Filed To Story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
Noticing that the woman wasn’t replying, Halston continued. “Whoever you are, I just know you’re not Flossie. Else why would she not dare to face me when she’s sitting right beside me? Why would she care for me but not dare to give me even a single hug?”
“That’s not her style.”
Flossie was stunned, watching Halston silently.
“But if you really are Flossie, hug me. I said I’m willing to forgive you no matter what, right?” Halston opened up his arms, holding onto the last bit of hope in his mind, waiting for the woman’s embrace.
Although he was blind, he was not stupid. He could tell that this woman was imitating Seraphina’s voice on purpose. However, he just wasn’t sure if she was Flossie.
Hence, he went against his usual behavior and rambled on, hoping to help relieve her mental weight so that she’d reunite with him.
He waited for such a long time to the point he found himself acting too desperately as well, and yet the woman still wasn’t doing anything.
“I knew it. You’re disgusted by me. I am blind, and I can’t even take care of my basic necessities on my own. I don’t deserve you anymore.” Halston laughed at himself with his arms still open, waiting for her regardless.
He thought to himself, ‘This is the last chance I’m giving her.’
‘I can throw my dignity away and forgive her for her faults. All I want is a simple life with her.’
Flossie covered her mouth, staring back at the sad lonely man. She didn’t dare to utter a sound, sobbing quietly instead.
She told herself over and over again that she must not give in. That was because she made a deal with the gods. She had to leave him in order for him to be safe.
She just didn’t want to risk anything after he barely survived what she put him through.
‘Goodbye, Halston. The only thing I can do for you now… is stay away from you.’ Flossie spoke in her mind, exiting the backyard without alerting anyone.
She was worried that she might change her mind if she had stayed any longer. She knew that it would only hurt the both of them if she broke her promise.
At the very same time, Halston felt a soft fragrant body leaping into his arms. He hugged the person tightly, surprised. “Are you finally willing to face me now, Flossie?”
The woman in his arms shifted around uncomfortably, carefully speaking up. “M… Mr. Guajardo, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not Miss Ellsworth.”
Halston froze. His expression darkened. “Who are you?”
“I… I’m your personal caretaker, Layla Bridges. The madam sent me.” Layla had quite an innocent- looking face. Even the way she spoke sounded like she could do no harm.
Halston’s expression was frosty, rudely pushing the woman away without hesitation. He then questioned her, clearly upset. “How long have you been here?”
“For quite… a while.”
“So you were the one who enjoyed the night breeze, gave me my coffee and listened to me this whole time?”
“Y… Yes.” Layla hid the fact that Flossie had come by just to win Halston’s heart. Instead, she inserted herself into the narrative.
“The madam said you were in a bad mood and you need some quiet company. So I didn’t talk the entire time and just listened to you. I didn’t think you would mistake me as Miss Ellsworth. I’m really sorry.”
“I don’t blame you.” Halston’s expression was blank as he mocked himself. “I was being too naive, I underestimated how cruel a person could be.”
“Mr. Guajardo, I can tell you have yet to move on from Miss Ellsworth. If you trust me, I could try contacting her for you.” Layla mustered up the courage, pretending to be kind and understanding.
The man was blind, but his facial features were still perfect, and his natural elegance was more than enough to make anyone swoon. If she had been able to win him over because of this, she would have undoubtedly won the lottery of life.
“No need.” Halston’s expression turned dreary once more, responding in a dismissive tone. “I have to accept that we are over, and I have to thank her for being so cold. Only then would I be able to move on completely.”
“Then… Would you consider getting into a new relationship, Mr. Guajardo?” Layla took a deep breath and clung to the man’s arm. “I’m an orphan, and the famous doctor, Karter Bridges, raised me since I was a baby. That’s how I managed to learn so much about medicine.”
“If you don’t mind, I’m willing to stay by your side and take care of you forever, even if I have to take a vow of chastity. And I’ll further my studies so that I can heal your eyes as soon as possible.”
“Get lost!” Halston scowled, pushing the woman away harshly again. He was enraged. “Are you pitying me? I can’t believe that I, Halston Guajardo, am being pitied by a mere servant! How depressing!”
