the exact words Joanne wanted him to tell Flossie. She knew that Flossie and Quinton would come looking for her.
“I understand. I won’t force it… as long as she can let go of her pain and start a new life,” Flossie took a deep breath and said softly. She had no right to ruin the kind of life Joanne wished for. She also couldn’t ignore Joanne’s wish just because of Quinton’s pain.
“I’m sorry to have disturbed you today.” She nodded at him and got upto leave.
“You…” Halston mumbled as he watched her leave, but in the end, he didn’t say anything.
Downcast, Flossie left the ward and turned the corner to take the elevator. She happened to bump into Francine and Seraphina, who were exiting the elevator.
Francine’s eyes widened in anger the moment she saw Flossie. “You… Why do you still haunt and pester my son? Are you really trying to kill him?!”
“No, I’m not,” Flossie said calmly as she stared at her former mother-in-law. It was probably not her destiny to be a part of the Guajardo family. She rarely had peaceful days with the Guajardos, and she also saw how Francine’s attitude towards her changed repeatedly. She had become numb to it by now
Francine initially wanted to scold Flossie, but upon seeing her dejected expression, her heart softened. She couldn’t bear to say anything harsh to her, and said instead, “I know that Halston nearly died in your hands again. I don’t know what he’s done to make you do this to him repeatedly, but you were once my daughter-in-law. Do me the favor and stay far away from Halston for his sake. Don’t you see accidents always happen when you both get close to each other? The both of you might love each other truly, but you’re not suitable for each other.” Francine sincerely liked and admired Flossie, but unfortunately, she was not fated to be with her son.