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

"No way, look at the time! How can you still think about sleeping? Get up, now!"

Jasmine practically dragged Fiona to the bathroom and gave her face a good splash of water, finally snapping her out of her sleepy daze.

"I knew meeting up with you would be trouble. If I'd known, I would've said no."

Fiona figured one of the biggest regrets of her life was agreeing to meet Jasmine and going to that over-the-top party, which ended up being nothing but a headache. It was all Jasmine's fault!

Once they were ready, they casually headed out, first stopping at Jasmine's favorite boutique for designer dresses. They were pressed for time; otherwise, Jasmine would have had Fiona whip up a custom dress for her.

"Fiona, do you think the Woods family will show up at this event?" Jasmine asked with a sly grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Scott's been eager to get his hands into International Glam, you know."noveldrama

Fiona thought for a moment, then pointed to a dress in front of them with a smile. "Jasmine, what do you think of this dress?"

Following Fiona's gaze, Jasmine saw a striking black and white dress with a big bow at the waist. The skirt wasn't long but was embroidered with a golden phoenix, ready to burst free from the fabric. The top sparkled brilliantly, and a single button on the chest added the perfect finishing touch, making the whole outfit stunning.

"It's gorgeous," Jasmine chuckled softly. She walked over and lightly touched the fabric, instantly getting the picture, then turned to Fiona. "So, you're not worried about Jackson anymore, huh?"

Fiona stayed silent, her expression steady as she absently rubbed the fabric, lost in her thoughts.

"True, Jackson's situation is more complicated than we can imagine. Even if the Woods family is on shaky ground, no one can topple his position there."

Jasmine moved next to Fiona but got drawn to another dress-a unique black swan evening gown. She called over the sales assistant, "Let me try this one."

She took the black swan dress into the fitting room, leaving Fiona standing silently by the other dress.

"If you like this dress, miss, I can take it down for you to try on. You have a great figure, and you'll definitely stand out at any party or event," the sales assistant offered.

Fiona didn't take in a word, and eventually, the assistant left her alone.

When Jasmine came out of the fitting room, she wore the gown perfectly, showcasing its beauty.

"Do I look good?" she asked, striking poses in front of the mirror. From the reflection, she saw Fiona still standing by that dress, which got on her nerves. She waved off the sales assistant and walked over to Fiona. "You say you're not worried about Jackson, yet here you are, all flustered over a dress. Even if Scott really had the power to challenge Jackson, do you think Jackson and Kimberly would just step aside?"

In hindsight, she shouldn't have shown Fiona those files. It would've been better than having her constantly worry about the Woods family drama.

The Woods family's affairs were beyond their control and not something they needed to get involved in.

Matters concerning the major families in the States were far beyond the reach of a small entity like International Glam.

"Fiona, snap out of it. I don't know how many tricks you have up your sleeve, but we're nowhere near ready to face people like them."

With that, she changed out of the dress, deciding it was her pick for the event.