"Hey, did you hear? Mr. Tanner personally begged Flora to join the medicalpetition, and she still turned him down. Now the whole inte is begging her to join, saying that with Flora, Austenberg''s a shoo-in for the championship." Abbey let out a derisiveugh. "Well, aren''t they confident."


    Elijah jumped in, "I think Flora''s avoiding the medicalpetition because she knows she can''t cut it! Sure, she might be decent in Austenberg, but on Lone Ind, she''d get absolutely demolished."


    Abbey finished her medicine, set the cup on the nightstand, and leaned back against the headboard, her eyes half-closed as if deep in thought. After a moment, she said, "If everyone wants Flora in thepetition so badly, let''s give them what they want. Let''s see if Flora can really deliver."


    Over the past few days, Abbey hade to a realization. Instead of stopping Flora from going to Lone Ind, she should let her go. Only there would Flora see the real gap between them. And it would give Connor a chance to see who truly deserves to be his wife.


    ...


    Last time, Flora offhandedly suggested Ray should try cooking, never expecting him to actually take it up. But to her surprise, the nobleman started learning. Every morning, he''d show up bright and early, asking Connor to teach him.


    For a guy who couldn''t even peel garlic, cooking was a massive challenge. Flora found it touching, to a point.


    "Flora, try the sweet and sour pork ribs I made!"


    Flora looked at the ckened mess on the te and then at Ray. Any warm feelings she had quickly evaporated.


    "If you hadn''t told me, I''d never guess these were sweet and sour pork ribs."


    "The presentation''scking, but the taste is alright."


    Flora gave him a long stare. "You sure this won''t poison anyone?"


    Ray sighed. "As the first woman to taste my cooking, you should feel honored!"


    Flora sighed back. "I think I''ll pass on that honor."


    Ray, looking defeated, tossed the te into the trash and headed back to the kitchen for another attempt.


    Her phone buzzed. Flora nced down to see a message from Cecelia.


    Cecelia: Ms. Flora, can you do me a favor?


    Flora: ?


    Cecelia:


    done something wrong


    resif Ms. Flora, can you ask the


    recently? He''s been giving me weird looks and it''s really unsettling.


    Flora frowned, typing back: My brother?


    Cecelia: Yes! The boss has been staring at me for no reasontely, and it''s freaking me out. I haven''t done anything wrong, I swear. Could you discreetly ask him? If I did


    something wrong, I''ll own up to it, okay? .


    The more Flora read, the more confused she got. Why would her brother be staring at Cecelia?


    ???


    Cecelia was almost in tears: Ms. Flora, please, just ask him for me I''m afraid he wants to fire me. I know what''s up, I can start looking for another job.


    Flora rubbed her forehead in frustration. As one of the owners of Florik Entertainment, it felt odd to be asked about job-hunting advice.


    She sent a screenshot of Cecelia''s messages to Henrik.


    Three minutester, Henrik replied with a string of ellipses.


    Two minutes after that, Henrik sent another message: Don''t get involved in my business with her.


    Just as Flora was about to respond, he sent yet another message.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    -Flora, how would you like to have a sister-inw?


    ...


    At the National Medical Department.


    "Mr. Tanner."


    The assistant knocked and entered the room. "The final list for the medicalpetition is set."