Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
After he had calmed down, he discussed the situation with Quinton and the villagers, and they started looking for Halston around the mountains. They must see him even if he was dead. If not, it meant that there was a chance that he was still alive.
A week had passed.
Flossie took the medicine on time every day in Beach City. She was getting better, and could now get out of bed on her own and eat. She could even walk up and down the stairs.
Owen gave her a check-up and smiled happily. “It’s good news, Ms.
Ellsworth! Your body mass index is back to normal. If everything goes smoothly, you won’t even have to take the medicine after this.” “Oh, that’s wonderful!” Leia jumped up happily, as if she was one who had escaped death. “The medicine really stinks, Dr. Wagner, and I feel like vomiting whenever I smell it. Flossie, however, has to have it three times a day. If you don’t stop it, she might because of the smell.” “Yes, it smells, but it’s very good for the body since it’s made of rare herbs.” While talking, Owen put away the stethoscope and gently asked Flossie,” Ms. Ellsworth, how are you feeling?” “I’m much better now. Thank you, Dr. Wagner. You saved my brother’s life, and now you’ve saved mine. You’re my family’s savior,” Flossie remarked sincerely. She was very grateful to Owen, but wasn’t in the mood to talk much. She’d been worried sick about Halston for a week now.
Owen and Leia exchanged glances and sighed. They knew why Flossie was disappointed, ubf didn’t bring it up. They didn’t want to make her more anxious by telling her what really happened; it was better to just wait patiently since no news was technically good news.
“Flossie, the Asiatic apple seems to have blossomed, and it smells so nice. I’ll take you there, okay?” Leia linked her arm with Flossie’s and suggested enthusiastically. It was spring right now, and everything was bursting with life. Leia didn’t want Flossie to stay in her room all the time and got more stressed.
“No, I don’t want to go,” Flossie said stubbornly. She only wanted to wait for Halston to come home.
“You might not want to go, but I do. Come with me. You know I don’t have many hobbies, but I do love flowers. Come on!” Leia leaned her head on Flossie’s shoulder and tried to persuade her.
Flossie could never refuse Leia when she acted like this. She sighed and reluctantly agreed.
Both Leia and Flossie walked to the back garden, where the warm sunlight and fragrance of flowers seemed to make the world a better place.
Leia finally decided to bring up Halston when she saw Flossie so gloomy.” Don’t worry, Flossie. They’re probably not back yet because that place is far away. Since we haven’t heard anything yet, it’s probably good news. Plus, Halston isn’t an ordinary man, and Quinton and that dog Xavier have gone to help him. I’m sure they’re fine.” “I know… I know they’ll be fine.” Flossie nodded and forced a smile. “I just feel like… the weather’s so nice, and the flowers will wilt if he doesn’t come back soon. It’ll be a waste of good time.” “It’s okay. Flowers will blossom again even if they wilt. It’s fine as long as you’re happy and healthy when you welcome him home,” Leia said brightly, hoping to cheer Flossie up. She felt bad because Flossie was sulky all the time.
“Are you worried about Xavier?” Flossie asked curiously.
“Why should I be worried about a dog?” Leia scoffed indifferently, “It’s his business whether he lives or dies. It doesn’t concern me and won’t affect my mood.” “Do you really think so?” “Why would I lie to you? I’m more relaxed now that I don’t love anyone. I’ll delete their contact or blacklist them if they affect my mood.” “Haha! I hope I can be like you one day,” Flossie chuckled. She was once as carefree as Leia, but when she lost her eyesight and got back with Halston, she’d become timid. It was probably because she was so sheltered nowadays. She hadn’t cared about such things in the past, but she cared about them now. She used to be able to do things alone back then, but now, she didn’t dare to. She had to rely on Halston, her support, to survive…
But now, he was gone. It made her feel like a floating boat, drifting with nowhere to go.
“Flossie, stop overthinking. You’ve suffered a lot, so you’ve become tired and depressed. If it were me, I would have given up ages ago. You’re recovering from heavy metal poisoning, so it’s normal to depend on others.” While talking, Leia skipped around and plucked a bunch of flowers like a monkey, then handed them to Flossie. “These are for you, my goddess. Bad days are normal, and once they’re over, you’ll be energetic again. I’m sure that day won’t be far!”
Flossie smiled as she held the bouquet of flowers to her delicate face, and looked like a beauty from an oil painting. Anyone looking at her would be mesmerized. “Thank you, Lei. I’m feeling much better, so you don’t have to worry about me.” Flossie lowered her head to smell the bouquet, and her expression brightened slightly. She took a deep breath and said, “You can leave me alone. I want to stay here for a bit.” “Ugh, Flossie. You… Did I annoy you? Am I talking too much?” Leia immediately shut her mouth, then carefully said, “I promise I won’t say anything else from now on.”
“No, it’s not that.”
