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

Beck instinctively stepped in front of Flora as a stranger appeared out of nowhere. He watched the man with a wary eye.

"Hey man, I'm on the up and up," the stranger chuckled, his hands buried in the pockets of his leather jacket. He gave a nod to Flora with a cheeky grin. "Hey there, gorgeous, looking for a phone?" "What phone?" Kruz and Adrian leaned in, intrigued.

The man squinted at the bustling crowd in the underground market and said slowly, "Just keep your eyes peeled. If you spot one you fancy, let me know. They're all going for two hundred bucks." Flora just stared, speechless.

Kruz commented on the incredible array of characters you could find in such a place.

She was seeing it firsthand. Who knew Lone Island's underground market had its own version of skilled pickpockets?

"Stealing here? You've got some nerve," Kruz marveled. The market was under mysterious management, and everyone had to play by the rules.

"Hey, just trying to get by," the man sighed, then turned back to Kruz. "So, you in?"

"I'm not buying," Kruz replied.

"Okay then." The man smirked. "If you're not buying their phones, hand over $200, and I'll give you yours back."

Kruz's jaw dropped. "What?"

He checked his pocket, and sure enough, his phone was missing! "Damn it!"

Adrian searched his pockets too. His phone was gone!

All the young folks from the Reyes family patted their pockets, only to find they were all phoneless.

Beck checked his back pocket, and of course, it was empty.

"Flora, do you still have your phone?" Kruz asked, gritting his teeth.

Flora nonchalantly reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.

"Wow, you're sharp!" the man admitted, a little impressed. He'd meant to swipe it, but Flora was too on guard.

"Give us back our phones!" Kruz demanded, exasperated at the idea of negotiating with a thief.

The man produced a large bag seemingly out of nowhere and rattled it, revealing over a dozen phones. "Eighteen phones. I'lbcut you a deal, three grand."

"I'll break your legs!" Kruz threatened, rolling his eyes. "Beck, get him!"

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"Hey, that's not fair," the man said, dodging Beck's attempts to catch him. Despite his erratic movement Beck couldn't lay a hand on him. People who played this game in the underground market weren't your everyday swindlers.

"Beck, hold up," Flora suddenly said.

Beck halted, puzzled, and looked at her.

"Pay him."

"What???" Kruz looked at her in disbelief. Pay a thief???

Beck was equally confused but didn't question Flora. He reluctantly pulled out $3,000 and slapped it onto the man's chest. "Here!

The man gleefully pocketed the hefty sum. "May good fortune follow you, thank you."

Turning to Flora, he studied her face and suddenly said, "Hey, you look familiar. Have we met?"

"Get lost, you look like a con artist," Kruz said, pulling Flora away. "Flora, let's move. We don't need this nonsense!"

The underground market was bustling and chaotic. They'd only been there a short while and had already run into some real characters.

Flora glanced back at the man, a thoughtful look crossing her face, before she followed Kruz.

...

The market was packed with rare finds. Flora spotted an antique shop and decided to take a look.

Kruz and Adrian weren't interested in antiques, so they wandered off to a nearby car dealership, while Beck stayed close to Flora.

Flora strode into the antique shop, just as someone else approached.NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

They collided at the entrance.

"You again!" Candace exclaimed, eyes wide with fury as she glared at Flora.

Her four bodyguards gave Flora a silent nod.

Candace, seeing this, swung a slap at Flora in anger.