“No, Mr. Guajardo, that’s not it. I… I’ve admired you for the longest time, but I know I come from a humble background, and I have no right to get close to you. I even had to go through many challenges just to be hired as your caretaker…”
“Your mother had specifically mentioned that becoming your personal caretaker means that I have to first take a vow of chastity. And once I get the job, I’ll have to continue caring for you for the rest of my life. I’m more than willing to do that for you!” Layla said weakly.
She knew that marrying Halston was nothing more than a dream. Thus she only wished to stay with him as a servant. She didn’t need a name or title.
“I am capable of taking care of myself! So get lost!” Halston flung his arm and knocked the coffee cup off of the table, visibly enraged.
He used to be so full of pride, after all.
Even so, the love of his life no longer cared for him, not even sparing him a glance. On the contrary, a random servant was insisting on taking care of him forever, even if it meant taking a vow of chastity.
‘This is so ironic. This just makes my relationship with Flossie sound like a joke!’
“Please… don’t be mad, Mr. Guajardo. If you dislike me, I can just stop talking, I’ll be quiet when I’m with you. You can treat me like a mere decoration if you so wish! I live to serve you…”
Layla showed humility in order to comfort the angry man, but he didn’t want to listen. He even went as far as to push her to the ground.
“Ah!” Layla yelped in pain as her head collided with one of the rock pillars, causing her to bleed.
“Now you know that I’m not a good person. So stay away from me if you value your life.” Halston warned her with a hostile expression.
An egotistical man like him didn’t need any sympathy, nor did he want to become a burden to others. He found it extremely ridiculous to have a woman sacrifice her whole life just to take care of him.
“Mr. Guajardo, I volunteered for this, and I’m staying, even if you chase me away! Please give me a chance to care for you. I won’t even complain if I end up dying in your hands!” Layla ignored her bleeding wound and expressed her dedication instead.
Francine had been watching them for some time and nodded to herself with a satisfied smile.
“It’s okay, Layla. I knew I was right to have chosen you. You’re the best candidate to take care of my son. You are dismissed for now. Go tend to your wounds.” She patted the woman on the shoulder, consoling. “Sorry for the trouble. But don’t worry. I definitely won’t mistreat you.”
“M… Madam. Alright, if you’ll excuse me.” Layla nodded and left.
Playing the victim this time had secured her position within the Guajardo family. Halston would just have to live with her existence from now on, whether he liked it or not.
Francine looked at Halston’s pained expression, only to find a deep sting in her heart as well. She said, “Son, I specifically chose Layla to care for you. She has knowledge of medicine, and it’d be good if she’s your personal caretaker. It might even help you recover your sight quicker. Don’t be so fierce with her. We don’t want to scare her away now, do we?”
“What? Have I fallen so far from grace that I should be worried about offending a mere servant?! Or are you saying that… even a servant should find me despicable and abandon me too?” Halston lamented in self-pity.
Becoming a blind man had crushed his ego entirely, and Flossie’s indifference was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. He no longer felt confident in himself, especially when he thought of himself as nothing but useless garbage.
‘Useless garbage like me should be rotting away in the sewers. I shouldn’t bring anyone down with me!’
“Don’t say that, son. This is all just temporary. It’s not like you’ve lost your mind or lost a limb. There’s still hope. As long as you cooperate with Layla’s treatment plans, you’ll get better…”
“Haha, get better?” Halston chuckled bitterly. “My eyes were permanently damaged. I won’t get better. Just face it already, don’t try to comfort yourself with lies.”
“Why won’t you listen? I told you that Layla is a skillful medic. Her father is the famous Karter Bridges too! Do you know who he is? He’s the only outer disciple of the mysterious Albus Order leader. Do you know how prestigious the Albus Order is in the medical field? They’re…”
“Don’t know, don’t care.” Halston immediately interrupted.
From his point of view, Francine was basically panicking and looking for any type of remedy to cure him. It was simply madness…
Francine ignored his hostility and continued introducing the order in detail.