Flossie chuckled. “Of course I’m happy to have you with me. I don’t find you annoying. I just feel that you guys have been taking care of me all the time like I’m a baby, and it made me rely on you. I don’t want to keep on being like this. It’s time for me to face the world alone.” “What did you say? What nonsense is that?” Leia asked anxiously, frightened by Flossie’s words. Both Halston and Quinton were not around, so Leia was responsible for taking care of Flossie. What if something happened to Flossie, or she became even more unhappy? If that happened, Halston and the others might hack Leia into pieces, and she might even kill herself.
“Do you remember the last time I left Ellsworth Manor?” Flossie asked Leia vaguely.
“Let me think about it…” Leia frowned contemplatively, and realized that it had been a very long time since Flossie had gone out. “It was probably the time when Shirley’s fans attacked US, but that wasn’t your fault. I was careless, and it gave them the opportunity to attack US.”
Flossie seemed to be very frightened of the outside world after that incident. She never went out again, and even her medical appointments and surgeries were done in Ellsworth Manor. “I don’t blame you. It’s just that I’ve been keeping to myself too much.” When Flossie recalled her past, she felt sad that she had turned from a brave tiger to a timid kitten. It felt like she had lost the ability to survive outside. On one hand, she relied on them and always wanted their help, but on the other hand, she was scared of the outside world. She was afraid of stepping out into a bottomless abyss. But the truth was… the world wasn’t that horrible, and she could survive without having to rely on others. 1 “I think I’ve been asleep for a very long time; it’s time for me to wake up. A kitten’s life might be peaceful, but it doesn’t suit me. It’s better for me to soldier on in the wild,” Flossie remarked slowly.
“Flossie, what… do you want to do? Can you tell me?” Leia became even more anxious, and felt like Flossie might do something extreme.
“Nothing much. I just want to get back to normal. I can’t always stay home and not go out, can I?” “So what if you stay home?” Leia protested, “I wouldn’t mind staying home if all my loved ones were around me. Besides, the world outside is very chaotic, so it’s not wrong to want to be safe.” She felt that Flossie wanted to go out, but many people were watching them, so it would be safer if they stayed in the manor.
“Lei, why don’t… you take me out?” Flossie suddenly asked.
“Ah… it’s not a good idea to go out now. Why don’t you wait a little?” Leia suggested hesitantly, but in actuality, she couldn’t say no to Flossie when she asked her something so coquettishly. After a while, she agreed.
“I heard that Miss Band is coming to Beach City for a performance at Hill Pub. Let’s go check it out!” Flossie said excitedly, sounding like she had just been released from prison. Miss Band was an old band from Eliwern, and it was the band she and Leia loved the most during their college days. It was an old band from Eliwern. Flossie, Leia, and Liam formed a band because they idolized them, and they had then become a legend in BC University and gained a lot of fans. But a few years ago, Miss Band had disbanded, upsetting many of their fans. After being low-key for a few years, the band had now started going on tours around the world with its original members. It was such a rare chance, and Flossie didn’t want to miss it.
“Yes, we can go there but… Why don’t we just watch the live broadcast?” Leia hesitated. She’d only agreed to walk around the manor with Flossie, not go to a messy place like a pub.
No, the broadcast won’t be as good as watching it live. Did you forget that it was our favorite band in college? You liked their lead singer so much that you said you wanted to marry him! It’s such a great chance-you’ll regret it if you don’t go!” “That’s true, but that place is pretty chaotic. It’s not suitable for US. Why if bad guys target US? I’m fine, but you…” “Oh, I know. You think I’m a burden, and you’re afraid that I’ll get you into trouble.” Flossie looked gloomy as she chuckled bitterly. “Yeah, how could a blind woman go to a pub to watch a performance? It’s insane! I want to prove that I’m no different than ordinary people, but that’s not possible. A blind person like me should just stay home. It’s better not to go there and watch the fun.”
Flossie’s words made Leia feel guilty. “No, Flossie… I didn’t mean that. I’m afraid that some bad guys might harm you.” “You weren’t afraid in the past, but you are now. Do you think I’m a burden…
” Flossie turned and covered her face, pretending to be crying. “I know you’re annoyed that you have to take care of me, so I won’t trouble you. I won’t go. I’ll stay home all the time and enjoy the boredom. I don’t have the right to watch the performance.” “Oh, gosh. Just have mercy on my soul. Fine, I’ll take you!” Even if Leia was worried about the risks, she still braced herself to take Flossie there. Besides, if she refused, Flossie might guilt her even more.
Flossie had Leia completely under her control.
At eight o’clock at night, Leia secretly drove Flossie to Hill Pub where Miss Band would perform, without the knowledge of Owen or Margaret.
Hill Pub was spacious. It always organized performances for nonmainstream bands, and its patrons were usually rock music enthusiasts. They were independent people who loved freedom, especially those who liked heavy metal music. If the atmosphere of the performance was good, the audience would get excited, and dance and scream along to the music; they liked the release and joy the music brought them.
In the past, Leia loved that feeling, but as she got older, she didn’t enjoy it as much. Now, she was just worried a stampede might happen.
The pub was overcrowded, and everyone was eagerly waiting for Miss Band to appear. Leia and Flossie wore dark punk clothes with large sunglasses and dreadlocks. They looked like cool young women who loved rock music.
