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

Bentley wiped his forehead, trying to play it cool, but the awkwardness was all over his face.

"Ms. Fiona, we knew about the situation, but as for working with Country M? The Gregory family would never do something like that!"

"That's right, Ms. Fiona," Amy's mother jumped in, her voice tight with worry. "Our family has a good reputation here in the States—we'd never get mixed up in anything shady like that."

Both parents rushed to explain, desperate to clear things up before Fiona got the wrong idea.

But Fiona didn't need to prove anything to them anymore. She'd already tracked down the real Amy, something her parents could never have done, even if they tried. Fiona had gotten this far without needing the Stonnell family's help. Compared to her, these old folks were out of their league.

And Fiona's coolness under pressure was almost legendary. Most people would've lost it under the kind of stress she'd faced—cursing, snapping, breaking down. But not Fiona. She handled it all like it was nothing.

"Ms. Fiona, it's all thanks to you that our daughter's home. Please, let me toast you," Bentley said, picking up his glass and leaning forward in a respectful salute before knocking back his drink.

do hard liquor, but Lucy poured her a glass of champagne and she finished it in one smooth gulp. The taste was a mix of bitter, sweet, and just

asked, casually grabbing a handful of peanuts from the dish on the table. She ate as she

long. Amy's

do. Ever since Amy came home, her parents paraded her around like their personal trophy-showing her off at every event, making sure

honest, when Tyler brought us to see Amy, we decided right then and there—we'd never let her suffer again. After all these

was the kind of moment that could make anyone emotional-anyone except Fiona.

room grew tense and

already bringing Amy out in public, and we issued a statement too. As

at Fiona, then hurried to back him up. "Absolutely. We'll talk to Center College as well. Their academics are top-notch, and

each other, you'd think they'd rehearsed it. Their concern sounded