Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
“Why is it unrealistic?” Disappointment gripped Adie, and he said stubbornly. “We’ve lived there for many years, so why can’t we do it now? Plus, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my social skills, and there’s no need for me to connect to society either. We have more than we can spend, and I can earn on my own. Why can’t I live the way I like?”
“The way you like?” Flossie swallowed, not knowing how to explain such a deep topic to a child. Adie had always been advanced in his studies and capabilities, so it was only natural that his thinking was advanced too. It was probably not suitable for a child to live on an island alone, but Flossie felt that it would be okay once Adie was in his twenties. At that moment, Adie’s thoughts were like a young adult’s-although it sounded ridiculous for a child, it was logical for a grown person.
“So, you prefer a life on an island, away from people?” Flossie asked carefully, trying to understand Adie’s thinking.
“It’s not that far away from people-the market on the dock is only thirty minutes away by boat. I can mingle with the people there too…”
It was not the first time Adie had wanted to return to Sun Island. He had seriously considered the pros and cons of living there, and felt like it wouldn’t be too difficult at all. “I can buy the things I want at the market, and if I really miss being around people, I’ll come back on a plane. But I don’t really like crowds.” Although he could get along with people, he preferred being alone. It took so much effort to socialize, and it wasn’t even fun at all. He preferred being in a quiet environment doing whatever he wanted to do, which was why he was best friends with Tiffany.
“Do you want to go back there?” Flossie asked hesitantly. Since Adie had considered a lot of things, it was clear that this was not a spur of the moment decision. “It’s possible for you to go back there.”
Adie’s eyes lit up. “Really? Are you willing to let me go back to Sun Island?” Adie didn’t expect to get Flossie’s approval at all-in fact, he had been prepared to get beaten up by her.
“Yeah!” Flossie nodded casually. “You’re right. There’s nothing to keep us in Beach City. If Quinton and Lei miss us, they can visit us anytime. They can even live on the island with us. Come to think of it… it’s not so bad if we go back to Sun Island.”
‘Let’s plan it out and go back then!” Adie suggested eagerly.
“No problem.” Flossie held Adie’s hand, then said firmly, “But the condition is that you have to be better. If you want to live on the island, you must be strong.”
“Yes, I promise, Mommy!” Adie’s disappointment was immediately replaced by excitement, and he hugged Flossie. “I’m so happy, Mommy! You’re so good to me!”
Flossie smiled in amusement. “Now you know I’m good to you. Are you still mad at me?”
“No, I’m not mad anymore. You’re the best in the world, Mommy!” Adie said sincerely.
Flossie felt relieved; her son was no longer distant with her. She exited Adie’s ward and saw Quinton waiting outside. Her heart ached when she saw his hurt expression. “Quinton…”
“I heard your conversation with Adie just now…” Quinton took a deep breath. “So, you guys are going to leave Beach City?”
“He grew up on Sun Island, and he’s missing it terribly. We’ll go back there since it’s where they grew up.” Flossie nodded.
‘But…” Quinton’s voice was strained as he asked, “What about me?”
Sadness overwhelmed Flossie. Quinton was a dignified and powerful man who hated expressing his emotions. He had been separated from his real family from a young age, and was forced to live in an abusive and oppressive family after that. He had never experienced family warmth, not to mention the charms of love. After he started living with them, he became more optimistic and calm. He had just begun facing his feelings and connecting with other people, but now, they would leave him alone again…. The thought of it broke Flossie’s heart.
“Nothing’s been decided yet. Kids change their minds all the time, so we might not go at all,” Flossie said casually, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
“But Adie isn’t like that. I’m sure he’s thought it through. You don’t have to console me, I’m just…” After a pause, Quinton forced a gentle smile onto his face. “I just want to prepare myself. After all, you and the kids are the family I never knew I had. I’ve gotten used to being around you.” Quinton was infamous for his cruelty as the boss of Carmine Pawnshop and his ruthlessness as the feared Night Demon. He would never admit that he missed or needed someone, but he didn’t want to pretend in front of his sister. It was fine if she saw his true self.
