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

Seeing Jasmine leave, Shelly wasn't about to let Tyler off the hook that easily. She immediately turned all her fury towards him.

"Who do you think you are, sticking your nose in my business?" she snapped.

Tyler didn't even give her a second glance. Once Jasmine was out of sight, he pivoted and headed back to his dorm room.

Shelly, fuming, let loose a string of choice words. With a steely gaze, she turned to the person standing next to her. "Find out who this guy is. I want him to pay."

"Yes, Miss," the man beside her replied, trying to stay calm. "But Miss, your father is waiting for you at home. Shouldn't we head back..."

"I know," Shelly cut him off with a wave.

Back at his dorm, Tyler found an email from Fiona. She needed him to dig up proof of the Woods and Stonnell families' shady dealings and track down Gerald.

Fiona had plans to head to Center College in a week. The Woods and Stonnell families got wind of it and had already planned an ambush for her and Jackson. But they were out of luck-Fiona set off three days after Tyler got the heads-up.

The next morning, Shelly got her hands on Tyler's dossier. It was nearly empty, which made her chuckle.

"A genius but an orphan. No wonder he's got such a fiery streak, even daring to stand up to me," she thought aloud.

As she leafed through the pages, her eyes locked onto the last one. It detailed how Tyler had been taken back to the Reynolds family in the Capital. She understood the harsh hand life had dealt him-abandonment, being found, forced marriage, and even causing a death the Reynolds family shrugged off. Despite such a tragic life, Tyler had grown into someone impressive.noveldrama

Shelly wondered if she could have come out as strong in his position.

What started as dislike was now turning into admiration for Tyler.

"Make sure he's looked after. If anyone at school messes with him, deal with it," Shelly instructed, setting the dossier on the table. "And find out what his deal is with Jasmine."

"We've never been able to dig up anything on Miss Jasmine," the man mumbled. Shelly's face darkened.

"Enough with the excuses. If you can't find out about her, at least get me the scoop on Tyler," she snapped, giving the man a swift kick. "Consider this a warning-don't test my patience. Now go."

After he left, Shelly decided to confront Jasmine herself about Tyler. There was something about him that piqued her curiosity.

She opened Jasmine's door only to find her tending to a wound on her shoulder. A deep red gash stretched from her shoulder blade across her back, and the room faintly smelled of blood.

Jasmine, spotting Shelly, quickly pulled her shirt back on, glaring. "Get out!"

"Injured and still so feisty. No wonder you're still single," Shelly quipped, slamming the door shut. She walked over to Jasmine, tugging her shirt aside with a slight smile, though her eyes showed concern.

"The Woods family didn't hold back, huh?" she commented, mostly to herself, as Jasmine stayed silent.

"Tsk, tsk, such a poor young woman, really took a beating."

"This wound's been there for a while,

hasn't it? Too scared to hit up a hospital, huh? You're really cautious, afraid the Woods family will find out you were the one sneaking into their place. What's your endgame?"