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

Mr. White glared at the laid-back Nash, his face turning an alarming shade of red. Despite his anger, he was mindful of the Woods family's clout and had to hold back. The chalk in his hand was on the brink of snapping.

Nash shot him a defiant look, clearly dismissing him. Then, his attention drifted to Fiona. Their eyes met for a split second, and he awkwardly rubbed his nose, shifting his gaze elsewhere. Fiona just shrugged, her pen clicking rhythmically. "As the teacher here, don't you know what's appropriate to say and what's not? If Mr. White needs a lesson, I can enlighten you," Nash quipped with a sly grin, leaning back in his chair, elbows casually propped on the desk behind him, oozing disdain. Mr. White pointed at him, sputtering "you, you, you," but couldn't get another word out. In the end, he just clutched his textbook in frustration.

After class, Robert was insistent on taking Fiona out to eat. Fiona, packing her stuff with a lazy grace, waved it off, "You guys go ahead. I've got someone picking me up."

"My uncle?" Nash blurted out, frowning in surprise.

Fiona slung her bag over her shoulder, tossing him a knowing glance, "Bingo."

Nash's expression froze for a moment. What on earth was going on between this woman and his uncle? His uncle was coming to take her out for dinner???

Fiona, naturally, wasn't about to satisfy his curiosity and strode out with her backpack. Just outside the school gates, she spotted Jackson's car waiting. A small smile danced on her lips as she confidently hopped in.

In the cafeteria, Louise couldn't shake the feeling that people were acting differently around her after the recent forum drama. As soon as she walked in, it felt like all eyes were on her, sizing her up. The usual buzz of conversation died down at her entrance. Louise feigned indifference, mentally cataloging everyone who had whispered about her earlier. A cluster of girls, who usually hovered around her, started fanning the flames.

...

"Don't lower yourself to their level. They're just envious of how close you are with Mr. Nash Woods. They'd love nothing more than to drive a wedge between you two."

"Exactly. As long as you and Mr. Nash are solid, they won't dare say a thing. With the Woods family's influence, shutting them up is child's play."

The girl who usually brown-nosed the most put on a conspiratorial air. "Mr. Nash is crazy about you. He won't let you get hurt. Just wait for him to step in."

This lifted Louise's spirits a notch. She held her head high, looking down on the others like they were insignificant. They were right; as long as Nash was into her, she didn't have to worry about anyone else. Her aim was to carve out a spot in Nash's heart.

She strutted over to collect her meal, ready to sit down when she overheard two girls whispering at the next table. "Isn't that Louise?"noveldrama

The girl across nudged her, looking anxious, "Shush, if she hears us, we're done for."

But the other girl was unfazed. "What's there to worry about? If you haven't done anything wrong, you've got nothing to fear. She pulled that stunt, and now we can't discuss it?"

She stabbed her fork into her meal, visibly upset. "We're just gonna let the forum thing slide?"

"What else can we do? Louise really embarrassed herself this time."

"Is it really her doing? Didn't they say it was a hack?"

"Do you actually buy that? Don't kid yourself. Even if Louise got caught, she'd have a thousand ways to weasel out of it. People like her, they'd never own up to anything that shady."

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