Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
Jovan scratched his hair in embarrassment and mumbled, “Doctor, stop. I wasn’t guarding her… I was just too lazy to move, eat, or drink.” He didn’t want others to see him as a love-struck fool, but his excuse seemed to prove just that.
“Look how flustered he is, Ms. Ellsworth…” The attending doctor glanced at Jovan and teased, “I’ve performed a lot of surgeries and watched many people wait for their loved ones to wake up, but I can vouch that he’s the most attentive and loyal one. A small accident happened during the surgery, and he got so anxious that he almost wanted to die with you. He’s a loyal man!”
Awkward, Jovan kept his head hung and kicked the floor. “Don’t exaggerate, Doctor.”
Flossie felt uneasy. Jovan’s intense love moved her, but it also stressed her out. It would become a debt if he was too loyal, and she didn’t want to owe him anything. “Yes, he’s very loyal and passionate, but it’s a pity that he’s directing those feelings at the wrong person.” Flossie indifferently added, “I can’t reciprocate his feelings, so I don’t deserve them.”
The atmosphere grew awkward and tense, and the doctor nudged his glasses and hurriedly said, “Okay, we should get back to business. We’ll remove your bandages and see how well your eyes have recovered.” “Yeah, we talked so much that we forgot the most important thing.” Jovan urged the doctor,
“Remove her bandages now!” “Okay.” The doctor had surgical gloves on, and after disinfecting his hands, he slowly removed the bandages around Flossie’s eyes.
The darkness Flossie had become accustomed to was now giving way to a vague and mist-like ray of light. It was slightly blurred, making her feel like she was in a dream.
“Ms. Ellsworth, how do you feel?” The doctor asked Flossie tentatively.
“I think… it’s blurry. I feel like I’m floating on clouds-it doesn’t feel real,” Flossie answered honestly.
“That’s normal. After all, you’re using somebody else’s eyes, so there’ll be a slight resistance. It’ll get better as you get used to them…” The doctor tried to comfort Flossie, “Try to open your eyes slowly to get used to the light.” “Okay.” Flossie nodded obediently and gradually opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the doctor’s white coat. As she looked further, she saw Jovan, and suddenly, she felt sad. She wished that Halston could have been the first thing she had seen.
Certainly, Flossie’s thoughts were selfish. If Jovan hadn’t been that attentive, Flossie would not be able to see again, but Flossie had responded so ungratefully.
“How do you feel? Can you see me? Do you feel any discomfort?” Jovan held his breath and asked Flossie carefully. He was more nervous than Flossie, looking like a man whose wife was in labor.
“I see you.” Flossie slowly opened her eyes. Her new eyes were light blue, and they were deep-set and mysterious. Her innocent, angelic pair of eyes had given way to a sultry new pair that could easily bewitch others.
“Your eyes…” Jovan gaped at Flossie in amazement.
“What’s wrong with them?” Flossie asked anxiously. “Are they very ugly? Is there a mirror? Can I see them?” “No, your eyes are as beautiful as sapphires,” Jovan swallowed and praised Flossie honestly. Flossie now looked like a confident ice queen that people could only admire from afar. For reasons he couldn’t understand, Jovan, who had always been confident and self-assured, couldn’t help but feel timid when facing her dominant and direct gaze.
“You must be exaggerating.” Flossie’s anxiety heightened. Nobody’s eyes looked like sapphires-it didn’t make sense at all!
“Look. I’m not exaggerating.” Jovan asked a nurse to get a mirror and placed it in front of Flossie.
Carefully, Flossie looked up. When she saw her new pale blue eyes, she almost burst into tears. “How could this be?” “What’s wrong? You don’t like them?” “No, I don’t!” Flossie closed her eyes in disdain. “I’m from Aeos, but you made me look like I’m from Varangia. You changed my ethnicity… Also, how is it that nobody could find a suitable donor from my own ethnicity, but someone from another ethnicity was a match?” “Umm, I’m not sure about that either. The doctor just said they matched yours.” Jovan spread his hands helplessly. He didn’t know much about medicine; he just agreed to the surgery instantly when the doctor said the donor’s eyes were a match. “Stop overthinking. Your new eyes are so pretty, and I feel like I’m looking at the sky when I look into your eyes. It’s relaxing. Just use them for now while I help you find a suitable pair of eyes from Aeos, okay?” Jovan patiently persuaded Flossie like she was a child.
