Come in 288
Posted on July 09, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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โ€œIf we wait any longer, they wonโ€™t be able to resist,โ€ Nathan said. โ€œIf we donโ€™t give them any openings, they might resort to desperate measures. Emilyโ€™s team has noticed surveillance on them recently.โ€

Yannis learned that the Tinderground syndicate was involved. He kept Zinnia under tight security. Emily and Stephen provided constant protection, escorting her to and from school every day. Once she was home, she didnโ€™t step outside.

After Nathan returned, Zinnia headed straight home after classes without lingering. Cloud Harborโ€™s security was top-notch. There was no way they could have slipped in unnoticed.

With no chance to get close to Zinnia, they were inevitably growing restless. Once they got anxious, things were likely to go wrong.

โ€œLetโ€™s wait until Zinniaโ€™s on break,โ€ Nathan said, continuing with the food preparation.

Jackson sliced the sausage, then looked over at Nathan. โ€œHow are you feeling?โ€ he asked. His searching gaze swept over Nathan, looking for any sign of improvement. He couldnโ€™t shake the feeling that Nathan looked even thinner than before. Jackson frowned slightly.

Nathan lowered his eyes, his expression calm. โ€œIโ€™m fine,โ€ he replied.

Yannis winced as a sharp sting in his hand snapped him out of his thoughts. He glanced down and noticed a fresh cut on his finger.

Jackson turned his head to ask Yannis to pass him something, only to see blood welling from a cut on Yannisโ€™s hand.

โ€œYannis, how could you be so careless? Put the knife down and grab some tissue,โ€ Jackson said. As he spoke, he set aside what he was holding and quickly fetched a tissue to wrap the wound.

โ€œItโ€™s nothing, just a scratch,โ€ Yannis said, casually wrapping it with a tissue. Heโ€™d been nicked by a shrimp while prepping them.

Noticing the cut on Yannisโ€™s hand, Nathan set down what he held. โ€œLetโ€™s go to the living room. Iโ€™ll treat your wound.โ€ Yannis followed Nathan into the living room.

โ€œHave a seat. Iโ€™ll grab the first aid kit,โ€ Nathan said, turning away. Yannis sat down on the couch.

Nathan quickly found the kit and turned around. In a gentle voice, he said, โ€œDonโ€™t show anything unusual in front of them.โ€ His tone was soft.

Nathan removed a cotton swab, dipped it in some antiseptic, and carefully cleaned the wound on Yannisโ€™s hand.

โ€œHow are you feeling?โ€ Yannis lowered his head, his heart growing heavy as he remembered the words about entrusting Zinniaโ€™s care to him.

A few days ago, Nathan was still coughing, but the coughing had almost stopped. Yannis worried that Nathan might be hiding his symptoms somehow.

โ€œHave you heard of Florivive?โ€ Nathan asked as he gently applied a band-aid to his hand.

He had already instructed all Moore Group-affiliated pharmacies nationwide to be on the lookout for it and had contacted several research institutes. However, there still hadnโ€™t been any news.

The Moore family had been out of the country for two decades, during which many of their old connections had gradually faded away.

โ€œFlorivive?โ€ Yannis repeated, his brow furrowing at the strange name. He pondered it for a moment, then admitted, โ€œIโ€™ve never heard of it. Iโ€™ll ask my grandpa; he might know something."

โ€œTonight, Iโ€™ll get back to the Perkins residence. Iโ€™ll check with the butler to see if we have Florivive. If we donโ€™t, Iโ€™ll have someone inquire further.โ€

โ€œThank you,โ€ Nathan said with a gentle smile.

Chapter 288

Yannis shook his head. โ€œNo need for all the niceties.โ€ He hoped Nathan would get better soon.

โ€œThe Perkins family has an excellent medical team. Would you like them to examine you?โ€ Yannis asked, concern evident in his eyes.

โ€œDid you forget Iโ€™m a doctor?โ€ Nathan said, closing the medical kit.

Yannis fell silent and thought, โ€œThatโ€™s right. Nathan is an exceptional doctor. But he couldnโ€™t help himself, so he entrusted Zinniaโ€™s care to me.โ€

Yannisโ€™s voice was hoarse as he asked, โ€œCan you tell me how youโ€™re feeling now?โ€

โ€œI probably have about half a year left,โ€ Nathan replied quietly.

โ€œHalf a year.โ€ Yannisโ€™s throat tightened. He had known that Nathanโ€™s time might be limited, but he hadnโ€™t anticipated it would be so brief.

โ€œDoes Zinnia know?โ€ Yannis asked, then immediately realized how pointless the question was. He thought, โ€œIf she knew, Nathan wouldnโ€™t have gone to such lengths to keep it from her.โ€

โ€œNo,โ€ Nathan replied, his voice steady. With his back to Yannis, he placed the first aid kit into the cabinet and said, โ€œItโ€™s enough for us to know about it.โ€

โ€œWhat were you talking about?โ€ Jackson called out. โ€œIโ€™ve pretty much finished prepping everything. Zinnia wants shrimp, right? Since you said she doesnโ€™t eat garlic, what flavors do we have?โ€ By the time they came back in, Jackson had nearly finished prepping the ingredients.

โ€œYeah,โ€ Nathan said, glancing at Yannis, who was about to step into the kitchen. โ€œYannis, could you check on Zinnia and let her know dinnerโ€™s almost ready?โ€

Yannis paused, pulling his foot back from the kitchen doorway. โ€œSure.โ€ He turned and headed toward Zinniaโ€™s room.

The layout of her room mirrored Yannisโ€™s, with Zinniaโ€™s room being the farthest from Nathanโ€™s. The room had a fresh and airy aesthetic. Since Zinnia loved flowers, Nathan had arranged exquisitely crafted bouquets on the coffee table, display shelves, dining table, and bar cabinet.

Even though Yannis hadnโ€™t visited in the past few days, he and Zinnia stayed in constant contact over the phone. His phone buzzed daily with a flurry of chirpy voice messages from Zinnia.

One moment, sheโ€™d tell him about the delicious meals Nathan had cooked for her; the next, sheโ€™d gush about the cute braids Nathan had styled in her hair or share which beautiful new flowers Nathan had arranged.

Even though they no longer lived together, their relationship hadnโ€™t faded. If anything, absence seemed to make them fonder. Zinnia took every opportunity to pester him with her messages.

Zinnia: [Yannis, send me a pic of your gorgeous hands.]

Zinnia: [Yannis, what are you wearing today? Donโ€™t tell me itโ€™s that same all-black outfit again.]

Zinnia: [Yannis, did you wash your hair? I wanna braid it. Since I canโ€™t, you do a little braid and show me.]

Listening to Zinniaโ€™s bubbly voice messages, Yannis would always smile indulgently. He never refused her anything.

Yannis walked to Zinniaโ€™s door and knocked.

โ€œWho is it? Wait a minute!โ€ Zinnia called from inside.

Zinnia was in the middle of something when she heard a knock. She frantically shoved everything under the cabinet. Only after making sure everything was hidden did she hurry to open the door.

Zinnia opened the door. โ€œWhat are you doing here?โ€ she asked with flustered breath, her eyes darting nervously when she saw it was Yannis.

โ€œWhat mischief are you up to?โ€ Yannis teased. She looked like she used to when she snuck snacks. It was obvious sheโ€™d been up to something.

Chapter 288

โ€œNothing, donโ€™t tease me,โ€ Zinnia said with a light snort. Her gaze dropped to the band-aid in his hand. โ€œWhat happened?โ€ she asked, her voice altering with concern.

Yannis replied, โ€œNothing serious. I got nicked by a shrimp.โ€


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