Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
Flossie cleared her throat awkwardly and immediately leaped out of Jamie’s arms. Big guy, we’re not kids anymore, so don’t say things like that. It’s late, and I’ll get scared.” She hated when men tried to blur the lines with her, especially when it was someone close to her like a childhood friend. It was more horrible than bumping into ghosts.
Jamie laughed, offering her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I was just joking.” Even if he was a bit flirtatious sometimes, he was always respectful.
Flossie tilted her body and looked at the manor behind Jamie, then smiled at him politely. “Hey, shouldn’t you be inviting me into your house? I haven’t been there since we were kids.” She was suspicious of Jamie’s sudden appearance, and didn’t believe that he was the one who had been staying in the manor. She still felt that her instincts were right-Halston had to be inside that manor. She wanted to go inside and look around, so if Halston wasn’t there, it would give her some closure.
“Of course.” Jamie raised a brow and gestured for her to enter the manor.” I’ve been staying here alone lately, and it gets rather lonely. Plus, I’ve always wanted to catch up with you, but I was never able to get in touch with you until now. I would have invited you inside even if you hadn’t asked me.”
The both of them walked into the manor. Although it was several decades old, it looked just like how Flossie had remembered it. It was decorated in the elegant Varangia style, with paintings on the wall and expensive furnishings.
Flossie scanned the manor like a detective searching for clues, but failed to find any traces of Halston having been there. Her mood plummeted, and she sighed in disappointment. “It looks like I’ve given myself too much credit again,” she muttered with a bitter laugh. She felt like a clown-getting stuck in trees and making a fool of herself all for nothing.
“What do you mean?” Jamie stood behind Flossie and asked curiously. He had a lot of questions for his childhood friend, but not all of them were appropriate. The one he really wanted an answer to was why she had been climbing up a tree at the door of his manor late at night. He wondered if she had wanted to meet him or another man… but he couldn’t ask her because that other man had strictly prohibited him from doing so.
“Nothing!” Flossie turned to look at Jamie and asked him solemnly, “So, you’ve been living here alone all this while? Are you sure there’s no one else?” “Umm… How should I answer that?” Jamie was not good at lying but was forced to do so because of that man’s intimidation. How troublesome.
“It’s okay. Just be honest with me.” Flossie looked down and mumbled miserably, “I know you live alone here. I’m just a pathetic girl who was hoping for a different answer… I’m just lying to myself!”
Flossie’s words made Jamie feel even more guilty, and he subtly wiped off the sweat on his forehead. “Umm…” A sigh escaped Jamie as he decided to come clean, unable to see his childhood friend heartbroken like this.” Well, it’s not what you think. My manor…”
“Do you have wine? I want to have some wine!” Flossie suddenly interrupted him, no longer interested in Jamie’s answer. She wasn’t an alcoholic, but she couldn’t stop drinking once she started. She would lose control of her emotions and do crazy things once she had some wine. When she was drunk, she would let her thoughts and actions run wild, and she knew she would feel more at ease in that state. Since she had let herself go, she might as well have more wine and get crazier so she could forget about everything once she woke up. At least, she didn’t have to worry too much about things then.
“Wine?” Jamie’s body relaxed when Flossie stopped asking about the owner of the manor. He knew himself we 11—if Flossie kept on asking, he might just confess the truth to her. He actually hadn’t been staying there, but he recently got a text from Halston saying he wanted to purchase that manor to stay there long-term, but they didn’t need to transfer the ownership. In short, the manor was still owned by Jamie’s parents in writing, but the actual owner was Halston. It was a risky business deal, and Halston had only one request-that they don’t tell anyone he was staying there.
Jamie had returned to clean up the things his family had left in the manor, but he suddenly got a call from Halston that day requesting him to immediately move into the manor. Although he didn’t know what Halston’s reasons were, he was too timid to ask about it, and just obediently moved into the manor. Then, he bumped into Flossie, who had gotten drunk in the middle of the night and climbed up a tree to try and enter the manor.
Jamie was no fool-he had read online about Halston and Flossie’s entanglement, so he quickly realized what was going on here. The whole affair had confused him, but he also felt sorry for them and what they had faced.