“Forget it, there’s no need to trouble yourself like that. I’m just happy to be able to see again…” Flossie fixed her intense gaze on Jovan. “Thank you for giving me light, Jovan!”
Flossie’s eyes recovered gradually, and her initial dislike of the eyes gradually ebbed away. After a while, she grew to like them. Her features and fair skin indicated her Aeos origins, and the blue eyes from Varangia complemented them in a unique and harmonious way. Flossie held her face and said to her reflection calmly, “Congratulations on your rebirth, Flossie…” However, despite everything, she couldn’t stop thinking about Halston. She wondered about how he was, and how he would react when he saw the new her. She wanted to go back to Ellsworth Manor.
Jovan’s visits to the hospital had also reduced because Guajardo Enterprise was in turmoil after rumors of Halston’s death had spread. It was a golden opportunity for ambitious people like Jovan, so he was too busy to spend time with her.
“It looks like you like your eyes very much!” A sarcastic voice came from the door.
Flossie looked over and saw Jessanna wearing a mask. “What are you doing here?” Flossie demanded coldly.
“How could you talk to me like that? I helped you, you know.” Jessanna slowly walked into the ward and closed the door, smirking. “Didn’t Jovan tell you that I was the one who found those eyes for you?” “Yes, he told me.” “Then why haven’t you thanked me?” “Hmph! Thank you?” Flossie stood up, her pale blue eyes like chips of ice as she glared at Jessanna. “Do you really deserve it? You should be thanking me instead.’
Jessanna’s eyes widened in outrage. “How dare you…” She hadn’t expected Flossie to be so bold even after everything she had been through. Jessanna gritted her teeth and scoffed, “Don’t flatter yourself. Why should I thank you?” “Why?” Flossie’s beautiful blue eyes were mysterious and aloof, making her look like an untouchable goddess. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even have been able to show your face in public again. You wouldn’t have been able to enter Guajardo Enterprise, let alone join the board of directors. I don’t expect gratitude from you, but I won’t make you suffer as long as you behave and not make trouble in Guajardo Enterprise. If I find out that you have any ulterior motives, I won’t go easy on you. After all, you already know that I’m capable of murder!” Flossie warned Jessanna fiercely. Although she wouldn’t kill Jessanna, she had to keep Jessanna in line given the chaotic situation in Guajardo Enterprise, and also the fact that Halston was missing.
“You’re threatening me?”
Jessanna clenched her fists and stared at Flossie fiercely. “You’re in no position to threaten me! You’ve lost your support and are on the verge of death, so you have no power to threaten me!” As the person who had poisoned Flossie, Jessanna knew the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning well. Even though Flossie was cured, the damage to her nerves and internal organs was irreversible. Flossie was fragile and vulnerable now, and Jessanna could easily make her suffer.
“Ms. Ximenez, how did you know that I am on the verge of death?” Flossie immediately asked, narrowing her eyes at Jessanna suspiciously. “I didn’t say anything to you, but you seem to know everything about me. Have you been keeping an eye on me? You must be the culprit who pushed me to the verge of death, aren’t you?” Only people who were close to Flossie knew that she was poisoned, but if Jessanna knew it too, then there was only one explanation-Jessanna was the one who had poisoned Flossie.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Jessanna swallowed and avoided Flossie’s sharp gaze. “Anyone can tell that you’re weak right now. It’s not rocket science!” “Is that so?” Flossie grabbed Jessanna’s collar, staring at her icily. “Why don’t we go back to that cliff? I’ll give you a chance to take revenge on me, and then you can see just how weak I am.” “You’re out of your mind!” Jessanna spat fearfully, trying to free herself from Flossie’s grasp. “I came to visit you out of kindness, but your twisted mind always assumes I have bad intentions!” “It would be great if that were the case.” Flossie let go of Jessanna and slowly walked to the bed. She looked at the bright sky and said lightly, “I’m not as greedy as you. I just want to spend the rest of my life peacefully with the people I love.”
Even though Flossie was telling the truth, Jessanna couldn’t see past her hatred of Flossie and found her to be hypocritical. She dreamed of taking revenge on Flossie and watching her lose everything she had.
