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

With a determined nod, she bobbed her head like she was hammering garlic into paste.

"Yeah, if he'd been good to me, I wouldn't be all by myself like this. Who wouldn't want family around? I hate feeling this lonely..."

As she spoke, she turned on the waterworks, her acting skills on full display as she squeezed out a few tears and dabbed at her eyes. Her almond-shaped eyes, now misty with tears, looked even more innocent.

Jackson watched her, caught between doubt and sympathy.

He cleared his throat softly and handed over the handkerchief he always had on him.

"Don't be sad, let's eat."

His clumsy attempt at comfort amused Fiona a little.

Who would have thought this guy had a charming side?

The thought nearly made her laugh out loud, but she kept up her act.novelbin

She even pretended to be too upset to eat, poking at her food with such a glum expression that Jackson felt a pang of discomfort.

After all, he'd brought up a sore topic for her.

With a resigned sigh, he added more food to her plate and gently said, "Come on, have a bite."

Fiona got what she wanted and looked up, sniffing as she flashed a cheeky grin, revealing a cute little canine tooth that made her look both mischievous and sweet. She ate while Jackson continued to pile food onto her plate, treating her like a kid.

But before they could finish their meal, Jackson's phone buzzed.

He answered it coolly, but his brows knitted almost instantly.

"I'll be there right away."

He set down his cutlery, ready to leave.

"I'll drive you home. I've got some urgent business to handle," he said as evenly as he could. "If you're still hungry, I'll grab some snacks for you

later." .

BAGUM

With that, Jackson had already picked his jacket off the chair, slinging it over his arm with a hint of urgency in his eyes.

Fiona was surprised by his haste, sensing something was amiss.

"What happened? Anything I can help with?" she asked, frowning.

Given Jackson had been decent to her-and he was easy on the eyes-she was willing to lend a hand.

As he shrugged into his coat, Jackson shot her a glance and shook his head. "It's nothing."

But Fiona wasn't buying it.

"Your face says otherwise," she pointed at her own face, "Come on, I'm pretty capable. Let me help."

She might be scrappy, but helping him out wasn't really in the cards.

With more calls lighting up his phone, Jackson grew more anxious. "Alright, come along for now, and I'll drop you home later."

He couldn't spare the time to take her home first; he needed to check on things immediately. But the idea of leaving her alone bugged him.

Fiona was thrilled, trailing him with an eager bounce in her step.

She'd never admit she was just in it for the thrill.

"Don't get me wrong, I genuinely want to help, and I can."

Jackson was moving fast, but when he looked back, he saw she was lagging.

He stopped, propping a hand on the car door, and looked at her.

"Yeah, I believe you."

Though deep down, he didn't.

Fiona hustled, hopping into the car with a playful lilt in her voice, sweet with a touch of mischief, "As long as

you believe me, that's all that

matters."

Jackson's head spun at her calling him "brother," his gaze wandering to her slender waist. Shaking it off, he motioned for her to get in. He was in a rush, so he drove faster than usual. .