Filed To Story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
“Hmph, don’t think that I don’t know what is on your mind when you try to flatter me. I advise you not to waste your time here… I won’t agree to it!” Quinton scoffed as he chopped the meat.
Xavier was washing the vegetables beside him. His noble demeanour made the greens in his hands look very expensive as he smiled and said, “What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
“Stop pretending to be weak. We’re men, so you should understand what I mean…” Quinton smiled and glanced at the man sharply. “Are you shamelessly staying here because you like my sister and fear that I will later estrange her from you, so you want to show your loyalty to me in advance?”
Xavier paused briefly and his playful smile turned stiff, but he admitted openly, “You’re really smart. I indeed like your sister so I don’t want to fall out with you or else I would have a thin chance of meeting her again.”
“I know you are a hopeless romantic like Halston who can betray your friends for the sake of a woman. If Halston knows about this, I bet he will want to kill you.”
Quinton smiled cryptically and continued. “Anyway, he might not be in the mood to care about this now, so it might be the best time for you to pursue my sister.”
“What happened to Halston… I mean, that scum… Isn’t he enjoying his life now with a beautiful woman in his arms? How can he be in a bad mood?”
“Why are you so concerned about him now that you have betrayed him?”
“No, I’m just curious about whether karma will find the bad guys.”
“Rest assured, it will.”
Looking at Quinton’s triumphant expression, Xavier knew that Halston must be in some kind of trouble. Before he could ask about it, Flossie pushed open the door and walked into the kitchen.
“Xavier, come out. I need to talk to you for a second.”
“Me?” Xavier felt a bit surprised and nervous when he looked at the domineering woman.
“Yeah, you. Come with me.” Flossie waved at the man and went out without leaving him a chance to refuse.
“Um, Brother, I…” Xavier turned to Quinton to ask for permission.
“Just go. You won’t be able to get her anyway,” said Quinton dismissively as he waved his hand.
As far as he was concerned, all the men in the world, except Halston, had no ability to move her sister’s heart, so it was totally unnecessary to guard her from other men. They were just wasting their efforts.
On the contrary, he could make use of them.
Xavier was Halston’s best friend, so no one knew Halston’s weaknesses better than him.
Flossie and Xavier arrived at a quiet and dark corner of the backyard of Carmine Pawnshop. No one would come here unless he was being punished.
“There’s no one here, so why don’t you tell me what it is you want?” Flossie asked Xavier, her arms crossed over her chest.
“What? Damn, you and your brother are truly biological siblings, you both are so vigorous,” mocked Xavier, smiling.
“Stop changing the subject. What do you think I’m asking you? I’m asking about you and my bestie!”
“Oh, her…” Xavier’s playful smile faded and he said nonchalantly, “Nothing. I was just messing around with her like friends do.”
“Friends?” Flossie exploded and punched him. “Do you think you’re a school kid? Messing around with a friend? Tell me now: do you like her?”
“Yes, I do. I like her, I like you, and I like every beautiful woman in this world. I like to joke with them, what’s wrong with that?”
“Bah, you really are the king of playboys and jerks. So, what you’re saying is that you don’t really like Leia, and you’re just messing around with her out of habit?” Flossie questioned sharply. She had to confirm Xavier’s feelings for Leia before she could help Leia make her choice.
“I don’t want to answer this.” There was a subtle uneasiness under Xavier’s nonchalance. He looked at Flossie indifferently and said, “You’re not my girlfriend, so I’m not obligated to tell you about my feelings.”
“Don’t try to evade this with your playfulness, Xavier. Answer my question if you’re a man. I know you’re not a real playboy, you’re just disguising yourself.” Flossie had hit the nail on the head. She still remembered that he nearly died in the fire to save her. No matter how vile he pretended to be, he could not hide his true self as a brave and responsible man.
“What does it have to do with you? Your righteous indignation may make me misunderstand you.”
“Huh? What do you mean?
“What do you think?”
Still behaving casually, Xavier advanced slowly toward Flossie, then tilted up her chin and smiled slyly. “A man might misunderstand that a woman likes him if she cares too much about him… I had feelings for you once, you know. Now that you’re single again, my feelings for you might be easily rekindled!”
“You… you’re crazy!” His words gave Flossie goosebumps and she pushed him away hard. ‘Damn it, it’s just like what Lei told me. He is just a playboy who likes to flirt – his mind cannot be read.’
“I’m warning you – I don’t care about your reasons, but if you really have feelings for Lei, you’d better confess to her as soon as possible. She might look like a carefree person, but she is very sensitive inside. Her previous relationship was traumatic, so she can’t afford to be hurt again. If you have no feelings for her, stop flirting with her. She will take it seriously and it will hurt her later on!” Flossie warned Xavier seriously.
His eyes darkened and he asked, “What happened to her previous relationship? Tell me about it.”
“Why are you curious about it?” Flossie smiled thoughtfully. “When a man cares a lot about a woman, doesn’t it mean that he has feelings for her?”
Xavier did not admit or deny it, and continued, “Was her ex a jerk? What did he do to her?”
“Um, how should I put it? He is a highly-educated elite, very gentlemanly and elegant, and very smart. Lei liked him a lot…”
“Hah, an elegant and smart elite…” He sounded very disdainful, and even his gaze exuded hostility. He sneered, “So, that’s the kind of guy she likes?”
“Yeah… Come to think of it, I seem to have worried too much…” Flossie pursed her lips thoughtfully.
“What do you mean?”
She said haughtily, “You are not her type at all. If she is not interested in you, she will naturally not be hurt by you.”
“Is that so?” A hint of frustration flashed across Xavier’s handsome face, but it was quickly replaced with cynicism.
“I’m sure that’s also what she thinks… Right, dear Lei?” The man asked suddenly with a wry smile.
The man’s gaze looked past Flossie at the corner where Leia had been hiding for a while.
Flossie felt nervous when she turned around and spotted Leia. “Lei, when did you get here? Why didn’t you say something?”
“I’ve been here for a while. It looked like you both were having a good chat so I didn’t have the heart to interrupt.” Leia slowly approached them, her tone indifferent and cold.
‘Darn!’ Flossie knitted her eyebrows. She did not expect that Leia would overhear her conversation with Xavier.
As someone with high self-esteem, Lei must be very hurt!
“Don’t listen to his crap, Lei. He is just speaking casually. He is not such a person, he…” Flossie anxiously tried to make excuses for Xavier, but then realized that the man’s words were simply unforgivable.
“You don’t have to defend me, darling, I am that kind of person. It’s good for Lei to know this early so that she will give up on her unrealistic fantasies.” Xavier put his hands in his pockets. The corners of his lips curved upwards and his gaze was carefree and charming.
Leia looked at the man coldly and said disdainfully, “I admit that you are skillful in flirtation, Xavier, and I did have some moments of confusion during the days we were on Sun Island, but the confusion I had is still far from admiration. I would never love a man like you.”
Xavier shrugged carelessly. “I know. I am not an elite or brainy man. I am just a jerk who lives casually. I won’t ask for your love.”
“I don’t like you because I despise you. You are a coward deep down. You don’t even have the guts to face your heart. You are the most cowardly man I have ever met, and you’re even more cowardly than my ex!”
“Coward?” Xavier rubbed his chin, as if she had poked his sore spot, and laughed. “How am I a coward? What is wrong with not liking conflict?”
“Aren’t you a coward since you don’t even have the courage to face your own feelings?” Leia snarled,”I was wondering why I felt you were sad though you looked happy. It’s the sorrow of unrequited love, isn’t it? I understand now…”
“Um, what do you understand?” He was confused for real this time. Did she really know his true feelings?