Filed to story: A Second Chance with My Billionaire Love
She looked around, and purposely lowered her voice as she asked Francine, “So Halston has done such a humiliating and bad thing, but it isn’t what we think? Was he in a tight spot?”
At first, Flossie felt that her choice to divorce was right. The man she fell for wasn’t an irresponsible scumbag who indulged in his desires.
She believed firmly that Halston just wanted to cover up his difficulties, especially given how he suddenly turned so cold and ridiculous. He just wanted to make her hate him on purpose, then separate with her.
Despite trying her hardest for a long time, Flossie failed to find whatever it was that troubled him and was deeply disappointed. She once had high hopes for him, so she was unwilling to believe that he had a change of heart.
Francine might be the one who knew Halston best since she was his mother. Given her words, something that Flossie wasn’t aware of probably happened.
“Um, well…” Francine hesitated, avoiding Flossie’s eyes. She didn’t know whether she should tell Flossie about that or not.
Halston would rather be labeled as a scumbag and break up with Flossie because he didn’t want her to get hurt. Naturally, Francine would never tell Flossie the truth.
But as a mother, Francine didn’t want her son to be resented and misunderstood by his most beloved woman. He was the most loyal man in the world, but ended up being labeled as a scumbag.
“I don’t know what I should say, but you were with Halston for so many years. I’m sure you understand his character and morality. I’m sure he was forced to make that kind of choice after considering everything. Well, I… don’t want anything except for you not to hate him. You can part on good terms and find happiness, and you can love your children wholeheartedly at the same time. Our families can make peace for them, too.”
Francine had always been superior, but at the moment, she was quite humble.
As the mother of the son who had cheated on his wife, she knew she had no right to say such high-sounding words.
Despite that, she took the risk of being publicly criticized to strive for a happy ending for the two children, and boldly expressed her wish.
“You’re overthinking…” Flossie said.
She shook her head, and chuckled.
“I never hate him. I just look down on him. Yes, you’re right. We’re separated, but I sincerely wish him well. I hope he can spend the rest of his life with Ms. Ximenez. Plus, our families can get along well for the kids’ sake. Still, I hope you can tell me what you know-for the kids’ sake. Then, I can explain things properly to them. After all, we don’t want to see them regard their father as an irresponsible scumbag who gave up his family.”
Flossie seemed to be threatening Francine, as she hoped the latter could tell her the truth for the kids’ sake.
Of course, there might never be an objective truth. Flossie was simply trying to save face, since she was reluctant to accept things as they were.
“Don’t say that,” Francine said icily, her face serious. “I know you. You aren’t that kind of person. If you are, my son wouldn’t love you so deeply. Adie and Abby wouldn’t be raised so well either.”
“Stop flattering me. I won’t say bad things about him in front of the kids, but I won’t glorify him either. I’ll just tell them what I know. What I saw was that he insisted on leaving the kids and me for another woman. Isn’t that bad of him?” Flossie said.
She approached Francine, her tone overbearing. She hoped Francine would tell her the truth, especially considering the latter’s bad temper and straightforward character.
“No, you’re wrong! My son isn’t that kind of man! He did that for you and the kids. He was worried all of you would be sad, so he endured it all on your own. He cares about you and the kids, and he just wants all of you to be happy! “Francine said.
As expected, she failed to hold on and started speaking on Halston’s behalf with great agitation.
Halston bore the most pain and the fiercest rebukes, but all he got for it was a bad reputation. His wife and family even hated and misunderstood him. He had suffered the greatest injustice.
“So, what has he endured? If you want the best for him, tell me, and let me bear it with him!” Flossie said.
She kept forcing Francine’s hand, insisting on ruining the latter’s defense.
“There’s nothing we can’t solve!” she went on. “He likes to bear everything on his own, and in the end, something so trivial snowballed into a major problem that can’t be solved. I don’t think that’s a good resolution. If you know anything, tell me. I’ll overcome all the obstacles with him. Wouldn’t that make for a happy ending?”
In the past, Halston had behaved in that baffling manner several times. He suddenly left Flossie and got tangled up with Seraphina. Yet, those problems were trivial for her.
“Let me guess. Is Guajardo Enterprise facing another crisis and going bankrupt?”
Flossie had learned from her experiences, and tried to guess the reason for Halston’s sudden bout of insanity.
