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His Little Flower (Felix and Flora) novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75 

The worn leather of the armchair in Felix’s study had probably absorbed more stories than I’d read in my lifetime. I ran my feather duster over its plush curves, sending dust mates swirling in the sunbeams. Whenever I saw this, dust highlighted by the sun. I’d always think back to Mrs. Walter’s eighth grade science lecture about the tyndall effect

Cleaning Felix’s space was always a balancing act respecting his privacy while ensuring the room sparkled like a wellcut diamond. In his study, he didn’t keep much. Some books. Journals. Many old journals. They were inside a locked cabinet. 1 had seen him locking the cabinets once. No one was allowed to touch those. I was just here to vacuum and dust the surfaces

My dusting feather snagged on something tucked between the cushions. A leather wallet, worn but not shabby, pulsed with the unmistakable hum of wealth. My heart jolted Felix’s wallet. No wonder 1 hadn’t seen it on the side table for weeks

His office was two floors up. I knocked, waited, then knocked again. The only reply was the silence. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door

Felix sat behind his desk, typing away furiously at his laptop. He glanced up, his eyes narrowing at the intrusion. Can I help you, Flora?” 

I found this in your study, I held out the wallet, feeling oddly vulnerable under his scrutiny, and oddly unwanted in this room. Lately, . he had taken to working from his home office more often. Sometimes, he had meetings here

He shot out a hand, snatched the wallet, and tucked it into his desk drawer without a glance. Thanks” 

His curt dismissal hit me like a slap. The warmth I’d felt at finding his lost treasure evaporated, replaced by a chill that crawled down my spine. I stood there, tonguetied. I had thought he would speak to me. Maybe we could have exchanged some polite greetings

Is there anything else?he asked, his gaze licking back to the paperwork as if I were an inconvenience, an intruder

My voice, when it emerged, was barely a whisper. No, Mr. Corsino, Just wanted to return what’s yours.” 

I turned to leave, the echo of my own footsteps sounding like accusations in the cavernous office. The sting of hurt, sharp and unexpected, refused to dissipate

Why was he being like this

The realization hit me like a brick. He was mad at me. For not telling him the truth that night. I hadn’t even seen him since, and it had been three days. I had thought he was just busy and we hadn’t crossed paths, but he was deliberately avoiding me

The knowledge of that hurt. But I had things to do. I busied myself around the house. 1 made myself some lunch and ate it quietly in a corner. Ever since I had moved here, I hadn’t seen Felix. Or Linda. Even Liam. I had had a quiet few days, except meeting with Tommy and going dress shopping with Lexi that day. But it was nice and had given me time to settle in. I had cleaned the room thoroughly. I had unpacked, I had put up my few things on the walls a picture of me with my mom, a picture with Tommy, one with Lexi 

My shift was almost done, and I decided to sit on the porch for a while to get some fresh air. Just as I sat down, my phone buzzed with texts

The evening air was brisk as I stared down at my phone, the screen casting an eerie glow on my face. A series of text messages frogsan unfamiliar number left my hands trembling, the threatening words reverberating in my mind. I bit my lip, desperately trying to hold back the fear that threatened 

to consume me

Dad 

His texts were short, sharp blades, to the point

Come home, Flora. Don’t make me come get you.” 

Felix can I protect you forever.” 

Remember what happens when you disobey.” 

I stared at the flickering screen, then typed, deleting, typing 

g again. Finally: Leave me alone.” 

The phone stayed silent, the wasp subdued. But the buzzing fingered in my bones, a chilling reminder of the needed to escape the claustrophobic silence

danger

stalked me. I needed air

Chapter 75 

My boots crunched on the gravel path, my breath puffing white against the chill air. It was supposed to be a peaceful walk, a solitary communion with nature to calm myself down after reading the threatening texts from Dad

He was planning something. I could feel it. He was even using a new number, probably a burner phone

As I rounded a bend, a flash of 

white

caught my eye, tucked beneath a fallen ook leaf

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