Seeing Zinniaโs emotions gradually stabilize, Nathan closed his eyes briefly and let out a relieved sigh.
Zinnia buried her face in Nathanโs chest, tears streaming down her cheeks as she sobbed uncontrollably, unable to stop for what felt like an eternity.
โZinnia,โ Nathan said softly, โno matter what happened, letโs steady your emotions for now, okay?โ Knowing she felt wronged, he rhythmically patted her back, coaxing her gently in a soft, comforting voice.
Zinnia didnโt say a word. She merely nodded weakly, letting him know sheโd heard. โMasterโs already in trouble,โ Zinnia thought. โI canโt afford to fall apart now.โ
Zinnia rested her head against Nathanโs chest, listening to the steady, reassuring beat of his heart as her tears quickly soaked through his shirt.
Nathan felt the dampness of her tears soaking into his skin, and a searing pain shot through his heart, aching and unbearable.
Nathan gently patted Zinniaโs back, his voice growing softer with every word. โZinnia, I know youโve been wronged. Tell me, who hurt you? Let me make them pay for you, alright?โ
He kept soothing her, each pat more tender than the last. But out of Zinniaโs sight, a dangerous glint hardened in Nathanโs green eyes. Beneath all that gentleness, he was already plotting revenge on her behalf.
Nathan still had no idea what had upset Zinnia so much. โWho did this to her?โ he wondered, the thought trailing off.
Zinnia leaned against him, her eyelids swollen and red, sweat beading on her forehead from crying. After what felt like an eternity, she finally managed to steady her turbulent emotions.
โTell Master whatโs wrong, okay?โ Only when Nathan was sure she had calmed down did he finally release her. He lowered his head to meet her swollen, red-rimmed eyes, his gaze impossibly tender.
The moment he spoke, Zinniaโs lips trembled, and she felt the tears welling up again. Her eyes burned with a stinging ache. Between sobs, Zinnia choked out, โIโฆ Are you sick?โ
In an instant, Nathanโs body went rigid. His pupils locked in place.
โYou canโt lie to me anymore,โ Zinnia stammered between sobs. โIโฆ I found the herb residues you hid. Do you have a lung condition?โ With tears blurring her vision, Zinnia looked up at him, her eyes brimming with worry and pain.
โIf his lung condition worsens, heโll start coughing up blood, and only then would he need something to stop it,โ Zinnia thought anxiously.
โMaster has been sick all this time, and I never even knew,โ Zinnia thought, tears welling up uncontrollably in her eyes once again.
โEven though he was clearly unwell himself,โ Zinnia thought, โhe still pretended nothing was wrong, taking care of me and staying by my side.โ
He wasnโt actually asleep just now. He was completely drained, utterly exhausted, and he had nearly passed out.
Nathan gazed at her swollen, tear-stained eyes, lowered his gaze, and let out a sigh so faint it was barely there. Nathan thought, โTo think it was me who made her cry like this.โ
โHow is my Zinnia so perceptive?โ Nathan said, a faint, tender smile curving his lips. He reached up and gently ruffled the back of her head.
โYโyouโฆ Tell me honestly,โ Zinnia choked out, her voice trembling. โDonโt you dare lie to me.โ With red-rimmed eyes, she pulled away from his hand, forcing herself to meet his gaze with a stern expression. โI wonโt let him lie to me again,โ she thought.
โIโฆ I want to check your pulse,โ Zinnia stammered, reaching out her hand.
Nathan gently took her hand and said softly, โI just took some medicine, so you wonโt get an accurate pulse reading now. Letโs wait a while, okay?โ
Chapter 295
โAre you still keeping something from me? Just how bad is your condition, really?โ Zinniaโs eyes hardened. Before Nathan could react, she grabbed his wrist.
Nathan lowered his gaze to her hand on his wrist, silent.
Zinniaโs expression turned grave as she carefully checked his pulse. โWhy canโt I get a clear reading?โ she murmured, her brows furrowed in confusion.
Zinnia truly couldnโt make sense of his pulse. At times, it was weak and floating, sometimes, it felt strong; and occasionally, she couldnโt detect it at all. This pulse just made no sense.