“I’ve got a lot of whiskey here. Are you sure you want to have some?” Jamie raised his brows and said with interest, “If you do, I’ll get you some. You can tell me all about your problems.” He did like a bit of gossip now and then, and he was hoping it could give him more insight about Flossie and Halston’s relationship.
“Stop talking and go get it already. I want a drink!” Flossie yelled excitedly as she flopped down onto the sofa roughly. Before this, she didn’t know why some people became alcoholics, but at this moment, she knew how they felt… It was the feeling of wanting to drown your sorrows.
Jamie soon returned with the alcohol. It was the strongest whiskey from his hometown, and when he unscrewed the cap, the strong scent of alcohol engulfed the living room. Flossie acted like an addict and immediately snatched the bottle of whiskey, throwing her head back and gulping it down.
After a while, Jamie asked tentatively, “Little girl, I’m curious about your situation with Mr. Guajardo. Do you both love each other? You…” He was eager to learn more about their relationship, but when he turned back to Flossie, the words just died in his throat.
Flossie had passed out drunk on the sofa.
“You’re really…” Jamie smiled helplessly. “That was fast; I couldn’t even get any gossip from you!” He tried to wake her up but failed. When he was sure she was unconscious, he took out his phone and texted someone. [She’s passed out. You can come over now.]
Hardly a few minutes later, Halston rushed over. He sighed deeply when he saw Flossie lying on the sofa, looking vulnerable and delicate. “I asked you to take care of her. Why did you let her drink? Don’t you know she gets drunk easily?” Halston strode towards Flossie and touched her forehead, then he held her cheeks and asked nervously, “Why are her forehead and cheeks burning hot? What did she do before drinking?”
Jamie massaged his forehead, letting out an exasperated groan. ”Mr. Guajardo, anybody’s cheeks would be hot if they’ve been drinking. I swear I just chatted with her, I didn’t do anything indecent to her…” He paused, then added thoughtfully, “Well, when I found her, she was stuck in a tree. I told her to jump down and let me catch her like we did when we were young. Maybe she was entranced by me, and it made her blush.”
Halston knew that Jamie was joking, but it still made him feel uneasy. Jamie had carried Halston’s woman in his arms; he was lucky Halston hadn’t punched him. “Don’t get close to her again,” Halston warned Jamie, then added crossly, “And stop calling her ‘little girl’. It’s too intimate.” He was Flossie’s husband and even he hadn’t given her a nickname, but her childhood friend she hadn’t seen in decades had beat him to it.
Jamie shrugged, looking innocent. “Mr. Guajardo, you’re overthinking. She and I grew up together, so we’re childhood friends. I called her ‘little girl’, and she called me ‘big guy’ for years, so what’s wrong with it?”
“Childhood friends? Don’t you know what that means?” Halston’s anger grew. “Childhood friends are childhood sweethearts. Are you saying that you both are a couple?”
“Well, no… but I wouldn’t mind it.” Jamie smiled wolfishly as he thought about it. If he hadn’t moved away and had chosen to stay here instead, he might have become Flossie’s husband. What an appealing thought.
“Get that smirk off your face and stop having wild thoughts about my wife!” As a man, Halston knew very well what Jamie’s smile meant. He looked down at Flossie, holding her to him protectively, then growled at Jamie,” You don’t have to stay here. I’ll take care of her.”
Jamie sighed and said mournfully, “How ungrateful, Mr. Guajardo. You rushed me here when you needed me, but once you don’t need me anymore, you chase me away.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Halston shot him a vicious glare. “Are you expecting to stay for breakfast?”
Flossie shifted in her sleep, disturbed by their loud conversation. “Ugh, can you pipe down? So noisy!”
Halston instantly froze. His whole body grew tense, and his mind raced to figure out what he should say to her.
Unexpectedly, Flossie just turned around and muttered something before she dozed off again.
“She’s still drunk—she doesn’t know it’s you,” Jamie said solemnly.
Halston rolled his eyes and bent down to carry the unconscious Flossie in his arms. “I’m not blind, I don’t need you to tell me that.” Brushing past Jamie, he snapped, “Excuse me.”
Jamie hurriedly stepped aside, morosely watching Halston leave. It felt like everything he did was wrong to Halston. He didn’t think he could get close to Flossie from now on.
Halston carried Flossie upstairs, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck because her head was spinning. “Slow down, I’m going to fall,” Flossie whined as she nestled in his arms.
