Filed To Story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
After a pause, a long sigh escaped Timothy.
“Well, children are lacking,”
Both Alexander and Francine kept quiet. They knew he was going to start talking about that again.
Timothy would always talk about the same thing whenever they sat down for a meal. He would make Halston ask Flossie to remarry him, and then demand he get his children home.
The harmonious atmosphere would become particularly gloomy and tense every time Timothy brought that up. They knew the thing he yearned for was a prohibited topic for Halston.
It seemed Halston had made up his mind to never have anything to do with Flossie. His face would sink every time they talked about him making peace with Flossie, remarrying her, or the children. He would put the fork down and leave.
However, Timothy mentioned that topic straightaway during dinner. Awkwardness soon filled Alexander and Francine, and they didn’t dare to speak at all. They were afraid that the reunion dinner would become a battlefield.
“Yes, you’re right.”
Halston calmly sat on the right of Timothy. He did not fall out with Timothy and sounded melancholic, which was rare. “It would be great if Adie and Abby were here.”
The others were shocked and did not dare to eat for fear that they were just hallucinating.
“What did you say, Halston? Say that again.” Timothy could not hide his joy. He felt that they could finally reconcile with each other.
Halston looked at the food, gloomy. He then said contemplatively, “I said that it would be great if they were here for this reunion dinner.”
He probably included Flossie too when he talked about them.
“It’s not too late!” Timothy grabbed the chance and added, “Why don’t you pick up the kids and Flossie and get them home now since you want to reunite with them? It’ll be great to be together on the New Year.”
Halston kept his head low to sip some water. No one understood his attitude, but he did not go berserk like he usually did. He also did not fall out with them. He was on his best behavior.
Francine immediately echoed Timothy’s words. “All family feuds can be settled. As long as you clear things up no matter how badly you fall out with each other, it’s great. Your relationship isn’t only limited to a piece of paper. It depends on whether you still hold feelings for each other. It’s not too late no matter when you reconcile with each other.”
“No…” Halston shook his head helplessly. “It’s different. The reality is it’s already too late.”
Francine hoped to see him reconcile with Flossie and said eagerly, “Why are you this pessimistic? It’s the New Year! You’re my son. Of course you can solve anything. Tell us your dilemma. Maybe we can help you with it.”
Halston suddenly looked up at Francine and said something meaningful. “You know what it is. It’s something we can’t solve.”
“I…”
An inexplicable guilt engulfed Francine. She was unsure if Halston was talking about the affair that happened that year as she was too timid to talk about that. Hence she changed the topic of the conversation.
“Regardless if we can solve that or not, let’s win her back before we talk about that.”
Anxiety gripped Alexander as he urged, “Yes, let’s win her back before we discuss if you two suit each other or not. If not, it’ll be too late when someone else marries her.”
Timothy frowned; he discerned something wrong with the words he had heard. “What do you mean? Is Flossie marrying someone else?”
“No, of course not!” Francine knew that it was not the time to expose that news. Hence, she turned on the TV. Let’s not talk about such unhappy things. Let’s watch TV. There’s a celebration going on!”
Unfortunately, the TV was showing the news of the impending engagement ceremony between Flossie and Justin.
Coldness rapidly engulfed everyone.
“It’s said that Ms. Flossie Ellsworth and Mr. Justin Baldwin have been best friends for many years and ended up as soulmates. They’re going to hold a grand engagement ceremony three days later. They’ve also announced that the Baldwin family has finally made peace with the Ellsworth family. Many distinguished guests will attend the ceremony. It’s still unknown if this event will bring any new changes to North City and Beach City. Let’s wait and see!”
The host was reporting the affair excitedly on the TV as if he was an eager onlooker.
“Tsk! What TV station is this? How lousy! I’m going to acquire it!” Francine criticized it before she told the servant to turn the TV off.
She also looked at Halston and Timothy carefully from time to time. She wondered what was on their mind since nobody spoke up.
After the TV was turned off, a strange feeling overcame everyone.
“Let’s enjoy our reunion dinner. Don’t be angry.” Alexander urged everyone to start eating since it was too awkward to bear.
“Hmph! Did you ask me to eat?” Timothy looked extremely hideous. He smacked his fork on the table and growled, “We can’t enjoy this meal since our family member is stolen!”
“Dad, stop saying that. We’re fine. Stop saying unlucky things since it’s the New Year. Have some soup and calm down!” Alexander personally served Timothy and poured him a bowl of soup, wishing to calm Timothy down.
After all, they had no right to decide on that affair, nor could they do anything despite their anger. It mainly depended on Halston and Flossie’s thoughts.
Halston could still snatch Flossie back during the wedding ceremony as long as they wanted to make peace, let alone an engagement ceremony.
“No, I’m not mad but anxious!” Timothy was calmer than the others had anticipated. He looked at Halston and interrogated, “Halston, why are you still this calm?”
Halston looked indifferent. He calmly poured himself a bowl of soup and sipped some. “Why can’t I stay calm?” He had long known that Flossie and Justin were about to marry each other. Besides, she was the one who had made it happen.
If he hadn’t told Justin about Macsen kidnapping Flossie, Justin would not have had the chance to save the damsel in distress. He also watched Flossie and Justin board a plane for North City, so of course he knew what was about to happen. However, he didn’t expect it to happen so fast.
It broke his heart.
He felt that he should be the only one to bear such pain. Flossie should start a new life and embrace new happiness instead of being entangled with a scumbag like him forever.
Timothy frowned and interrogated Halston with a sonorous voice, “Brat! Your woman is about to marry someone else! If they marry, you won’t have the chance to get back together with her. Don’t you feel anything?”
Timothy knew how madly they were in love with each other. Besides, he knew Halston well.
