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

All the contestants were on edge, hands hovering over their buzzers, ready to jump in. The audience was just as tense, holding their breath and silently rooting for their favorites.

Honestly, the theory questions were way tougher than just designing something. Most people couldn't remember all those design principles from school-they were the kind of facts you only crammed for exams, not something you used every day.

The tension in the air was electric as everyone raced to answer.

"Let's give it up for Country M! They've scored the first point!" the host called out, her voice booming across the hall.

The crowd exploded in cheers. Country M's quick lead made the other teams grit their teeth and sit up a little straighter.

Fiona sat quietly in her seat, eyes fixed on the stage.

A few rows behind her, Jackson watched her with a look of quiet longing, his shoulders slumped in loneliness. Next to him sat Amy, who kept turning to chat with him, her tone light and familiar.

Amy was here as the Gregory family's representative, and since the Gregorys had made a deal with the Woods family, she and Jackson seemed to get along just fine—or at least, that's how it looked from afar.

But Fiona had always disliked Amy. Actually, "dislike" was putting it mildly-she could barely stand her.

Jackson laughing and talking with

could've been auditioning for a romcom. When the cameras swung

shot a look straight at Fiona. She knew perfectly well Jackson's attention was

Fiona's dress got a little dirty," Amy said, her voice just loud enough to

eyes narrowed, something dark flickering

you put as much effort into your own growth as you do into snide remarks, you might actually get somewhere," he shot back, his

worry, Mr. Jackson. I'll be graduating from Center College in a couple of years. I'll be better then, just wait

so carefree that anyone watching might think she and Jackson

always been curious," Amy went on, her tone teasing. "You and Ms. Fiona used to be so close,

relationship with Fiona is none of your business," Jackson said flatly. "You'd do well to focus on your own

it

face darkened, like a storm rolling

family, she was nothing. Did everyone really think being

chest rose and fell