Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

"Alright."

Jackson nodded, still shouldering her backpack, and holding the water bottle she had just finished. Fiona's apartment was pretty typical for a young woman. She adored purple, so the decor was mostly in various shades of it, with flowers tucked into every corner. The

coffee table was cluttered with snacks.

A few clothes were strewn across the cream-colored sofa.

Jackson sighed, shaking his head as he walked over to the sofa, picking up the clothes and neatly folding them.

What a messy girl.

"Hey, want a drink?" Fiona offered, pulling a soda from the fridge for Jackson and grabbing a milk for herself before plopping down on the sofa.

"Hold up," Jackson said, catching her hand to stop her from sitting. "Let me clean up a bit first."

"Oh."

Fiona replied lazily, sipping her milk through a straw, watching him tidy up, a smile playing on her lips. She always thought Jackson was a lot like her dad. Really, a lot like him.

In her memories, her dad, Connor, was just like that-picking up clothes for her mom, who would be lounging on the sofa and occasionally calling out to him. Twenty years of marriage, and it was always the same.

Her mom seemed to get younger and more pampered with time, like a kid. Her grandpa and uncle always said her mom was spoiled to bits.

"Ding ding ding="

Her phone's ringtone jolted Fiona from her thoughts.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and felt a chill run down her spine when she saw the caller ID.

Uncle!

Why was her uncle calling?

"Hey, gonna change my clothes upstairs," she told Jackson before dashing off.

Jackson watched her hurried exit, raising an eyebrow. What's up with her, being all sneaky?

Is she hiding a boyfriend from me?noveldrama

...

Upstairs.

Fiona shut the door, fixed her hair, and answered the call: "Uncle~"

"What took you so long to pick up?" Henrik asked, scrutinizing her from his office. He'd been swamped lately, and as soon as he had a moment, he called Fiona to check in.

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"I was napping, didn't hear it," Fiona replied with a grin, flashing a innocent-looking tooth.

s to en.kikistorien &

"Why's your face so red?"

Henrik squinted, feeling a nagging sense that something was off.

Like something was about to be snatched away from him.

"Maybe it's a bit dry in here," Fiona coughed lightly.

Seeing Henrik's suspicious look, she quickly turned the tables: "Uncle, what's with the look? Think I'm hiding a guy in my room? Do I seem like that kind of person? If I were hiding a guy here, I'd-"

"Fiona."

A male voice, followed by a knock on the door, interrupted.

Fiona: "..."

Why now? Why did they have to knock now?

Fiona almost lost it but held her cool, covering the phone's mic.

No way her uncle heard that, right?

"Did I just hear a man's voice?" Henrik's tone darkened. "Fiona, what's going on?"

Even though it was faint, he heard it—a man's voice!

"Uncle, you must have misheard!" Fiona said, keeping her expression steady.

"I'm catching a flight tonight with your aunt. I need to see what you're up to in Cedarvale."

Henrik hung up, instructing his secretary to book the flights to Cedarvale.