“Although I have no respect for you, I do feel responsible for you ending up this way…” Flossie turned and looked at Jessanna, then said sincerely, “I know a skilled plastic surgeon. He fixed my brother’s face, and I can introduce him to you if you want.”
Jessanna was stunned. She had tried her very best to take revenge on Flossie, but Flossie wanted to save her. It was ridiculous! Jessanna had never met such a stupid woman before. “Stop being hypocritical! I hate sanctimonious hypocrites like you the most!” Jessanna screeched at Flossie.
Flossie rubbed her aching ears and grumbled, “Why are you screaming? You don’t have to if you don’t want to; I won’t force you.” Suddenly, she found Jessanna very pathetic. In the past, Jessanna wore an invisible mask and pretended to be gentle and kind, but now that she was wearing a real mask, she was finally showing her true colors.
“Ms. Ellsworth, you’re so kind. I’m touched…” Slowly, Jessanna fished out a stack of photographs. “Allow me to thank you by showing you something nice.”
After putting the photos down, Jessanna left with a satisfied expression on her face.
Doubtful, Flossie turned the photos over, and what she saw made her heart skip a beat. Her eyes widened in shock, and the blood drained from her face. They were all photos of Halston… and he was kissing and hugging Jessanna in them.
“How… How could this be?” Flossie whispered brokenly. It had been ages since she had felt pain like this, and it hurt even more than the heavy metal poisoning. She couldn’t understand why the man she loved would do such a dirty and vulgar thing behind her back. She picked up the photos and studied them carefully for a long time. It was clear that the photos were not digitally altered, which meant that act that had indeed taken place. She has no idea when it happened though.
“No, I have to confirm this with Jessanna. What if it’s not true?” Flossie calmed herself down, knowing that there had to be more behind this. Halston’s actions proved his love for her-he was willing to give up his identity, status, and company for her sake. He had even risked his life for her, and was missing right now because of her. Halston would never betray her, so it had to be a misunderstanding. Flossie gripped the photos tightly and ran out of the ward quickly. She wanted to find Jessanna and get to the bottom of this, but she accidentally bumped into Leia, who was there to pick her up.
“Ouch! Are you blind? Watch where you’re going! This is a hospital, you know.” Leia rubbed her aching head and wanted to argue with the person who had bumped into her, but when she saw that it was Flossie, she gasped. Her eyes met Flossie’s blue ones, and her jaw dropped. “Flossie! You… You…” “Lei, you’re just in time.” Flossie gripped Leia’s shoulders and asked her urgently, “Did you see Jessanna? I have to talk to her!” “No, I… Can you… see now?” Leia hadn’t heard what Flossie said, and was still dumbstruck. She swallowed hard and said, “Your eyes are very pretty. How did you get them? It’s amazing!” “That’s not important. Right now, I need to find Jessanna… Lei, help me find Jessanna!” Flossie’s eyes were full of tears, and they were as melancholic as the ocean.
“Jessanna?” Leia finally focused on what Flossie was saying, and immediately comforted Flossie. “Flossie, calm down. Jessanna is now a member of the board of directors of Guajardo Enterprise, so it’s very easy to meet her. Just take your time-your health is most important. I can go and confront her with you once you’ve recovered!” Although she didn’t know what had happened between Flossie and Jessanna, she knew that it must be something serious judging by Flossie’s reaction.
Flossie had just undergone eye surgery, and she had also just been detoxified, so Leia didn’t want Flossie to tire herself.
“No, it’s urgent. I have to see her now!” Flossie was almost hysterical. She rarely lost control of her emotions like this, but since this was about Halston, she didn’t care how others saw her.
“Why are you so stubborn, Flossie?” Helpless, Leia spread her arms and blocked Flossie. “It doesn’t matter. If you insist on heading out, you have to go through me first.” “Lei, step aside!” Flossie insisted as she looked at Leia, who was equally stubborn.
Both of them refused to compromise.
Suddenly, Flossie felt a sharp ache around her eyes, and Leia’s figure became blurry. “Ah, it hurts…” Flossie couldn’t hold on any longer, and covered her eyes with her hands as she squatted down on the floor.
