Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
Aside from that, she looked fine. It seemed she could eat and sleep well lately. Her cheeks were plumper, making her look chubby and less fierce than before. She looked adorable.
Seeing her like that, Halston’s worries were eased. They could still lead normal and happy lives even if they were separated. It was another form of luck.
Halston bent over and patted her face before whispering gently in her ears, “Do you want some water?”
Flossie’s eyes were closed, but when she heard his voice, she nodded obediently. “Mm, yes. I’m thirsty!’
“Just lay down. I’ll get you some water.” Halston patiently pacified her, then got up to get her a glass of warm water as if he were taking care of a child.
“Okay, here’s some water. Get up and have some water before you sleep,” Halston whispered again.
“I don’t want to get up. Feed me…” Flossie’s cheeks were flushed. She shook her head willfully, and tossed around in bed. Being drunk, she was dizzy and nauseated. She was in great discomfort.
She wanted to force herself to get up and vomit in the bathroom, but she was too weak to do so. She didn’t even have the strength to drink water.
You want me to feed you?’ Halston frowned, then smiled helplessly. “I don’t want to take advantage of you when you’re drunk.”
Being drunk, Flossie lay in bed seductively as she asked him to feed her water. It was testing his morality and endurance.
Halston knew himself well. He was worried things might end up differently if he fed her. With that thought in mind, he wanted to hold himself back.
“Get up and drink on your own.
He placed the glass on the bedside cabinet, then helped her up. He let her lean into his arms before he carried the glass and put it against her lips.
“Mm…” Flossie tried to drink on her own, but after only one sip, nausea gripped her.
Then, she vomited.
“Damn it! You..”
Flossie vomited on Halston, staining the mattress in the process.
“I feel much better now!” After vomiting, Flossie felt so much better. She lay in bed, and dozed off into a sound sleep.
Halston felt quite desperate when he saw the mess on the bed and his body. Flossie might be the only one who could boldly vomit on him and his bed. He vowed to make her stop drinking wine again.
Although he was angry, he couldn’t do anything about her. A long sigh escaped him as he took off his shirt. Then, he went downstairs shirtless.
“Halston, you… You can’t be so open even if you found true love. Did you forget you’re not alone at home?” Francine said.
Francine was about to head upstairs to check the situation out. When she saw her son come downstairs in that state, she got so scared that her expression changed. She covered her lips, and looked away from him.
“She vomited, so I asked Edith to clean it up,” Halston explained helplessly. After going downstairs, he took a bottle of iced water from the fridge and gulped it down to calm his arousal.
Since they were alone in the living room, Francine walked to Halston and tried to sound him out. “Hurry up and tell me what’s going on.”
Holding a bottle, Halston frowned and asked Francine confusedly, What do you mean?”
“I’m asking about you and the woman upstairs.” Francine sized Halston up. As an experienced woman, she hit the nail on the head. “I guess you’re into her. You came downstairs not to get Edith, but were afraid that you…might lose control of yourself and take advantage of her. Am I right?’
Stupefied, Halston looked at Francine. As expected, his mother knew him well.
“You’re not entirely wrong,” Halston answered honestly, “Yes, I was worried I couldn’t control myself. But she’s also in a mess, and she vomited on the bed. Of course I couldn’t stay in the room,”
Halston cared a great deal about cleanliness. Even if the dirtied mattress was washed and changed, he still found it unacceptable.
Well, you’re really into her!”
Francine found it unbelievable, and began to analyze.
You wouldn’t show such self-restraint if you just liked her. On the contrary, it was love if you practiced self-restraint. You wanted to touch her, but gave up such a great chance and distanced yourself from her. It means you truly love her. You care very much about cleanliness, but you didn’t make her leave even after she vomited on your bed. Plus, you let her sleep in your bed. You’ve really fallen head over heels for her.
“I’m curious who she is. Since you care so much about her, she must have surpassed Flossie.”
Halston didn’t reply to that. Instead, he simply waved his hand and said, “Stop asking so many questions. She’s leaving tomorrow.”
He didn’t want his elders to pay too much attention to his romance. He wouldn’t tell them that the woman in his bedroom was Flossie. If he did, the situation would get messier. He hoped Flossie would leave secretly when she woke up the next morning.
In short, he regretted bringing her back to Guajardo Manor.
It was hard to handle his parents and grandfather. He had made things difficult for himself.
“Leaving?” Francine crossed her arms, now overbearing. “No way! She’s so special to you. She’s the only woman who can enter your room other than Flossie. I need to observe her and see who she is. If she’s reliable, I’ll support you two.
“But honestly, I find it hard to see anyone better than Flossie. It’s not written in the stars for you and her. You two aren’t compatible, and even if I get someone to fix things, it’s useless. I still prefer her to be my daughter-in-law,” Francine said. She couldn’t hide her regret.
Halston replied indifferently, “You’d better give it up. It’s impossible between Flossie and me. She’s lovey-dovey with Justin now.”
“Yes.” A sudden silence washed over Francine. She became contemplative, and said, “You two aren’t just incompatible. There are many obstacles that will keep on tormenting you. It’s a good thing you broke up with her early.”
“Mom, are you aware of something too?” Halston asked. He suddenly looked up to stare deeply at his mother.
Halston had discovered something, and learned that he could never be with Flossie for the rest of his life. Hence, he suppressed his reluctance and pain. He would rather bear the blame for abandoning his family to break up with Flossie, but he was uncertain if Francine was aware of the same discovery.
“What am I supposed to know?” Francine laughed, sounding ambiguous. “I’ve seen and experienced a lot of things. Maybe it’s a big issue for you, but I might find it insignificant.”
“It’s about…” After a pause, Halston continued, “It’s about Flossie’s brother.”
Francine was stunned. She panicked as guilt gripped her, then quickly shook her head and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s better if you don’t know too much. If you do, you’ll feel more pain and won’t be happy.”
“Will it disappear if I don’t know anything about it?” Halston sneered. His expression suddenly turned fierce and cold. “Nothing can be kept a secret forever. Things that have happened won’t disappear with time. One day, when all the sins hidden in the dark get exposed in broad daylight, it’ll be the time for all wonderful things to be ruined. It’ll be more painful at that time.”
“Yes, you’re right. You’re better than me in handling such things. I’ll support you unconditionally, regardless of your choice. You’re not as cold and heartless as people say. On the contrary, you’re passionate and care deeply about your romance. You’d rather bear all the pain and criticisms to make the people you care about happy,” Francine said.
At that time, she seemed to have understood what her son wanted to say. Despite that, she didn’t expose anything.
Suddenly, she understood why he was so conflicted and in such great pain lately. She felt terribly sorry for him. “I’m sorry, Halston. Your dad and I did evil, and it affected your love life. I need to apologize to you.”
Francine stepped forward and hugged him, her eyes turning red.
“You don’t have to apologize to me,” Halston said.
He stood there in a daze, his face cold.
“You should apologize to Flossie and Quinton instead, but you’d better stop getting in touch with them. As long as we’re away from them, they’ll be happy. It’s better to keep something between us. We shouldn’t tell anyone else.”
“Yes, I understand.” Francine closed her eyes, and let herself cry.
She recalled the things that happened in her youth. The images kept appearing in her mind and felt like they were another lifetime away, as if they were but a dream.
Yet, Halston was right. Things that had happened wouldn’t simply disappear with time. The harm they had caused would remain forever. The only thing they could do was to keep it a secret from others and create an illusion of harmony.
Only then could it maximize happiness for more people.