Chapter 317

Nathan carried the plate over. Zinnia pulled back the blanket and was about to get off the couch. “Stop reading for now. Eat something and relax,” Nathan said, blocking her path.

“No,” Zinnia refused stubbornly.

“Zinnia, I don’t want you exhausting yourself over my condition. If you do, it would make me regret ever telling you the truth.” Nathan’s gaze was earnest. Zinnia frowned.

Nathan spoke again. “Zinnia, if you neglect your health because of me, I’ll regret ever coming back.” His gaze was gentle, yet there was an undeniable seriousness beneath it.

If anything went wrong with Zinnia because of him, Nathan would regret coming back. Dying away from home with a lingering thought was better than having Zinnia witness his departure firsthand.

For Nathan, his own health didn’t matter; he only worried about Zinnia’s well-being. Watching her sacrifice sleep and peace of mind for his sake was not what he wanted.

Zinnia’s face turned red with anger as she blurted out, “Nathan, I hate you.” Zinnia felt a lump form in her throat. When she finally spoke, her words were tinged with bitterness and on the verge of tears.

“Yes, I can be annoying, but you have to understand; I hid things from you because I didn’t want you to end up like this.” Nathan bent down and placed the items on the cabinet.

“I’m not talking to you anymore,” Zinnia huffed, turning her face away.

“How about having some cookies? And your favorite orange juice?” Nathan coaxed, playfully waving the plate of cookies in front of her.

“No.” Zinnia turned her head away, her voice hoarse.

Hearing the tremor in her voice, Nathan’s heart clenched and his breath hitched. He put down the things, sat on the daybed, placed both hands on Zinnia’s shoulders, and gently yet firmly turned her to face him.

Just as Nathan feared, Zinnia’s eyes were red-rimmed. Unshed tears shimmered in her eyes. Forced to meet Nathan’s gaze, Zinnia bit her lip, fighting back tears as she lowered her head.

Zinnia refused to talk to Nathan. She knew that words hurt the most when emotions were running high. Zinnia didn’t want to end up hurting him.

Seeing her hurt expression, Nathan’s heart clenched tightly. “I’m sorry. I spoke too harshly just now. Can you forgive me?” He knew the girl was upset; his gentle eyes filled with tenderness and pain as he looked at her.

He always spoke gently to her. Just now, his stern expression was too serious for Zinnia. He had never been harsh with her since childhood. Nathan was only a bit anxious earlier.

Seeing Zinnia so worried about him was never what he wanted. All he hoped for was her well-being. Nathan knew his tone had been harsh just now, so he softened his voice, bent down, and looked into her eyes.

“I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m sorry, I was just too worried,” Nathan said. “Zinnia, you’re worried about me, but don’t you know I worry about you just as much?" Nathan murmured soothing words to her, his voice soft with remorse.

Zinnia said, “Don’t you think I worry about you too? Do you have any idea how terrified I’ve been since I found out what happened to you? And now you’re snapping at me. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

Zinnia listened to his soothing words, but the hurt inside her was too much to hold back, her voice trembling with tears.

She was afraid she couldn’t save him, afraid he might really leave her in the end. Though she seemed calm now, at night when thinking about his condition, Zinnia sometimes feared waking up to find him gone.

Zinnia, trained in medicine, deeply understood Nathan’s poor condition. His organs were failing one by one. Whether he had three months left was uncertain.

And she had no way to help him. She felt like a helpless bird trapped in a sealed cage, desperately searching for any means to escape, but finding none.

Zinnia couldn’t afford to relax. Her emotions were already fragile, always fearing something would happen to Nathan. Whenever he grew serious, she felt hurt and vulnerable. Lately, she had been like a frightened bird, constantly on edge.

She was truly afraid something would happen to Nathan and dared not waste a single moment. She feared that even a slight delay could mean it was too late.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I won’t say those things anymore,” Nathan said gently. Hearing her admit her fear, he felt his heart clench.

She never voiced her fears even once. After those initial breakdowns, she secluded herself in the medicine lab, dedicating every waking moment to researching a cure.

“I was already scared, and you’re still being harsh with me…” Zinnia sobbed. She was never a brave girl–afraid of the dark, thunder, bugs, and even being scolded. When someone she cared about was harsh to her, she felt deeply hurt.

Ever since Nathan’s accident, Zinnia had been scared deep inside but dared not say it. She feared worrying others and forced herself to stay strong, acting as if nothing was wrong. But now, seeing Nathan’s stern face, she instantly felt overwhelmed.

Anyone could be harsh with her, but not Nathan. Zinnia never saw herself as a crybaby, yet in these two months, she has cried as much as in the past ten years. All because of Nathan’s situation.

Though she was once emotionally unaware, somehow she had become sensitive over time. Now, even the slightest change would startle her and send her into panic.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you,” Nathan said with regret. He realized he’d been a little too hasty.

Nathan gently pulled her into his arms. “Let me apologize to you, okay?”

“You’re really annoying. Do you know that when I read at night, a bunch of prairie spirits crowd my mind, chasing me around?” Zinnia lowered her head, wiping tears onto his shirt, her voice muffled and unhappy.

He knew perfectly well that she hated hearing this kind of talk, yet he kept saying it anyway.

She hated reading. If it weren’t for him, she would never spend every day buried in those books. They made her dizzy, her head buzzing, with herbs chasing each other in her dreams at night, as if saying, “Catch me if you can.”

Feeling so wronged, Zinnia wasn’t used to hardship. She wouldn’t care so much about her own health, but because it was Nathan, she couldn’t help but worry.

Zinnia said, “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be working myself to the bone like this. And after all that, you had the nerve to scold me.”