Luckily, the doctors would make rounds of the wards daily, and one rushed over when he saw Flossie. He immediately led Flossie back to her ward, and after checking her briefly, he complained, “Ms. Ellsworth, please don’t scare us like this. I told you many times that this is a critical recovery period for your eyes. Don’t use them too much, and don’t stress yourself. You finally found a suitable pair of eyes after so long, but you’re not cherishing them!” “If I had a choice, I’d rather not have these eyes!” Flossie closed her eyes, bracing against the intense pain. If she’d known that Jessanna had found those eyes for her, she would rather spend the rest of her life in the dark than see such a vulgar photo of Jessanna and Halston.
“Don’t say that, Miss. Eyes are very important to us-how can you say you don’t want them? Plus, it’s very rare to see an eye transplant of different ethnicities without resistance. There are less than three cases like it in the world, so it can be considered a medical miracle. How rare is that! These eyes were meant for you, so you can’t hate them,” the doctor urged, sounding agitated.
“I’m sorry, Doctor. Don’t be mad. My friend was in a bad mood, that’s all.
Don’t take it…” Leia tried to apologize to the doctor, but he cut her off.
“You don’t have to apologize to me, just talk to your friend if you’re free. She’s in a bad state, and it’s not good for her recovery process. Plus, I’m worried that there’s something wrong with her mental health.” The doctor pulled Leia aside and whispered, “I’ve been observing your friend lately— she always daydreams and looks dejected, and she isn’t interested in anything. I’m worried that she might become depressed if this goes on.” “Depressed?” “Don’t take it lightly. It’s hard to get rid of depression, and it can ruin one’s motivation and hope. It’s an invisible and fatal knife!” After observing Flossie for a few days, the doctor recognized her behavior as symptoms of depression. He had intended to talk it out with her family properly.
“Depressed?” Leia’s heart pounded when she heard that. She felt that it was impossible for her best friend to be depressed. Flossie had experienced many misfortunes in the past like her family’s bankruptcy, the death of her parents, and her difficult marriage with Halston, but she had soldiered through it all. It made Leia wonder why Flossie was suffering from depression when everything was taking a turn for the better.
“Are you sure?” Leia stole a glance at Flossie and pulled the doctor to a more isolated corner. “She’s the most headstrong and optimistic person I’ve ever met. How could she be depressed?” “You don’t understand… Depression is pathological—it doesn’t matter if the person is strong or optimistic. Some people might look happy, but could be suffering from severe depression. It’s like an apple that looks beautiful on the outside, but has already started to rot from its core. If we don’t cure her in time, the consequences will be unimaginable.” A long sigh escaped the doctor as he threw a compassionate glance at Flossie. His medical knowledge told him that Flossie’s body was fine, and she’d be back to normal after rest… but they needed to be careful of her mental state and emotions.
There’s a psychology department in this hospital, and many young people see the doctor there every year. Some of them get better… and some of them try to jump off buildings if they don’t. If you care about her, you’d better take her to see the psychologist soon.” After that, the doctor returned to the ward and told Flossie how to take care of her eyes. Then, he exited the ward.
Flossie had finally calmed down, and sat alone by the window, staring at the scenery outside. She remained quiet and emotionless for a long time.
“Flossie…” Leia walked over to Flossie. She had so many questions to ask her, like why she didn’t contact Leia, and why she didn’t go home. Did she not realize that they would worry about her? She had been wanting to ask Flossie all those questions, but they all disappeared the moment she saw her. Though Leia was upset, she figured that Flossie had to have a reason for not contacting them.
“What did you say to that doctor?” Flossie turned around and looked at Leia sharply. Her gaze wasn’t as gentle and loving as before. On the contrary, she wore an oddly distant expression.
Her gaze frightened Leia, and she felt like she was staring at a stranger.” No, it was nothing,” Leia carefully explained, “The doctor and I are very worried about you, so we were just discussing your condition. The doctor said that you-” “There’s no need forthat!” Flossie interrupted Leia. “I’m fine. There’s nothing to worry about. That doctor works for Jessanna, so don’t listen to him. I’m not a monster.”
“I don’t care who he works for. What he says makes sense, and we need to take his advice…” Leia said cautiously, scared of angering Flossie. The doctor had mentioned that people suffering from depression could become sensitive and paranoid, and that seemed to be the case for Flossie. Flossie was not as generous and straightforward as she used to be-she’d become suspicious, aloof, and uncaring.