Halston immediately slowed his pace, carefully climbing the stairs to his room. It was the room opposite Flossie’s bedroom, and though the lights were not on, it was illuminated by the moonlight pouring through the curtains. The dim lighting gave the room a romantic feel. Halston carried Flossie to the bed and was about to lay her down on it, but she held his neck tightly and refused to let go of him.
“Don’t…” Flossie mumbled pitifully.
Halston stared at her in astonishment, wondering if she was awake.
“I still want a drink…” Flossie slurred defiantly. It looked like she was still drunk.
Halston chuckled and tried to comfort her, saying tenderly, “Be good and rest.”
“Tomorrow…” Flossie shook her head. “I won’t be in the mood to drink tomorrow. I want to drink today.”
“Why not tomorrow?”
“It’s because… I won’t allow myself to be sad about that scumbag for that long! It’ll only be one night at most!” Flossie huffed angrily, then burped.
“Oh, I see…” Halston’s handsome features turned melancholic, and his deepset gaze became unreadable. He felt very sorry for her. “Don’t be sad. Don’t even give him one night… He doesn’t deserve it.”
“No!” Flossie suddenly turned to him, her gaze intense, then slapped him playfully. “Don’t think I won’t hurt you just because you’re handsome. He’s a very important person to me. Even if he hurt me, I’m the only one who can scold him. I won’t accept it if others scold him,” Flossie said seriously. In her drunkenness, she didn’t realize that it was Halston she was speaking to. She thought he was one of Halston’s enemies who was trying to humiliate him.
“He hurt you, but you’re still defending him. What do you think you’ll gain from it?” Halston’s voice was low and filled with guilt.
“What do I want?” Flossie blinked slowly as she thought about it, then giggled. “I want to suffer. I want to face my karma and live a terrible life.” Yeah, she would lead a leisurely life without Halston-he was the reason her life was full of twists and turns. That was her karma, and she was always willing to accept it. “I… Listen. My former mother-in-law went to a fortuneteller who said that if Halston and I got together, many bad things would happen to US. At first, I thought it was just superstition, but now it seems like the fortune-teller was right. I… I want to find that fortune-teller and see if I’ll get married again.”
Halston’s eyes bulged and he blurted out, “No, you won’t! That’s just superstition, and it also depends on whether the couple can overcome the challenges given to them. Maybe it’s not that you both aren’t destined to be together, but… maybe he’s just a piece of trash who doesn’t deserve you.” He hoped that it was because of him that they could not live happily ever after instead of fate that had stopped them from being a couple. Guilt was easier to bear than regret sometimes.
“You insulted him again! Do you want me to beat you up?” Flossie said fiercely, then burped. She squinted at him, trying to find his cheek to slap in the dim moonlight, but the longer she stared at him, the more entranced she became. It could have been the moonlight or his handsome features, but after a while of staring, her eyes widened and she cried out, “You’re him, aren’t you? Why did you say that you’re a piece of trash? And don’t ever say that you don’t deserve me… If you didn’t, we wouldn’t have been together. You can’t say such things when you were the one who chose me!”
“You’re… You’re sober?” Halston panicked and swallowed, his body frozen in fear.
Flossie ignored his question and held his face, looking deeply into his eyes.” Where have you been? Why were you avoiding me? Are you with Jessanna?
Didn’t she feed you well? You’ve lost weight.” While talking, she rubbed Halston’s face and pinched his cheeks. “Your face feels so rough now. No wonder I didn’t recognize you.”
“So… are you sober or not?” Halston needed to know. If Flossie was still drunk, she wouldn’t remember any of this, and Halston didn’t have to figure out how to escape. However, if she was sober, he had to frighten her off.
“I’m very much sober. You’re Halston, my husband. You cheated on me and were so scared that you didn’t dare to come home…” Flossie slurred, “Listen -I don’t plan on forgiving you, so… I’m going to cheat on you too to take revenge!”
Is that so?” Halston’s expression instantly turned cold.
“Of course!” Flossie nodded and said seriously, “I’ll go to the karaoke bar and hire eight male escorts. One of them will massage my shoulders while another will massage my legs. One will sing with me while the other will listen to me vent…”
Halston smiled in amusement. “Are you sure you can handle eight guys?”