Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
‘But what?” Leia asked eagerly.
“Comfort!” Flossie smiled. “A couple needs to spend the rest of their lives together, which is a long time. It isn’t enough just being attracted to each other-being comfortable is the most important thing. If it’s a very intense and passionate love, it’ll end up hurting them both. It’ll only bloom for a while and won’t last long. In the end, the two people holding hands as they watch the sunset will keep each other company, take care of each other, and listen to each other’s woes.”
Leia listened to Flossie’s explanation and nodded thoughtfully. “You sound so logical. Attraction won’t last forever, so the most important thing is compatibility!”
“Yeah, I think you and Xavier are pretty compatible. You’re very relaxed when you’re with him, so you both can be together forever,” Flossie remarked, sounding jealous.
“You can’t say that.” A sigh escaped Leia. ‘Of course, we’re relaxed when we’re not fighting. But when we are, feel like beating him up. I always torture myself because of him, and I’m not confident in the relationship either. I think it’s very sweet when you’re lovey-dovey with someone, and when you’re comfortable with them. But if you fight, all you can feel is pain. Being comfortable doesn’t mean that Justin is right for you.”
“So?” Flossie chuckled helplessly. “Do you want me to give Haze up and go back to being entangled with that man?
“No, I don’t mean that!” Leia waved. “I want you to start again, but I don’t want to see you date a guy just to get it over with. I hope you choose Justin because of love. That’s fairer for the both of you.”
“Got it.” Flossie understood Leia’s concems. She hugged Leia and said, “I know what I’m doing.”
*Speaking of which, where are you guys going today?” Leia asked with curiosity.
“I’m going to try an escape room with him,” Flossie answered honestly.
Escape rooms were popular right now, and youngsters loved them. Leia, however, hadn’t experienced one yet. “Oh, an escape room. You should have invited me! The more, the merrier. It isn’t fun if only the two of you play, and if you get paired with strangers, it’ll be boring.”
*Sure, let’s go together, Flossie invited enthusiastically.
“Okay, wait. I’ll get more people.” Leia took out her phone enthusiastically.
Soon, Justin’s car arrived at the entrance of Ellsworth Manor. Flossie and Leia hurriedly got into the car.
“Mr. Baldwin, I’m sorry for disturbing your date. I’m sure you won’t mind a few third wheels?’ Leia asked sweetly as she got into the car.
Justin shrugged. “It’s fine. The more, the merrier. You guys can light up my romance with Phoenix!”
They chatted and laughed before eventually reaching the most popular escape room center in Beach City Screaming Night. Screaming Night stood out and remained on the top of the review list because of its realistic scenes, thrilling levels, and scary atmosphere.
After getting out of the car, Justin paid for the game while Flossie and Leia waited in the lobby.
An attendant holding a tablet explained the themes to them. “Hey, beauties! There’s a total of four themes in Screaming Night. Each theme is focused on horror with four, six, eight, or ten members in a group. I recommend you take the package with six people in a group. It’s suitable for the theme ‘Hospital Horror’. Its storyline and gameplay are the most interesting.”
“Let me check it out.” Flossie held the tablet and read the summary for Hospital Horror. She smiled and said brightly, “Alright, we’ll pick this!”
“Okay.” The attendant put in the order and looked at the three of them. “You need six people to play this game, but there are only three of you. Do you need me to get other players for you?”
“It’s fine.” Leia waved. “My friends will be here soon.” She took her phone out and called someone. “What’s taking you so long? If you’re not coming, I’ll find someone else.” After ending the call, she told Flossie and Justin, ‘Let’s wait another five minutes. They’re parking the car.”
As expected, three people exited the elevator five minutes later. They were Xavier, Jeffrey, and… Halston! The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
Leia walked forward and yanked Xavier close to pinch him harshly. She whispered, “I asked you to find someone, but why did you bring him? Were you trying to make this place a battlefield?”
Xavier shrugged innocently. “I had a meeting with Jeffrey and some directors, and Halston happened to be there too. When you called me, they were there, so I brought them along. I couldn’t ask those old directors in their fifties or sixties, could I?” Xavier had purposely put the phone on speaker mode when he answered Leia’s call. Naturally, Halston had heard everything since he was sitting beside Xavier.
Halston hadn’t reacted when Xavier sent him the photo of Flossie and Justin hugging, but Halston would always ask Xavier how close Flossie and Justin were every time he met Xavier. Impatient, Xavier told Halston that Flossie and Justin had started dating, and went on dates almost every day. Halston finally couldn’t take it when Flossie and Justin had wanted to try an escape room, and had shamelessly tagged along.
*Mr. Guajardo, how rare! To what do we owe this honor?’ Leia switched targets to Halston. Halston looked like he was about to negotiate an important business deal in his suit and leather shoes. “Isn’t it beneath an elite like you to do an escape room? It’ll be a waste of your time. Also… Why aren’t you keeping your witch girlfriend company?”
“Lei!” Xavier scolded. “We’re all old friends, and it’s just a game. What’s important is we’re having fun. Stop bringing up irrelevant things!”
“I don’t want to, but…” Leia didn’t want to let Halston off the hook that easily. She was furious with him and wanted to vent her frustrations.
‘Lei, Xavier’s right-we just need another player. You don’t have to be so serious about it.” Flossie extended her hand to Halston. “You’re welcome to join us, Mr. Guajardo.”