โI took some medicine not long ago. The effects are still working, so the pulse isnโt quite accurate right now,โ Nathan said gently, trying to reassure her.
Zinnia checked his pulse again, more carefully this time. Though she still couldnโt get a clear reading, she thought with relief, โMasterโs condition is better than Iโd feared.โ
โItโs just a lung condition,โ she reassured herself. โWith proper care, it shouldnโt turn into anything serious!โ
Zinnia said, her voice still thick with tears, โFrom now on, you absolutely have to take good care of yourself. Take your medicine properly, eat well, worry less, donโt overwork, and stop overthinking, okay?โ Her eyes were still red and puffy.
โAlright, I know what Iโm doing. Everything is under control, so donโt worry,โ Nathan smiled gently.
โStop smiling. Do you know how you scared me? I almost thought you were seriously ill. Why did you keep it from me? If I hadnโt found out, would you have just kept hiding it from me forever?โ Zinnia exclaimed, her voice trembling with frustration.
Seeing him still grinning, Zinnia, exasperated, reached out and pressed her thumb against the corner of his mouth to wipe away that smile. โIf I hadnโt discovered it, would he really have kept hiding it from me forever?โ she wondered.
โNo. I was going to tell you after your exams, but you found out first.โ As Nathan spoke, he gently smoothed her disheveled hair.
โYโyouโฆyouโre not lying to me?โ Zinnia hiccupped between sobs, her voice trembling as she sniffled.
She thought to herself, โNow that I know Masterโs been hiding something from me, I should feel relieved. But this nagging unease just wonโt go away. Something still feels terribly wrong.โ
โYou know Iโd never lie to you, Zinnia,โ Nathan said softly, making no move to stop her.
โAlright, no more tears. Come sit here and let me massage around your eyes,โ Nathan said softly. Nathan gently took Zinniaโs hand and led her to the small sofa in the room.
โNโno. Really, itโs nothing. Youโre not feeling well, so you should rest,โ Zinnia said, tugging gently at Nathanโs sleeve. She didnโt want him to worry about her, so she gave his sleeve a little tug.
Zinnia said, โItโs nothing. My eyelids are just a bit swollen. Theyโll be fine after some rest.โ
โSit down. Those puffy eyes arenโt doing your beauty any favors,โ Nathan murmured, gently easing her onto the sofa.
Zinnia pouted in protest, โMaster, how could you find fault with me? I thought you loved Zinnia the most!โ
โI could never dislike you, Zinnia. I love you the most. But youโre such a pretty girl. We canโt let even the tiniest flaw mar that lovely face of yours.โ Nathan gently closed her eyes with his fingers, coaxing her with practiced ease.
Zinnia huffed. โIf Iโm not pretty, thatโs on you. You raised me this way. So, if youโre finding fault with me, youโre really just finding fault with yourself.โ Nathan chuckled softly, his slender, fair fingers tenderly massaging the area around her eyes.
Zinnia leaned back against the sofa, catching the crisp, bittersweet scent of bitter orange wafting from Nathan behind her. Just like the man himself, outwardly refined and gentle, yet beneath that composed exterior lay a hidden bitterness.
Chapter 295
Zinnia wrinkled her nose. โMaster, did you change your scent? It smells bitter.โ She caught the faint yet distinctly bitter aroma on him. โItโs a bit like diluted bitter herbal medicine,โ she thought, feeling a growing discomfort.
Zinnia frowned. She didnโt really like this smell; it was as if remedies had seeped into Nathanโs very being.
Before, he always carried the warm, pleasant aroma of precious agarwood, a rare fragrant wood. But since his return, even that familiar scent had given way to this medicinal bitterness.
Nathan said, โDonโt like this one? I will switch to a different fragrance next time.โ
โIโll make you a new one, a sweet-smelling one. This oneโs just too bitter,โ Zinnia insisted, refusing to let him do it himself. She was determined to blend him with the perfect fragrance herself.
โAlright, Iโll wait for your special blend, Zinnia.โ