Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life novel Chapter 1921

Most of the people at International Glam were folks Fiona and Tyler had helped out by pure chance—people who’d grown up struggling just to get by.

Take the three contestants this time around. Even though they’d managed to get into a place as prestigious as Center College, they couldn’t afford to stay. Their families either forced them to drop out, or demanded they send money home every month.

But after digging a little, Fiona realized Jean was different. They hadn’t looked into Jean’s background carefully when she first joined, and now that gap was starting to show.

Tyler drove them to campus, getting there in no time. The second they stepped inside, the atmosphere changed—everyone’s stares were cold, full of judgment.

“Guess Jackson finally dumped her. Kind of feel bad for her, actually,” someone muttered.

“Feel bad? Please. Where was all this sympathy when she was bullying people before?”

“Exactly. She totally deserves to get dumped. Jackson’s way out of her league anyway.”

Fiona kept her face blank as she walked past the gossiping crowd, but the second someone said Jackson’s name, a sharp ache twisted inside her. She missed him more than she wanted to admit.

They made their way to the records office, finally leaving the whispers behind.

“You okay?” Tyler asked, pulling out a folder. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

Fiona didn’t even look up, her voice icy. “I’m fine.”

They checked the directory and found Jean’s file quickly. If there was anywhere the records couldn’t be tampered with, it was Center College.

What they found was surprising—Jean’s tuition had actually been covered by the Gregory family.

The Gregory name was everywhere lately. Bringing Jean on board suddenly seemed like a pretty smart move.

Fiona, clutching Jean’s file—she’d already gotten permission to take it—called out to Jane and led the group away from school.

Their flight was that afternoon; there was no time to waste.

The three of them grabbed a quick bite at a nearby Japanese restaurant. After Jane listed the contestant names and their team, Fiona suddenly choked up.

She’d just noticed Jackson sitting alone across the restaurant.

Fiona had never really liked Japanese food, so Jackson rarely brought her to places like this. Maybe he actually preferred it. Otherwise, why would he be here by himself?

As Fiona watched through the sheer curtain, she saw a woman slip into the seat across from Jackson, casually taking the iced tea the waiter had just set down for him.