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

"I sell medicine," Flora said.

"Medicine, huh?"

The stall owner gave Flora a once-over and chuckled. "Young lady, we don't just take any old medicine here."

She looked like just an ordinary girl, so what kind of high-quality stuff could she possibly have?

Flora pulled a small bottle from her bag and handed it over. The stall owner took it with a casual air, not expecting much, convinced Flora couldn't have anything noteworthy.

He popped the cork carelessly-

And was hit with a wave of exquisite fragrance.

His expression changed in a heartbeat.

This-

"Who made this?" he asked, intrigued.

"Are you buying or not?" Flora cut in, her patience wearing thin.

The stall owner hesitated. He couldn't immediately tell if it was good or bad, but from the smell alone, it seemed promising.

Still, they'd never seen this kind of medicine before and couldn't vouch for its effects without more testing.

"I'll take it," he finally said. "How about three hundred thousand?"novelbin

He seemed sincere.

Honestly, apart from the fragrance, nothing about Flora's medicine really grabbed him.

"Then hand it back," Flora said flatly, reclaiming the bottle.

Three hundred thousand? Was he serious?

Her medicines start at ten million, no less.

"Hey, young lady, you should consider yourself lucky that I'm even interested," the stall owner frowned. "Three hundred thousand and you think it's too low? Go ahead, ask around, see if anyone else here will buy your medicine." As soon as the words left his mouth, another voice chimed in!

"I'll buy it!"

A man strode confidently toward Flora, his face masked, hiding his identity.

In the black market, masks were common for those not wanting to be recognized, so it wasn't unusual.

He stopped in front of Flora and said

respectfully, "Miss, my employer is interested in your medicine and is

offering fifty million. What do you say?"

Fifty million?!

The stall owner was genuinely taken aback, and folks nearby couldn't help but inch closer for a peek.

Fifty million for one bottle?! Only the Medical Hall's concoctions could command such prices!

Even Miss Sydney's medicines topped out at fifty million, and Miss Tara's started at a hundred million. "Your boss?" Flora glanced toward where the man had come from but saw nothing.

"Is the offer too low?" The man noticed Flora's hesitation, thought for a moment, and then said, "Eighty million, how about that?"

Eighty million didn't exactly dazzle Flora.

But after being irked by the earlier

three hundred thousand offer ande

finding someone who appreciated her work, Flora decided to sell it to him.

BUMS

The man handed Flora a check for eighty million and left with the medicine bottle.

Connor watched the man's retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Connor, do you know him?" Flora asked, slipping the check into her pocket.

She'd noticed something off in Connor's expression earlier.

"Kind of," Connor chuckled lightly. "Alright, have you had enough fun? It's getting late; I'll take you home."

"Okay, but I'm tired. How about you carry me back?" Flora asked, dead serious.

Connor's lips curved into a smile. Flora had thickened his skin, and he was past feeling embarrassed.

He scooped Flora up in his arms and started heading towards the Gilbert family estate.

"Boss! Boss!"

Just as they exited the black market, urgent shouts rang out.

The voice...

It sounded familiar.

Flora, her hand still resting on Connor's neck, looked toward the source of the sound.