“It’s my honor, Ms. Ellsworth.” Halston was expressionless as he shook Flossie’s hand, equally formal.
Everyone was speechless. It was so obvious they were pretending to be unaffected.
Justin’s heart clenched when he saw them holding hands, but he forced a wide smile onto his face. He walked over and held Flossie’s shoulders as he said to her soothingly, “Relax, it’s just a game. I’ll protect you later.”
Flossie seemed to realize something and immediately let go of Halston’s hand. She looked up at Justin and smiled sweetly, saying in an unusually coy voice. “You promise? I’ll hide behind you later, okay?”
Justin patted his chest. “Of course!”
“Hmph!” Halston snorted in disdain, making the atmosphere even more awkward. Leia and Xavier looked at each other and subconsciously took a step back. It really was a battlefield!
Jeffrey was the only one who didn’t understand what was going on. He stood in the middle of the three of them eagerly and said, “Flossie, it’s my first time doing an escape room. They said it’s pretty scary and challenges our intelligence. You’re the bravest and smartest person I know, so I’ll stick with you, okay?”
“No problem!” Flossie looked at Jeffrey and touched his head dotingly. “Just follow me. Let’s go!” She held Jeffrey’s arm as they followed the attendant, then asked Jeffrey, “Have you gotten used to filming yet? You seem to have lost a lot of weight.”
Jeffrey answered obediently, “Yeah, the crew is so nice to me. The director even said that I was born to be this character. I’ve been working on horseback riding every day, so I might look a lot slimmer, but I have muscles too. I think being an actor is very fulfilling. I’m very happy!” Jeffrey babbled happily. He was no longer as self-conscious as before, and looked confident and optimistic like any young man his age.
Flossie was happy to hear it. She felt that her decision to help Jeffrey join the entertainment circle was a good one. ‘Is that so? Do you have muscles? Show me your abs,” she joked and lifted his shirt. She saw muscles on his abdomen that came with nice lines.
‘Do you like them, Flossie? You can touch them if you want to,” Jeffrey invited enthusiastically. It might sound cheesy if any other man said it, but Jeffrey had no impure motives. He simply wanted to make Flossie happy.
Halston and Justin followed them with matching annoyed expressions, and said at the same time, ‘Pretentious brat!”
The attendant brought them to an abandoned building. It looked like a hospital with six floors.
‘Players, you’ll start your adventure here. I’ll give each of you a walkie-talkie and handbook, and you can clear the levels based on the clues you find. The attendant passed them the items, then continued, “The handbooks include the background of the story and the things you need to pay attention to. Enjoy yourselves!” The attendant waved and left.
‘It’s living up to its name as the top escape room in Beach City. This building seems so real and gloomy. I feel like someone must have died here!” Leia looked up at the tall and decaying hospital as she swallowed nervously, goosebumps prickling her skin.
“It’s said that the shop owner purposely bought an abandoned hospital to create this theme. This hospital was built one thousand years ago. In the past, many people came here for treatment, but all of them would die a mysterious death. This place is said to be haunted!” Justin flipped through the handbook, looking intrigued.” Rumour has it that the hospital administration colluded with businessmen to conduct illegal experiments on the patients, and at last, the patients’ families found out. The hospital used cruel means to kill them off to keep their secrets, so their angry ghosts lurk in the hospital all year round. Gradually, the hospital started to collapse, and nobody dared to approach it.”
“Is it that evil?” A chill ran down Leia’s spine, and she timidly hid behind Xavier. “Let’s not play this. Today is Halloween, and there’s no point in getting bad luck from playing this game.”
It was rare to see the tough Leia act timidly, and Xavier acted like the perfect boyfriend by pulling her into his arms protectively. “We should believe in science; There are no gods or ghosts in this world. I’m sure this place just made all that up to scare people. We’ll expose them today! If you get scared, just hide in my arms. I’ll protect you.”
‘Don’t forget your promise.” Leia clung to Xavier. “This is the first time I’ve seen you this manly. I’m glad I called you.”
“Of course! I’m the most manly man in Beach City, you’ll realize it later. You’ve got to spend more time with me to know.”
Their lovey-dovey moments were too much for the others.
‘Just stop with your pretentiousness. Let’s go!” Halston kicked Xavier and scoffed.
Everyone had something weighing on their minds as they approached the entrance of the hospital and pushed the old door open. With a creak, the door opened to reveal the hospital lobby. There was a shabby registration desk, moldy chairs, crooked dustbins, and flower pots.
‘It’s so weird… Should we go in?” Leia hid behind Xavier and did not dare to move.
“What’s there to be afraid of? There are six floors in this hospital. Isn’t it embarrassing if we leave before even making it past the door’ Flossie declared, then summoned her courage and walked into the lobby. Then, she studied the surroundings carefully. The paint was coming off the walls, and moss was growing on the comers. There were old-fashioned chandeliers in the dark hall, giving everything an eerie vibe.
“Here I come, Phoenix!” Justin eagerly followed Flossie.
When the others saw that, they walked into the hospital one by one. Halston, however, stood at the door, observing his surroundings vigilantly.
“Halston, why are you still standing there? You’re the last to go in.” Xavier waved at Halston and said teasingly, “You scolded me just now, but how come you’re so timid now? Don’t be scared. Look at how brave Flossie is-she was the first to go in. You just need to hide behind her and let her protect you.”