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

"Joe, I just don't get what you're saying." Zachary tried to keep his smile steady, but his hands wouldn't stop shaking on his knees. Joe didn't bother with more chit-chat. He shot his assistant a look.

In no time, staff were bringing a guy over. The second Zachary laid eyes on him, it was like something snapped in his brain.

Luke blurted out, "Gerald!"

"Isn't that Dr. Ray's second son?" someone whispered.

"Why's he being dragged in by the staff?"

The room buzzed as folks from the elite families murmured among themselves. They all recognized him, of course. Zachary's brother-Gerald, the one Luke always talked about. He'd always carried himself with an air of invincibility, thanks to his gig at racing Club 257. But seeing him like this? It was a first.

"Mr. President, I've messed up... I shouldn't have messed with the race. Please, have mercy!" Gerald was on his knees, tears streaming down his face.

He never imagined things would escalate like this. At first, he barely gave Flora a second thought, convinced the Reyes family, now on the decline, couldn't stir up any real trouble. But Joe getting involved? That was unexpected.

"So, the Jones family really did play dirty!" the whispers turned into gasps.

"And they had the gall to question the Reyes family earlier? Messing around themselves and then acting all high and mighty?"

The elite families exchanged looks of disbelief.

"The Jones family must've thought the Reyes team was on their way out and easy pickings, but they ran straight into a brick wall. Who could've guessed Joe would back the Reyes family like that?"

"Reyes, what's your excuse now, huh?" The Reyes family members were practically cheering.

"Keep trying to weasel out of this!" they taunted. But now, the Jones family had nothing to say.

Joe gazed at Zachary, whose face had gone completely pale, and said coldly, "Zachary, your son spelled it out clearly. Anyone who breaks the racing rules will be kicked out of Club 257, and their team will be disbanded for good! No team member will ever be allowed to compete again!"

Luke felt a shiver run down his spine. So Joe wasn't out to punish the Reyes family; he was setting him up all along!

"Big brother, please, help me!" Gerald pleaded, voice trembling. Joe wasn't going to let him off the hook. Neither was Connor. They were both after him now.

Desperate, he turned to Zachary, hoping for a lifeline. After all, he'd only done what Zachary had instructed him to do.

"Joe," Zachary sighed deeply, feeling the weight in his chest, and turned away from Gerald. "I had no idea what my brother was up to. Our family has always taken this competition seriously, giving it everything we've got without any bad intentions." "I never expected him to pull something like this."

"I apologize on his behalf to Club 257, and I ask for your generosity in sparing him."

"Reyes, how low can you go?" Kruz's voice cut through the tension as Zachary finished speaking.

He wasn't alone, "Reyes, are you seriously claiming you didn't know what your brother was up to? Do you think Joe, with his integrity and sharp judgment, would buy that?"

Joe just stood there, silent.

Zachary knew he couldn't admit to anything. To do so would spell the end for the Jones family. He took another deep breath, "I truly didn't know anything about it, Joe. Everything needs proof, right?"