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

Dormmate A: "Seriously, I'm all about his music, especially those movie soundtracks he does. He's just incredible! Now, if it were Fiona, I wouldn't be upset at all. She's gorgeous, aces all her classes, and she's genuinely a good person. She's basically my dream girl."

Yvenne: "Are you guys joking? Aren't you worried Jackson might come after you? He has the power to turn your parents' lives upside down. Everyone in Manhattan knows Jackson has the city wrapped around his finger. Even the Larkin family had to declare bankruptcy because of him."

Dormmate B: "I can't wrap my head around Allen changing like that. We should probably ask Fiona later; they're tight, so she might have the inside scoop."

Just as they were about to dive deeper into their chat, Fiona walked out, her face still glistening with a few droplets of water. Even without a stitch of makeup, she looked absolutely stunning.

The trio couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. With skin that flawless, she made looking perfect seem effortless.

Fiona dried her hair, glanced at her phone, and noticed five missed calls from Jasmine. She frowned slightly and called back.

Jasmine picked up quickly, her voice thick with tears. Fiona kept her cool, but inside, worry gnawed at her.

"Jasmine, what's going on? Don't cry, just talk to me," she said, hanging a towel out to dry. Her concern for Jasmine was genuine.

Jasmine had never been like this before, not even when they were both in danger, bloodied, and trapped together. She had never broken down like this.

"Fiona, it's Grandma. She's not doing well," Jasmine sobbed, almost begging. "Fiona, please, could you come to the States to help her? I really need you."

Fiona paused, weighing her options. It wasn't the idea of going to the States that bothered her; it was the risk of bumping into certain folks from the Stonnell family.noveldrama

"Fiona, I get that you don't want to go back, and I know some people in the Stonnell family have been awful to you. But I'm begging you, please save my grandma. I can't lose her. You remember how she used to hold you when you were little, right? She loved you. I know I'm putting you in a tough spot, but I'm really desperate here."

If she could avoid it, Jasmine wouldn't want Fiona to step back into the Stonnell family drama. But she couldn't stand by and watch the grandmother who had cherished her for so long slip away. Maybe, just maybe, if Fiona stayed under the radar, there was still hope.

Fiona took a deep breath. "Alright, I'll be heading to the airport first thing in the morning."

After hanging up, she stood on the dorm's balcony, staring into the distance as memories from years ago came flooding back. Back then, her parents were off honeymooning, and she had been secretly trained from a young age, honing some incredible skills. But there were

always those who played dirty tricks, and all the pets she loved were brutally harmed.

Gradually, classmates who got even a little close to her started disappearing without a trace.

At first, she naively bought into the teachers' explanations that these classmates had family issues and were taking temporary leaves. But over time, she realized something was off. She found a red ribbon, a birthday gift she had given to her desk mate, hidden in the Stonnell family's secret chamber. And at the end of that chamber, she discovered her desk mate's lifeless body.