“Why don’t you go with us instead?” Flossie didn’t want to leave her brother either, and hurriedly said, “The weather on Sun Island is better than Beach City’s. It’s bright and peaceful all year round. We’ve got all kinds of equipment there with professional staff to maintain them, and we’ll have our yacht there too. If we want to go to a crowded place to take a stroll, we can reach the neighboring city in half an hour. I think it’s a great place to stay.”
“That sounds like a dream… I think I’d like to go too.” Quinton looked eager. Whenever he faced any obstacles and got too stressed, he would dream of living on an island away from the world. He had heard that Sun Island was a great place for retirement because of the relaxed lifestyle there, and since he grew up in a fishing village, he knew he’d adapt to life there well. However, he knew he had to be realistic about this too.
“If I go, what about Carmine Pawnshop? I founded it and gave my life to get it to where it is now. Also, what about the company you set up? It’s doing well now… Plus, we still need to take revenge for our parents. How can we go just like that?” Quinton asked regretfully. He didn’t mention that there was a person in Beach City he was staying for too.
“You’re right, Quinton. I’m ashamed of myself. I can’t face Daddy and Mommy…” Flossie hung her head sadly. She was once her parents’ most adored child and the hope of the Ellsworth family. When her parents had been slandered and bullied by others, they had jumped off a building; She had yet to avenge them and rebuild the Ellsworth name. She had dreamed of leaving and hiding on an island, retiring early to live a free life. If her deceased parents knew what she was thinking, they would be disappointed in her.
“You can’t think like that.” Quinton rested his hands on Flossie’s shoulders, and said dotingly, “Just let me handle things like this. You have to lead a happy life with Adie and Abby. I’ll earn money, get revenge, and revive our family,”
“I can’t let you do everything, that would be selfish. We should do this together!” Flossie said agitatedly, her eyes watery. She was too impulsive. She had only thought about her happiness and had forgotten about her responsibilities. To live a good life, she needed to take revenge and rebuild her family.
“I’m the one at fault here. I brought this up just when you made up your mind to leave, and it feels like I’m guilt- tripping you. Listen to me-just go live on the island with the kids and stay away from all of these conflicts. The further you are from this place, the less affected you’ll be by that heartless man!” Quinton regretted bringing up their family honor. He was reluctant to part with her, but he felt like he had broken Flossie’s wings by forcing reality down her throat.
“Don’t worry, Quinton. Don’t you know me? If I don’t agree with it, you wouldn’t be able to guilt-trip me even if you wanted to.” Flossie took a deep breath, seemingly enlightened. “I’ll talk to Adie. We’ll return to Sun Island one day. but not now. I need to work with you to resolve everything in Beach City, then we can go back together. What do you think?”
“What’s your plan?” Quinton was not happy that Flossie had decided to stay. “I’ve been investigating the truth of our family’s bankruptcy back then, and the families capable of such a thing aren’t easy to deal with. If we want to go after them to revive our family, it’ll take a long time… I don’t know when you and the kids will be able to return to the island.” The current Ellsworth family had neither power nor influence, and in its current state, there was no way it could shake the big families in Beach City, even with Carmine Pawnshop and the company Flossie established with the Osborne family. Besides, they would make a lot of enemies, and it would become a very dangerous situation. He didn’t want that for Flossie and the kids.
“There’s no rush to go back. Home is wherever we both are!” Flossie clenched her fists and made up her mind.” Stop trying to change my mind, Quinton. I know what I should do.”
“But…” Quinton hesitated, not knowing what to say. He knew Flossie had made up her mind, and he wouldn’t be able to change it.
“Also, I noticed a slight issue today…” Flossie changed the topic, her eyes gleaming.
Quinton frowned. “What issue?”
