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

Since Amy had orchestrated this meetup, skipping it would be downright rude. In other words, it would be a major snub.

"I actually admire you, and I hope we can be friends. Or rather, I definitely don't want to be your enemy," Amy chuckled, taking a sip of her latte.

She lounged back on the couch, exuding a unique charm that was a step away from the typical girl-next-door vibe. With a nonchalant side-eye, she glanced at Fiona.

"Your parents have been out of the Stonnell family picture for years, and it's all but fallen apart. Even if you went back, taking charge would be out of the question," Amy remarked, placing her latte on the coffee table with a playful grin. "Jackson's got a slightly better shot, but just barely. The Woods family isn't about to hand over control to him on a silver platter."

"Seems like you're pretty clued in on us, knowing all this," Fiona replied casually, though she knew this hinted at something deeper.

Apparently, both the Stonnell and Woods families were crawling with informants. A trip back was on the cards because these folks were nothing short of a headache.

If the Stonnell family caught wind of Fiona's return, they'd be in a tizzy. Every visit from her spelled trouble-bloodshed, power plays, and demotions. Not a single person there wasn't wary of her. If they could, they'd probably wish she'd never come back.

"To be precise, I've been keeping tabs since your run-in with Josie in the Capital. But Jackson's done a bang-up job shielding you; I couldn't dig up a single clue. Your past is as clean as a whistle."

Fiona paused, a bit skeptical. Was Amy really digging into her background?

Even in the Capital, she hadn't faced a single hacking attempt. Amy's efforts seemed kind of lackluster.

But Fiona was tempted to spill the beans it wasn't Jackson's

protection, but her own skills, net

Her

hacking prowess was legendary, and few could crack her coded firewalls.

"So, Fiona, I find someone like you fascinating. Conquering you would be way more satisfying than dealing with a hundred Josies."noveldrama

"You might want to see a doctor; you sound a bit off," Fiona laughed lightly, her demeanor turning serious. "The bugs Josie had they came from you, right?"

The quieter Amy got, the more uneasy she felt. Fiona was scarier than she'd imagined, sending shivers down her spine. She looked at Fiona with newfound respect and a touch of fear.

"Fiona, I'd much rather be friends than enemies. That seemingly tight bond we had at the start of school-doesn't it bring back memories?"

"It sure does," Fiona smiled, leaning back lazily in her chair. "When it comes to picking sides, it's best to think ahead. Interests always come first."

Amy frowned, puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"

She suddenly felt like Fiona hadn't laid all her cards on the table. As she looked up, Fiona was already walking away, not even flinching at Amy's calls. No matter how much Amy yelled, Fiona didn't look back.