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

At this point, the other three girls couldn't sit still any longer. They might have been students, but deep down, they still had a healthy fear of authority figures.

Patricia gulped, rushed over to Fiona, and pointed a shaky finger at her, panic flashing in her eyes. "Fi...Fiona, quit making stuff up!" Her words stumbled out, her usual flair for speaking nowhere to be found.

Keaton was starting to seriously question what was going on. If these three were the culprits behind all this drama, then Fiona was the innocent one caught in the crossfire.

"Fiona, do you have any proof we did this to you? If you're just throwing around baseless accusations, I'm calling my parents. It's bad enough dealing with this at school, but to be falsely accused too? How am I supposed to face anyone after that?"

"Exactly, Fiona, don't go around making claims you can't back up," Patricia chimed in, quick to latch onto the moment. She clutched the arm of the injured classmate's mom, tears streaming down her face. "Ma'am, you have no idea what it's been like sharing a room with Fiona. It's been a nightmare."

It's only natural for parents to side with their kids, and hearing Patricia's tale, the woman frowned deeply, her focus shifting away from Fiona.

"Sweetheart, tell me what happened," the woman urged, worry etched on her face.

Patricia wasted no time, moving to her injured friend's side and rolling up her sleeve to reveal scars running along her arm, some old and scabbed over. She then lifted her shirt slightly, showing a fresh bruise from when Fiona supposedly kicked her into a metal bed frame earlier that evening.

"See, Ma'am, I'm not making this up. We're good kids, maybe not the top of the class, but we come from decent families. Unlike Fiona, who's just full of lies."

The woman's hand trembled as she touched her daughter's injuries, the sight of them bringing tears to her eyes.

Thinking of the recent rumors about Fiona, she was inclined to trust Patricia and immediately turned a sharp gaze on Fiona, raising her hand to strike her.

But just as her hand was inches from Fiona's pale face, it was caught in a firm grip, and a moment later, she was pushed back.

"Fiona," a familiar voice broke through.

Fiona blinked, a smile lighting up her eyes as she looked up to see Jackson standing there. Her brother had shown up!

Trailing behind Jackson were Nash and Tyler, both holding their breath, nearly ready to jump in.

Nash thought: Who in their right

mind would mess with Fiona? Are et g to get a head starter?

they

their meeting with the Grim Reaper?

Tyler thought: I almost stepped in there, glad I held back just in time.

"Who are you?" The woman's expression shifted as she scrutinized Jackson.

She couldn't deny that this guy was exceptionally handsome, even more so than Allen. Still, there was something strangely familiar about him...

Jackson didn't give her a second look, his attention solely on Fiona. "You okay, Fiona?" he asked gently, his voice smooth and calm.

Though Fiona was young, she wasn't someone who scared easily, much less

someone who'd take a hit without standing her ground.

Fiona shook her head, "I'm fine, big brother."

Keaton rubbed his eyes, stunned to see such a high-profile figure here. He realized the situation was spiraling out of control.

"Since you're her brother, she hit my

do

properly,

and what are you going to

it? If this isn't handlednoveldrama

I won't just let it slide!"