Due to irreversible damage sustained in Zinniaโs childhood, she wasnโt suitable for a heart transplant; her system simply couldnโt withstand the procedure.
Zinnia had a peculiar heart condition that didnโt impact daily life or limit activities. She could run and jump freely. However, no one knew when her heart might suddenly stop. If that happened with no one around, it would be too late.
โReally?โ Zinniaโs lashes fluttered nervously. โBut didnโt you say my body wouldnโt be able to tolerate the surgery?โ
โYes, I found an ancient medical text,โ Nathan coaxed. โYouโll be safe and sound. Once you grow up and your body stabilizes, we can perform the surgery. After that, Zinnia...โ
โBut even if the surgery is possible,โ Zinnia murmured, โfinding a suitable heart donor wonโt be easy.โ
Zinnia honestly didnโt care how much longer she had to live. She thought, โFinding a suitable heart donor is hard enough, let alone one thatโs actually a perfect match. And even if there was a donor, would I even live to see eighteen?โ
โZinnia, Iโve found a heart donor for you,โ Nathan said gently.
โFound one?โ Zinnia asked, her eyes widening in surprise. โEveryone wants to live. Now that I have a real chance, of course I want to survive too,โ Zinnia thought to herself.
โYes, Iโve found one,โ Nathan said softly. โRemember when I asked you to deliver medicine to the Evans family? Thereโs a terminally ill person there who has agreed to be a heart donor. When you turn eighteen and have the surgery, youโll be completely cured.โ
โThe Evans family?โ Zinnia echoed, surprised. It had been a long time since she last heard any news about them.
โYes, the Evans family; they have been rooted in Yinecrest for over a century. They possess great power and enjoy a prestigious status. Their ancestors had close connections with the royal family.
โThe Evans familyโs financial reach extends across the globe. The Evans Group, under the leadership of Osborn, is a titan in finance and investment, commanding a significant presence in global markets.
โThe next heir, Adrian, is widely regarded as the most outstanding among the younger generation. Theyโve promised Master that they will take you in as their goddaughter. Once theyโve sorted out their affairs, Master will bring you to meet them.โ
โThe main line of the Evans family has only Adrian. By making Zinnia their goddaughter, Zinnia will be better protected in the future,โ thought Nathan.
Recently, some problems have cropped up in the Evans family, and Adrian has to go back to Yinecrest to deal with them. After everything is sorted out, Nathan will take Zinnia there.
โWhat did you trade in exchange?โ Zinnia asked sharply. โThe Evans family is such a prestigious family. How could they possibly agree to take in an unrelated girl like me as their goddaughter without any reason?โ
Nathan said gently, โMaster treated them, and those were the terms they agreed to.โ
โDid you use the Flowing Technique again?โ Zinniaโs voice trembled with worry. โIs that why you canโt get rid of your coughing fits? Is it because your life force is completely drained and you canโt recover quickly?โ
โMaster seldom used the Flowing Technique because it took too heavy a toll on oneโs vital energy. Even someone as resilient as Nathan needed a long time to recover after using it. This secret art was strictly reserved for life-or-death situations,โ Zinnia thought.
โItโs alright. Iโll be fine after some rest,โ Nathan said with a gentle, warm smile.
โDonโt worry, Zinnia,โ Nathan said gently. โAs long as Iโm here, everything will be okay. You just focus on being happy. You donโt need to take on my burdens. All my debts have been cleared. Now, I just want you to live a good life.โ
Chapter 284
Nathan gently patted Zinniaโs back to offer comfort. Nathan thought, โI didnโt want Zinnia to bear my troubles.โ
As Zinnia listened to Nathanโs words, she thought, โItโs as if Nathanโs making his final arrangements. He meticulously explained every deal to me...'
Nathan said softly yet insistently, โZinnia, go watch some TV and take a rest for a while.โ He tried to suppress the increasing itch in his throat. With a gentle nudge, Nathan guided Zinnia out of the kitchen.
The kitchen door snapped shut, completely obscuring the scene inside. The kitchen was so well soundproofed that Zinnia couldnโt hear a single sound from outside.
Nathan doubled over, overwhelmed by uncontrollable coughing fits. A metallic tang rose in his throat. He was pressing a black handkerchief to his lips.
Blood. Nathan clutched the display stand.
Nathanโs lips turned pale from coughing. His eyes, brimming with unshed tears, were bloodshot. Taking medicine to suppress his symptoms came at a cost; when the coughing started again, the backlash was far worse than usual.
Feeling the blood in his palm, Nathan lowered his long lashes, gazing at the stains on the black handkerchief. His eyes were calm as still water. A quiet sigh escaped him as he briefly closed his eyes.
โThis broken body, just hold on a little longer. At least let me finish everything,โ Nathan thought.
Zinnia sat on the living room couch, pretending to watch TV, but her gaze kept drifting toward the kitchen. She couldnโt shake the uneasy feeling in her heart.
The place was very similar to the place where Zinnia had stayed with Yannis. However, the kitchen had been specially renovated. The door was now opaque and even soundproof. Once it was closed, not a single sound from the kitchen could be heard.
Since Zinnia couldnโt stand cooking odors, she usually avoided the kitchen completely. She stood up, ready to go take a look. Just then, the doorbell rang.
โVery few people knew their whereabouts. As they were still in Cloud Harbor, outsiders assumed that I was living with Yannis. If anyone showed up here now, it could only be Yannis or Jackson,โ Zinnia thought.
Zinnia shuffled downstairs in her slippers and made her way to the door. Instead of opening it immediately, she peeked through the peephole.
When she saw the tall and imposing figure outside, her eyes lit up with recognition. Zinnia flung the door open and exclaimed, โQuincey.โ
Standing at the doorway was none other than Quincey.
โZinnia, did you miss me?โ Quincey called out warmly. Stepping forward, his eyes lit up at the sight of the bright, beautiful girl. Quincey laughed and scooped Zinnia up under her arms, spinning her around twice.
โQuincey, what took you so long? I thought youโd be coming back with Master,โ Zinnia called out, her tone full of affection. As she was lifted and spun around twice in the air, Zinnia squealed with joy, her laughter tinkling brightly.
โThere were matters in Mealinia I had to handle. Now itโs settled, I couldnโt wait to see our little Zinnia. Did you miss me?โ Quinceyโs rugged face lit up with a cheerful grin as he spun Zinnia around twice, then gently set her down.
โHmph, as if! You and Master are such meanies, you just left me all alone back home, and so many people have been picking on me.โ
โWho? Who dared bully our little Zinnia? Just point them out and Iโll teach them a lesson.โ Quincey roared. The moment he heard Zinnia was bullied, his face darkened with fury. His biceps visibly tensed as his powerful, muscular frame coiled with barely restrained anger.
โMaster, teach him a lesson. I feel like heโs hiding something from me,โ Zinnia pouted playfully.
Chapter 284
Quincey was a towering, muscular figure, easily big enough to be two Zinnias put together. โUmm, Nathan? Little Zinnia, youโll have to teach him a lesson yourself. I canโt help you with this one.โ
At the mention of Nathan, Quinceyโs expression immediately soured. He thought, โI regarded Zinnia as my little sister and Nathan as my little brother; I didnโt dare cross either of them.โ
โHmph, I knew you wouldnโt dare,โ Zinnia said. โAlright, get in here. You must be exhausted after that long flight. Come in and rest.โ
To Zinnia and Nathan, Quincey was more than a friend; he was family, the third member of their circle.