Chapter 23 – A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love

Filed To Story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love

Despite suddenly becoming the target of everyone’s critical gazes, Flossie remained perfectly calm.

“Wait,” she chuckled, “surely you guys aren’t suspecting me of being Phoenix, are you?”

“I’d just gone out to the restroom for a few minutes,” she said incredulously, “and in that time, I somehow Jurned into a famous genius hacker! What a magical turn of events! Perhaps I should celebrate it with fireworks!”

“I think it’s all just a coincidence,” Elijah chimed in quickly. “Based on my understanding of Mrs. Guajardo’s character, her shrewdness and practicality are more suited for a housewife. Her proficiency with computers is limited to watching movies and videos online. She doesn’t even play any video games… If someone like her is a genius hacker, then I must be the president of this country!”

Although his words were unflattering at Flossie’s expense, he had only said that to help get her out of trouble, and it worked well. Everyone thought that Elijah’s words made a lot of sense.

“That’s right,” said Flossie with a smile, the picture of innocence. “Everyone knows how much I love Halston. If I really was Phoenix, I would’ve done everything I could to help him. There’s no way that I would ever sabotage him!

“Is that so?” Halston, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up. His pointed gaze was fixed on the woman as he sneered, “I think you’ve sabotaged me quite a few times before.”

Flossie laughed awkwardly. ‘What a hateful man,’ she thought bitterly. How could he just pull the rug out from under her feet like that?

Halston slowly stepped towards Flossie and reached out to grip her chin, lifting her head to his. His gaze was searching, meticulously dissecting every emotion on her face.

“So, are you Phoenix?”

Flossie could not help feeling somewhat guilty, and she quickly averted her gaze. She could easily fool the others, but she knew full well that the scarily shrewd Mr. Guajardo was not someone to be trifled with.

All she could think of was to give him an ambiguous answer. “If you think I am, then I am. If you think I’m not, then I’m not.”

“Very good,” he responded. “That’s exactly the right kind of meaningless crap to say.”

His strikingly handsome face was emotionless as he demanded, “Give me your phone.”

After all, the entirety of anyone’s secret life would surely be hidden on their phone in this day and age. If there really was something suspicious about Flossie, he could easily figure it out just by browsing through her phone for a while.

Naturally, there was no way that Flossie would ever let him go through her phone, because there were so many things there that could never see the light of day!

“You’re invading my privacy here,” she told him directly. “Please forgive me, but I won’t cooperate.”

She stood her ground just as firmly as Halston. It was as if the two were playing a game of tug-of-war, and neither was prepared to give up and be subdued by the other.

The onlookers broke out in a cold sweat. None of them even dared to breathe. They truly did not expect that Mrs. Guajardo, the woman who had always been so gentle, well-behaved, and compliant, would have the guts to go against Mr. Guajardo. Was she so unafraid because she had a special status as his wife? Haze’s eyes darted back and forth between Halston and Flossie. Suddenly, a mischievous smile appeared on his handsome face, which had been partially hidden by the brim of his cap.

Fascinating’ Extremely fascinating!

“Ah, it suddenly occurred to me that there really is something wrong with my codes!”

He then turned to the crowd and laughingly said, “I’m incredibly sorry, everyone. I’ve made a fool of myself! I’ll go back and improve. I promise that there won’t be any mistakes next time!”

And just like that, the tense atmosphere instantly relaxed.

Haze’s answer made everyone heave a sigh of relief.

Earen Flossie secretly loosened her clenched fists. It would not have been that big of a deal had her secret identity been exposed, but if Halston really did check through her phone, then the secret of her pregnancy would be out – and that would open up a huge can of worms!

She furtively glanced at Haze and saw him smiling and laughing like he had nothing to hide. She was confused. Why had he decided to help her?

“In any case,” said Haze, “I’m sure that Phoenix is one hundred percent not Mrs. Guajardo. Do you guys want to know why?”

The crowd stared at Haze in eager curiosity.

“Because,” he explained with a half-smile, “Phoenix’s coding style has always been meticulous and neat. They were never sloppy. A person who could write that kind of code would never cling to a cheating man!”

After Haze left, the atmosphere became calm again.

“If there’s nothing else,” said Flossie to Halston, “then I’m leaving now.”

After all, she had performed the obligatory public display of affection, and even Haze had left. There was simply no reason for her to remain at H Group

“Free up your evening.” Halston ordered as he sat at his office table, burying himself in his work.

Flossie was extremely irritated by the authoritative air he exuded, as if he was ordering her around.

“What for?” She growled.

Halston did not answer her. Instead, he opened a drawer and took out a beautiful gift box. He handed it to Flossie and said, “Be at the banquet hall on the first floor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel this evening, at eight o’clock sharp. Make sure to dress well.”

“What’s this? You’re giving me a present? Flossie found it so surprising that she wondered if the sun was going to rise in the west tomorrow.

Unable to stifle her curiosity, she opened up the present Inside, she found a silvery dress that looked extremely expensive, but was overly modest in style.

At first, Flossie was about to give Halston a piece of her mind about it, but an idea suddenly popped up in her mind. A sly smile appeared on her face.

“Okay, I’ll be there right on time.”

That evening at eight o’clock, the open-air parking lot of the Cosmopolitan Hotel looked like a luxury car show, as the place was littered with all kinds of luxury cars.

It was the annual Beach City Charity Gala Dinner, where dignitaries and celebrities from all over the country, and even from abroad, gathered once every year.

Flossie had just arrived by taxi. She was wearing a drab brown windbreaker and her hair was casually tied up in a messy bun. Her appearance was a stark contrast to the other ladies around her who were all dolled up in glamorous dresses.

Unsurprisingly, she was stopped by the security guard when she was about to enter.

“Show me your invitation card,” the guard demanded.

“I don’t have one,” she replied honestly.

“Then get the hell out of here. This is an exclusive event, so you can’t just barge in here.”

The security guard probably did not watch the news much, which was why he had no idea that Flossie was the wife of Beach City’s most distinguished VIP, Halston Guajardo.

Or at least, she still was… for now.

Just as Flossie was about to explain herself, she was interrupted by the sound of a red Ferrari supercar screeching to a halt in the parking lot. Out stepped Halston’s cousin, Charlotte Milford, clad in a pink gown. and looking like a proud peacock.

She was accompanied by her new boyfriend, Micah Larson, as well as… Jessanna Ximenez.

“Be careful. Don’t forget that you’ve got my cousin’s baby in your belly!” In contrast to her usual bratty demeanor, Charlotte gently held Jessanna’s arm as they walked, displaying genuine concern and affection for the pregnant woman.

“Ellsworth?” Charlotte’s smile faded as soon as she recognized Flossie at the entrance. “What are you doing in a place like this?”

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