Halston was loyal and passionate. He would not easily fall in love with someone else. He wouldn’t be indifferent, either.
“It’s a pity for me too, but…” Halston held the bowl of soup and paused for a while. Then, he calmly sipped the soup and added, “Sometimes, having some regrets makes things more beautiful.”
“How could you!” For a moment, Timothy was rendered speechless. After all, his anxiety was useless since Halston was calm.
“Forget it. I’m not eating. It’s annoying! I’m going upstairs.”
Timothy did not want to argue with Halston since Halston was already an adult. He could not force Halston to do anything. Instead, he chose to get away from such annoyance to not ruin the harmony of the New Year.
After he got up and left, Francine braced herself to mediate the situation.
“Your grandpa isn’t very healthy. He should rest early. Let’s eat. We should enjoy our meal happily no matter how unhappy things are.”
Alexander soon gave his cooperation as well when he heard that. He put some food on Halston’s plate and smiled. ” Yes, we can’t force things in life. Let’s enjoy our meal first.”
“Dad, Mom, I’m sorry you guys are worried about me. Happy New Year.”
Halston quietly ate and raised his wine glass, toasting to his parents. He looked normal and calm, and was warmer toward them.
However, Francine sensed something wrong with him though he acted fine. He might be bothered by that affair though he appeared indifferent.
However, they could not do anything much at a time like that except for keeping him company.
“Don’t be sad. We’re still with you no matter what!” Francine raised her wine glass; she could not help but look teary.
Just now, she had wanted to scold Halston and make him rush to North City to win Flossie back.
Yet, she could tell that he did not intend to do so at all.
She knew that he must be heartbroken. Since he held himself back from trying to win Flossie back despite such excruciating pain, something greater must be weighing on him. However, she was too timid and ashamed to ask about that.
She feared that Halston resolutely stopped having anything to do with Flossie because he was paying the price for the mistake she and Alexander had made that year.
“Yes, you’re right. But I feel that we should make things clear to you…” Alexander cleared his throat and handed the invitation card to Halston. “You should take a look at this.”
“Alexander, why did you show him this? You’re going to break his heart!”
Francine considered giving it to Halston after the New Year. Then, Halston could decide whether to attend the ceremony or not.
However, Alexander insensibly handed the invitation to him while they were enjoying their meal. No matter how indifferent he was, of course Halston would be heartbroken when he read the names on the card. Rather than indifferent, he was in truth very passionate.
“It’s fine.” Halston accepted the card and read the words with a poker face. He was calm. “It’s three days from now. I should be free to attend it.”
“Are you going to attend the ceremony?” Francine became agitated and asked eagerly, “Are you going to snatch away the bride? I knew it! I’m sure you’re going to do something big!”
“No, I’m not going to snatch away the bride.” Halston put his fork down and stood up. He added calmly, “Plus, I’m going to give them a huge wedding gift.”
Flabbergasted and shocked, Francine’s face stiffened.
“I’m full. Just enjoy your meal.” Halston went past Francine and headed upstairs to his room.
Francine and Alexander watched Halston’s upright but desolate back for a long time, unable to snap back to reality. “Alexander, is there something wrong with him? Should we get an exorcist? He’s acting weird!”
Francine could not accept to see Halston that generous all of a sudden. His woman was snatched away, but he wasn’t angry at all. Instead, he wanted to buy the couple a big wedding gift.
She couldn’t come up with any other possibility except that Halston was crazy or possessed.
“I can understand him.” Suddenly, Alexander became sad as if he recalled his past. He looked gloomy as he added, ” Sometimes, letting go is a kind of happiness. Helping the others to be together is true love.”
“Hmph, I knew it!” Francine’s face turned hideous, displeased with Alexander’s reaction. She started mocking him. “Yes, genes are terrible. Your son inherited your messy romance. Do you regret letting go and helping them to be a couple back then? And do you regret getting your second choice, which is me?”
Alexander frowned, sounding guilty. “We’re talking about Halston. Why must you involve me? My affair is long buried in the past, and we agreed never to bring it up. Why do you always bring that up lately? Have you thought about the consequences if others learn about that?”
“Of course I do!”
Francine suddenly became agitated.
She clutched her chest and said, “I was cautious because I knew how serious the consequences were. I was too timid to let them know, but it was still our mistake. I feel that we shouldn’t keep it a secret… Why don’t we call them here and confess the truth to them? Flossie can blame or hate us if she wants, but I don’t want her to be angry at Halston. I can do anything as long as they’re back together.”
“No! We can’t do that!” Alexander was firm.
As a man, he was naturally more rational.
He warned seriously, “That affair is already in the past. As long as we keep it to ourselves, no one will know. But if we expose it, things will get complicated and messy. Then, they can never make peace with each other. Our families will become enemies. Adie and Abby will get stuck in between. What should they do, then? What kind of choices should they make?”
In the past, the grudges between Halston’s parents and Flossie’s parents were more complicated and aggressive compared to the entanglement between Flossie and Halston.
However, Maurice and Timothy suppressed it. Hence, both families seemed calm and close.
Yet, the four of them knew how complicated things were underneath the calmness. There were deep resentment and grudges.
Alexander knew that they could never ruin the calmness. If not, all the dirty sins would be exposed.
Alexander and Francine were already old. It was fine even if others criticized them or took violent revenge on them. But they were worried that the younger generation, especially Adie and Abby, would have a hard time handling it.
“You’re right. I wasn’t thinking straight…” Francine became teary and sobbed. “I just wanted to relieve my guilt and failed to consider the kids. We brought this upon ourselves. I’ll probably have to suffer this pain for the rest of my life.”
“Stop thinking about that. It’s all over. It’s useless to regret or dwell on it.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.