Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
“Maybe.
I don’t know but it’s no longer important…” Melancholy and regret swam in his eyes.
”We can’t change the past, and the dead can’t come back.
It doesn’t matter if I wronged her or she wronged me; nothing’s going to change.” “Umm…
What if I told you Joanne is still alive? What would you do?” Holding her breath, Flossie asked tentatively.
“Alive?” Quinton’s eyes lit up briefly, then became dull again.
” That’s impossible.
Although she grew up in a fishing village, she wasn’t a swimmer.
There’s no way she could have survived being stranded in the ocean.” For so many years, he had been searching for Joanne, but to no avail.
The only possibility was that she was dead.
“Yes, she’s alive.
Although she nearly died, she got lucky, or maybe…
she was just like you.
She didn’t want to die with regrets, so she held on,” Flossie said firmly.
She was a little worried at first, but his words revealed his deep feelings for Joanne.
He deserved to know the truth.
““W-What did you say?” Quinton stared at Flossie in disbelief, thinking he had misheard her.
“I said Joanne is still alive.
She nearly got killed, but survived just like you.”
Flossie repeated herself, rendering Quinton speechless.
Quinton swallowed and clenched his fists, trying to calm himself down as excitement surged in his veins.
“Quinton, are you… alright?” Flossie whispered anxiously when he remained silent.
“I’m great!” Quinton took a deep breath, then asked eagerly, *Where is she now? What happened to her?”
“Ah, that’s a long story…” Flossie explained everything to him, then sighed regretfully. “Back then, it was Liam who calmed the fort master down, giving Joanne and I the chance to escape. If he hadn’t done that, they would have taken out Joanne’s organs and sold them. However, even when things were tough, she never gave up.”
The dark zone of The Triangle in Southeast Aeos was a dangerous spot, and a pretty woman like Joanne would’ve been easy prey for all the merciless sadists there.
“Stop, I don’t want to hear anymore.” Quinton’s face turned pale, and his body trembled. He was well aware of the kinds of torture in The Triangle, since the Water Dock’s punishments had been inspired by it. Carmine Pawnshop had prospered fast by breaking a lot of rules, and there were many young women who suffered the same fate as Joanne.. and worse. It was also the reason why Quinton had fallen out with Joanne.
He had taken Joanne to Water Dock and built her a courtyard full of her favorite flowers and soft toys. She’d led a carefree and naive life like a princess there, but the world outside of her fairytale castle was horrible. Terrible things happened outside her courtyard, making it a forbidden land for ordinary people.
Quinton had prohibited Joanne from leaving the courtyard, and her initial obedience faded after her boredom caught up to her. She had begged him to take her out but he always turned her down. At last, she managed to sneak out alone, and her entire world crumbled when she witnessed
Quinton’s cruelty and horrible deeds. It worsened her conflict with Quinton, and she no longer wanted to stay in
Water Dock. Quinton then proceeded to lock her up, and then… that tragedy ended everything.
“I locked her up in the courtyard because I was afraid that she might get hurt. The world out there was too cruel and dangerous, and I didn’t want to risk her safety. I didn’t expect that what I feared most would happen nonetheless.”
Quinton sighed remorsefully. Finally, he looked at Flossie in disappointment and asked, “So you knew that she’s alive. Why did you keep it from me?”
“I…” Flossie looked down guiltily.
“I was unsure what Joanne would face if I told you.” “And are you sure now?” Quinton asked her quietly.
Flossie pursed her lips and answered, “At least I know that you won’t hurt her, and that you’ll protect her forever.” “Who knows,” he replied cryptically, clenching his fists.
Flossie’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What do you mean? You said hating is harder than loving, and that you want to move on.
Why are you saying this now?” “I did want that, but it’s not something I can decide on my own…” Quinton looked into the distance, sounding sorrowful.
” Resentment isn’t easy to resolve; she may not want to fix things even if Ido.” “Oh, that’s what you’re worried about.” Flossie sighed in relief when she realized that Quinton didn’t hate Joanne.
“Don’t worry, though Joanne may hate you, she still cares about you.
If not, she wouldn’t have whispered your name when she almost died.
I know her too, so I can talk to her and help you both meet.” Flossie wanted them to reconcile with each other.
“Thank you.
I really do want to fix things between us.” Quinton looked at Flossie gratefully.
After a peaceful night, Quinton woke up early the next morning.
He looked just like a fresh graduate in a simple shirt and long, slim -fit pants.
Flossie emerged from her room in her pajamas, yawning and running a hand through her long hair.
When she bumped into Quinton in the corridor, she was rather ashamed to admit that she couldn’t look away.
“Wow, Quinton, you’re so handsome.
If we weren’t siblings, I would have tried to pursue you!” Flossie was obsessed with handsome men.
The reason she was infatuated with Halston in the past was because of how handsome he was.
How nice it was that she could see this handsome brother of hers every day at home now! Flossie rested a hand on his face, and said cheekily, ”Now I know why Halston hurt your face.
He couldn’t be the most handsome man in Beach City with you around.” There was still a faint scar on Quinton’s face that ran from the corner of his left eye to the corner of his lips, but it was a perfect surgery otherwise.
The mark could easily be covered with concealer.
Rubbing the faint scar, she asked, “Does it still hurt?” Quinton covered her hand with his and smiled, shaking his head.
” No, not anymore.” Flossie narrowed her eyes and growled, “Ugh, we should’ve never let that petty Halston off the hook!” “My feud with him has long been resolved.
He hurt my face, and I nearly killed him.
What’s more, I wouldn’t have woken up this time if not for him, so don’t hate him because of me,” Quinton quickly reassured her, not wanting her to hate Halston even more.