Chapter 234
โYour pulse is way stronger now. It wonโt be like one day you might pass out alone somewhere,โ Zinnia said, withdrawing her hand. After two months of nursing him back, his wrecked health had finally turned a corner. The nightmare of him collapsing with no one around was over, now. As long as he kept up with self-care, a full recovery was in the bag.
Before Yannis could answer, Zinnia went on, โAnother month or two, and your condition should totally level out.โ
After a decade of running his body into the ground, it was impossible he would bounce back in several days.
โI see.โ Yannis nodded, throat tight.
โListen, Yannis.โ Zinnia took a breath. โI think itโs time for me to move out. Youโre stable now, and as long as you stay on top of things, youโll be golden.โ
โMove where?โ Yannisโs worst fear just smacked him in the face. His hand shot out, clamping around her wrist tightly.
Startled by his overreacting, Zinnia stammered, โNโNathan got me a place.โ She was puzzled โ they had agreed that she would treat him, and in return, he would stay with her for a while, and that was all.
โSo youโre abandoning me because your master got you a house? This isnโt home to you?โ Yannis asked, finally realizing why she suddenly checked his pulse โ she was plotting her leaving.
A cold ache spread through his chest. โNow that she knows her masterโs safe and has her back, she doesnโt need me anymore?โ
โIโm moving, not ditching you,โ Zinnia frowned. โHow did we end up using the word โabandonโ? He isnโt my possession at all.โ
Meeting her calm, puzzled gaze, Yannis finally realized his reaction had been a bit over the top. He took a moment to steady his emotions, then looked down at her.
โYou said you wouldnโt leave, and Iโm still not fully recovered yet,โ Yannis said. โYou little ingrateโI just made sure you were well-fed, and now youโre already thinking about getting rid of the cook?โ
Under that intense gaze, Zinniaโs gut twinged with guilt, as if she had done something wrong to him.
She thought back to the dinner he had made: delicious salmon, fried vegetable balls, scrambled eggs with peppers, and shrimp soup. She figured he had a point.
โHold on,โ she thought. โWhen did I promise not to leave? The only time I said anything was when he was wasted, and I was just humoring him. Thereโs no way he remembers that, right?โ
She shook her head. โStop overthinking. The urgent matter now is to clarify that Iโm just moving out, not โabandoningโ him. He is putting words in my mouth.โ
โIโm just moving to a new place. We can still hang out,โ she said. โItโs not like we can live together foreverโฆโ
โWhy not?โ Yannis blurted before he could stop himself. The words had just escaped, like his mouth had a mind of its own, spilling secrets heโd kept locked up.
Instantly, his throat went dry as he swallowed nervously. He didnโt dare to look her in the eyes, afraid she might sense his hidden affections and feel scared of him.
Normally, he was tighter-lipped than a vault. But a few casual questions from Zinnia, and he was spilling his guts like a rookie at a poker table.
Zinnia looked up at him, dead serious. โYouโll have your own life eventually, and so will I. I canโt crash here forever.โ She wasnโt overcomplicating โ just stating facts.
She thought, โSomeday heโll start a family, build his own life. How can we live together long-term? If I stick around, Iโll just be a burden. He already stresses about taking care of me every day.
Jackson is always swamped, rushing around, and sometimes too busy to eat. Yannis is just as slammed, maybe even busierโฆ he has to make time for aโฆ
Thatโs so draining.
I canโt even help Nathan, nor can I do much for Yannis either. Iโm just holding him back.โ
โYouโre not a burden,โ Yannis said, his voice tough.
โHe has an answer for everything, huh?โ Zinnia sighed, half-annoyed. โRemember the deal? I treat your illness, you let me stay temporarilyโฆYour health is way better, and your insomniaโs improving.โ
Yannis felt a throb in his temple. He wanted to shout that letting her treat him was never about the deal โ heโd never even cared about getting better. Now, it felt like he was digging his own grave and leaving himself with a potential problem.
โIf she leaves as soon as I recover, maybe I shouldnโt get better at all. At least then she wouldnโt think about leaving,โ Yannis thought.
He lowered his gaze to meet her serious eyes as he spoke nonsense with a straight face. โMy insomnia is still messed up. If I canโt sleep, my health tanks, and then youโll worry about me โ itโs a total loop.โ
Zinniaโs brain felt like a knotted mess. But amid all this chaos, one thing was clear โ she needed to fix his insomnia. She let out a sigh. โSo I have to cure your insomnia?โ
โBingo. If you donโt, my healthโs toast. Next thing you know, Iโm face-down on the kitchen floor. By the time someone finds me, Iโll be colder than a morgue slab.
โThen you can finally plan my funeral,โ Yannis deadpanned, staring at her like heโd just ordered takeout instead of spouting dramatic nonsense.
โYou make it sound like youโll keel over the second I leave,โ Zinnia said, batting her eyes. She felt a mix of frustration and amusement; he made it seem like she was his lifeline. She didnโt realize she was that important to him.
โIโm basically alone here.โ Yannisโ voice went quiet, edged with loneliness. โIโve been thrown overseas for two years, unable to come home. Now Jacksonโs abroad too. I donโt know anyone in this city except you.โ
With his head slightly lowered, his hair fell over his brow and eyes. He emphasized the words โthrown overseas,โ giving off an impression that no one really liked him.
His eyes showed no hint of emotion as he gently held her hand in his. The warmth of his palm enveloped her soft skin, and he gave it a light shake, as if silently seeking comfort from her.