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

"Hey, what brings you here?" Jaden asked, furrowing his brow. Hadn't he told her to stay in her room?

Candace flashed a gentle smile. "I noticed you haven't eaten all morning, and I was worried you might be starving, so I whipped up some pastries." As she spoke, her sparkling eyes drifted to the other heirs. "You all should try some too. I made plenty."

"Oh, no thanks."

"Yeah, you guys go ahead."

They declined in unison, clearly uninterested.

Truth be told, they weren't fans of Candace. As the saying goes, love is blind, but they saw right through her. She wasn't exactly a gem in their eyes.

They'd hinted as much to Jaden a couple of times, but he wouldn't listen, so they let it be.

"Come on, don't be shy. Have a bite," Candace coaxed, her smile as sweet as the pastries.

"We said no, don't you get it?" sneered the young man in the tracksuit, his usual warmth replaced by a cold stare. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, fiddling with some candy.

He knew Candace's type all too well. She banked on being Jaden's girl, the future lady of the Neville family, and even had the nerve to pick on his sister.

Candace's face fell, caught off guard and teetering on the edge of tears.

"Don't act all innocent with me; I'm not Jaden."

"Daniel, watch your tone! Apologize!" Jaden's normally calm demeanor was tinged with irritation.

"You'll regret it with her, mark my words," Daniel muttered, clearly frustrated with Jaden.

"You-"

"Alright, enough. It's not worth fighting over a girl," another heir interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. Despite the altercation, no one offered Candace any comfort.

"Gentlemen," a servant approached just then, bowing slightly. "The VIP has arrived, and the master requests your presence in the villa's garden."

The mention of a VIP lit up their faces, and the eight heirs eagerly followed the servant to the garden.

Jaden felt a rush of excitement too,

but he couldn't shake his concern for Candace. "Candace, why don't you go rest? I'll handle things with Shuhao-"

"It's fine, really. You should go."

Candace pushed aside her own grievances for the moment. She was eager for daden to solidify his place as head of the Neville family. Once she was the lady of the house, she'd settle scores for today's slights.

Jaden gave her a reassuring pat on the head and hurried off. As he walked down a corridor, a familiar silhouette caught his eye. Was that... Flora?

He tried to get a closer look, but she vanished around the corner before he could be sure.

Jaden rubbed his temples, chalking it up to his imagination. How could Flora be here? Surely, her reach didn't extend to the Neville family.

Thinking of the trouble she and Connor caused him at the black market, and how they tormented Candace, his mood soured.

...

Candace made her way back to her room but spotted someone along the way.

Her sharp eyes didn't miss a thing.

That was Flora!

What was Flora doing here?!

Candace's instincts screamedContent bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

trouble. Flora couldn't be here to stir up drama, could she? Today was crucial for Jaden; nothing could go awry. She quickly moved to intercept Flora, intending to show her the door.

But-

Two bodyguards stepped in her path.

"The master has instructed that you cannot enter."

Watching Flora waltz into the villa, Candace's anxiety spiked. "Then why can she go in?"

The bodyguards exchanged a glance, puzzled by Candace's indignation.

Did she really think she was on par with Miss Flora?