L peeked into the dining room, seeing the table set with a delicious breakfast but no sign of Flora. Panic quickly set in, herplexion turning pale. Instead of heading straight for the dining room, she rushed to look outside. Sylvester, taken aback, hurried after her. L ran desperately as tears welled up in her eyes. She lost her shoe, yet she continued to walk on the gravel without feeling the pain.


    A dreadful premonition came upon her; her usually sharp instincts told her Flora must have left. She needed to find Flora, bring her back, and keep her close every day. Otherwise, she feared she might lose Flora for good. Sylvester''s face darkened with anger as he caught up to L, pulling her into his arms.


    L struggled against him, "I have to find Flora. Let me go."


    Tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn''t understand why she was crying, just that she couldn''t stop. She was gripped by a terrible foreboding. Sylvester cradled her, refusing to let go. His visibly furious face soften ed at the sight of her tears.


    He was never one to lose his temper easily, but his heart melted just for her.


    "Baby," he reassured her, "Flora had to work. She''s gone back to Central City."


    L didn''t care. "I need to see Flora. Put me down."


    ''Big White'', a fluffy Samoyed, had appeared out of nowhere, circling Sylvester''s feet anxiously, asionally casting its worried blue eyes toward L.


    Mildred Gomez hurried over just then, and Sylvester quickly asked her to call Flora. The call connected almost immediately.


    Flora''s tone was casual.


    L grabbed the phone, trying her best to sound calm, "Flora, where are you? Why did you leave without telling me?"


    Flora could sense the concern in L''s voice and chuckled, "I just arrived at Central City Airport. I''ve got some work to handle. You were sleeping so soundly. I didn''t want to wake you." L had been going out of her way these past few days to cheer Flora up, and it had exhausted her.


    Hearing no significant change in Flora''s tone, L''s worries slowly dissipated, but she was still eager. "Wait for me. I''ming to find you."


    Floraughed softly, "Okay."


    After hanging up, L, still anxious, pleaded with Sylvester to take her to Central City.


    Sylvester couldn''t refuse, though he felt helpless. He sighed gently and wiped her tears away tenderly," All right, but baby, you need to eat your breakfast first. Then we can go."


    L''s tears turned toughter; she hugged Sylvester tightly, giving him a peck on the lips.


    "Sylvester, you''re the best," she said.


    Sylvester carried her back to the living room.


    L sat on Sylvester''sp,pliantly letting him feed her as if she were a pampered pet, obediently eating everything he offered her like a sweet little kitten.


    But what nobody knew was that she was still worried. It was still guing her mind.


    In the living room, someone had turned on the TV. The entertainment news was ying, and the anchor''s crisp voice was reporting thetest scandal;


    "ording to reliable sources, on the eve of the August 14th High-Stakes Gamblers'' Showdown, actress Flora Cove was seen gamblingvishly. She was daring and carefree in the pit, allowing a strange man to touch her inappropriately. Her demeanor was shockingly unrestrained."


    The news broadcast took L by surprise at the same time making Sylvester was furious.