“That must be it. Guajardo Enterprise is going bankrupt. The Guajardos are losing money and might get into a lot of debt. He’s worried about getting the kids and me into debt, too. Is that why he insisted on leaving me? Or… Is there something wrong with his body? Is he suffering from cancer?”
Flossie pondered over it, then added agitatedly. “There must be something wrong with his body! After all, he was poisoned. He must have gotten ill from there on. He even changed the blood of his body and exhausted himself to find herbs for me. I’m sure his body is failing him. So, he wants me to hate him instead of letting me watch him die… Is he trying to put on a melodramatic show?”
“No, that’s not it!” Awakrd, Francine hurriedly interrupted Flossie. If Flossie kept talking, her words sounded like a jinx on Halston.
“Guajardo Enterprise is doing very well, with sufficient cash flow,” Francine explained. “It’s about to launch alternative fuel vehicles, too. It’s prospering right now. How is it possible for it to go bankrupt? Plus, Halston’s very strong. If he wasn’t, he’d be too weak to carry you. He did all that because…
Being straightforward, Francine was about to expose the truth when a cold voice came from behind them.
“You woke up so early today, Mother?” Halston looked icy and dangerous, as if he were about to fly into a rage. He seemed quite frightening.
Francine, despite her boldness, immediately became timid. She pursed her lips and said, “Of course. You know I’m older now. I can’t sleep much. I just happened to wake up early today.”
She breathed in, feeling some lingering fear.
Fortunately, Halston interrupted her in time before she blabbed about the truth.
If she revealed the whole truth, he would hate her! That, and everyone would suffer.
Flossie might even take revenge on the Guajardo family, given her temper. Francine might never get to meet Adie and Abby.
In comparison, the current superficial peace was better despite there being some regrets. Flossie didn’t stop them from taking Adie and Abby to Guajardo Manor, either. Maintaining the current situation was probably the best ending for Flossie and Halston.
“You must try, even if you can’t sleep much. People can’t think straight if they don’t have enough sleep. You’ll lose control of yourself and blather nonsense. If anything happens, it’ll get troublesome.”
Although Halston sounded indifferent, he couldn’t hide the fierceness gleaming in his eyes. He was trying to warn Francine.
“Yes, you’re right. I’m still confused, so I didn’t think straight. I’ll sleep in.” Francine started sweating. She waved awkwardly, and tried to escape that oppressive scene.
However, Flossie felt that there must be something fishy, especially given the way they behaved. She immediately stopped Francine, frowning.
“Mrs. Guajardo, what did you want to say just now? Go on. Don’t let others interrupt or threaten you,” she said solemnly.
“You got me wrong! I wasn’t interrupted or threatened. I just suddenly came to my senses and realized we were talking about different things, so I won’t talk about that…”
Naturally, Francine stubbornly refused to admit to it.
She looked in the direction of Timothy’s room, and whispered, “I don’t know why you two are tangled up again, but I’m used to it now. I don’t want to ask much about it. After all, it’s never certain between you two. You get back together and break up from time to time. If you can’t come up with a way to handle your relationship, don’t get tangled together. You even brought this problem home. If your grandfather sees this, he won’t be able to take it!” Francine knew she couldn’t meddle in their business, and decided to let them handle it. It was their business how it ended. She wouldn’t ask about it, either.
The only thing she was worried about was how their uncertain relationship would affect Timothy.
His health was deteriorating these years. He was deeply worried about his disappointing grandson and precious granddaughter-in-law. Regardless if they made up with each other or separated, it would affect his mood.
Francine didn’t want them to alert Timothy before they settled their problems.
“Mother, stop saying that. It doesn’t sound nice.” Halston frowned, quite speechless.
Francine was the First Lady of Beach City. She should be elegant and noble, but she sounded quite vulgar.
“Was I wrong? What else if not that between men and women? You guys are just more energetic than others since you got tangled up with each other for so many years. Isn’t it tiring?”
Francine ignored her identity and image, and complained about what she had long wanted to complain about. It eased her mind.
Then, she brushed past Flossie and quickly returned to her room.
She was in a hurry as she wanted to keep the truth a secret. That, and she felt like a third wheel between Halston and Flossie. It was too much, so she felt that it was best to leave early.