“Flossie, it’s cramped and stuffy here. Why don’t we go back?” Leia held Flossie’s hand firmly the whole time, and the noise nearly drowned her voice.
“Okay, let’s go in!” Flossie didn’t hear Leia. She looked happier than she had been for a long time. She kept feeling things around her as she moved through the crowd, trying to get closer to the stage. As she did so, she accidentally stepped on the foot of a young woman.
“Hey, what are you doing? Are you blind? You stepped on my foot!” “I’m so sorry!” Flossie kept nodding and apologizing.
“Do you think saying sorry will help? Have you never watched a performance before? Why do you keep pushing me? What’s the rush?’ The lady’s friend demanded as she chewed her gum, trying to seek justice for her friend.
Leia bristled and immediately retorted, “Don’t push it. She only stepped on your foot once, and she already apologized for it. There’s no need to keep going on about it.” “Hey, you both are the ones at fault here! How dare you scold me? Do you know who I am?” “I don’t know, but it’s obvious you’re just a gangster. If you’re rude to my friend, I’ll scold and beat you up!”
As they were engaged in a fierce argument, Miss Band appeared onstage. The lights in the pub were dimmed, and the fans started cheering when they heard the lively drumming.
“Don’t let go of my hand, Flossie! Flossie? Flossie! Where are you?” Leia screamed as she got separated from Flossie, but her screams were drowned out by the loud music. She couldn’t find Flossie in the dark area below the stage.
Meanwhile, Flossie immediately panicked when she realized that she had been separated from Leia, but gradually calmed down while the band was performing. She stood where she was and waited for Leia to come for her, enjoying the music at the same time.
“Can you not give up on me? Can you turn and look at me? Can you go to the beach with me in the summer…” Miss Band started their performance with their famous song called “Can You”, and people started dancing to the lively music.
The fans held hands and began to spin around. Someone held Flossie’s hand and spun her along with the crowd, but she was slow and blind, and lost her balance. Just as she was about to fall, someone held her by her waist and steadied her…
“Thank you.” Flossie breathed a sigh of relief and stood up straight using the man’s support.
The man was silent as if he was staring at her for a long time. After that, he whispered to her, “Do you like Miss Band?” “Yeah!” Flossie adjusted her sunglasses and pretended to be calm. “Miss Band is my rock enlightenment band-l fell in love with rock because of them. To be honest, I learned from them and came up with a band myself!” “I know.” The man explained calmly, “I recognized you, and I’m your fan.” “Really?” Flossie was surprised. It had been a while since she had been in a band. Even if it was very popular back then, it was so long ago that people had probably forgotten about it. But somehow, Flossie had bumped into a fan of hers.
“I know all your band’s songs, and I can sing them all.” “Well… that’s quite unusual!” Flossie pushed her hair behind her ear awkwardly. Back then, she had been confident and direct, but after going through so much, she’d become humble. When she was in a band, she played the guitar and shone brightly on stage… but now she was just a blind person who couldn’t even walk steadily. She was too ashamed to face such a loyal fan. As they were talking, a few young people around them started jumping, and they bumped into Flossie.
Once again, the man protected Flossie in his arms. “It’s too crowded here; I’m afraid these youngsters will form a train or wall of death. You’d better go to the VIP room with me on the second floor to listen to the music,” the man suggested sincerely. Any experienced rock fan would know that a train or wall of death might form if the crowd got too excited. In a train, a fan would lead and others would line up behind them, holding each other’s shoulders. They would mostly just run around below the stage excitedly. However, the wall of death was crazier. Two groups of people would hit each other if a song was particularly stimulating, and a stampede could happen under such circumstances. Countless tragedies had resulted from these in the past.
“Umm…” After a brief hesitation, Flossie nodded in agreement. It was very hard to book a VIP room on the second floor of Hill Pub, so this person had to be a big shot. Meanwhile, Leia had used all her connections and resources and could only get ordinary tickets. So, maybe it would be better to listen to the performance in a safer place.
“But my friend is downstairs. Can you help me ask her to come meet me?” After sitting on the sofa in the VIP room, Flossie asked for the man’s help, looking embarrassed.
“Sure,” the man answered quickly. “Or if you have a phone, I can ask her to come over.” “Oh yeah, my phone!” Enlightened, Flossie immediately fished out her phone and tried to unlock it. Then, she handed it to him. “Please call the person named Lei in my contacts, and tell her I’m here.”
The man took the phone. When he found dozens of missed calls from Leia, he frowned and blocked Leia’s number. “I did, but I can’t reach her.”
“You can’t reach her? How come?” Flossie held out her hand. “Give me my phone. Let me call her.”
However, the man refused to do so.
At that moment, Flossie knew that something was wrong. “Who… are you?” She asked the man coldly.
“I thought you could tell from my voice…” “Are you… Jovan?” Flossie asked tentatively. At first, she’d found his voice familiar, but the place was very noisy, and she felt like someone as successful as Jovan wouldn’t come to a pub to watch a performance..