“You need a girlfriend!”
Quinton jerked back, his eyes wide in indignation. “You’re being rude. How could you make fun of me like this? Why should I get a girlfriend?”
“Calm down, Quinton. We’re of the same age, but I’ve got two kids now. Isn’t it normal for you to have a girlfriend by now? It’s simple biology,” Flossie said cheekily, trying to persuade him. If Quinton found a lover, he wouldn’t be so lonely, and she would feel reassured even if she and the kids decided to move back to Sun Island one day. “Nonsense! I refuse to get married or have children. I have no interest in women,” Quinton scoffed. He had never considered such a thing over the years, and the only woman he had ever loved was Joanne.
“You’re not interested in women?” Flossie raised her brows and thought about it, then nodded wisely. “So, you like men.”
Quinton stared at his sister, speechless. When had he said that? His sister might be the only person alive brave enough to insinuate that the infamous Night Demon liked men.
“It’s okay-you don’t have to feel embarrassed. Society is quite open-minded now, and I’m fine with it. It’ll be great to have a brother-in-law!” Flossie had always been an open-minded person, and she smiled at Quinton encouragingly. “Is there anyone you like? If not, I can introduce some guys to you. Azure Group recently hired some interns who graduated from famous colleges, and are pure men who specialize in research. I think they’re all good candidates for you.”
“That’s enough!” Furious, Quinton smacked Flossie’s head. “How dare you call yourself my sister? You want me to like men?”
“You said you aren’t interested in women!”
“Yeah, but I’m not interested in men either. I don’t want to think about anything other than managing Carmine Pawnshop and Azure Group. I want to revive our family and avenge our parents quickly!” Quinton didn’t want to consider romance until he settled those things. He wasn’t interested in romance either.
“So, you’re interested in women, but you don’t want the complicated emotions of a relationship, right?” Flossie asked.
“Well, you can put it that way.” Quinton’s expression was aloof as he said, “It’s very troublesome to try and figure somebody out… It’s more tiring than working. It’s already exhausting seeing you and Halston, and if I get myself involved in a relationship like that, I’ll go mad.”
“I understand.” Flossie snapped her fingers. “You want to, but you’re afraid that you can’t. It’s fine, just leave it to me.”
“What do you mean?” Quinton demanded, looking anxious. “What do you want to do?”
“Didn’t I just tell you? I’m going to help you with your love affair.” Flossie grinned and smacked her brother’s shoulder. “Just give me a few days… You’ll only need to appear when I ask you to.” Cóntent belongs to NovélDráma. Org
It was a bright afternoon in an elegant dessert shop, where lively music was playing.
Flossie ordered her favorite strawberry mousse cake and mango pancake. She enjoyed her food, waiting patiently for the special friend she was supposed to meet. They had arranged to meet at two, but it was already four o’clock and her friend was nowhere to be seen.
Flossie wasn’t angry or surprised-she had expected that her friend might not come. After half an hour, almost all the customers in the dessert shop had left except for her. To anybody else, it looked like she was there for the free air-conditioning.
“Madam, you’ve been at the shop for more than two hours. Do you need any help?” A waiter came over and asked kindly.
“I’m waiting for someone.” Flossie looked up awkwardly and added, “Give me a taro tiramisu.”
“Umm… Okay.” The waiter nodded hesitantly and left.
Flossie raised her brows, looking around. They couldn’t kick her out as long as she kept ordering food.
Flossie took out her phone and texted her friend. “Aren’t you coming? The waiter said I’ve been here for too long… But it’s alright-I’m a shameless person. I’ll wait for you.” She sent the message, but didn’t get a reply.
Night was nearing, and the waiter kept glancing at Flossie expectantly.
Finally, the windchime at the door rang as the door opened, and someone walked in.
“Welcome!” The waiter greeted the customer enthusiastically. The newcomer was a slim and gloomy woman with eyes like the moon. “Madam, how many people are with you?”