Chapter 325

After talking with Yannis, Zinnia realized it was quite late.

After munching on snacks around the fireplace, Zinnia felt parched. She pushed open her door and headed downstairs.

Zinnia had just stepped into the hallway when she caught voices from below and stopped. She could hear Quincey and Fiona talking.

Quincey asked, “Fiona, you like Nathan, don’t you?”

“Quincey, you’re crossing a line,” Fiona warned. She held a cup of water, leaning on the kitchen island. Wearing nice makeup, she looked dejected.

Zinnia froze, completely taken aback. ‘Fiona likes Nathan?’ she thought.

Quincey looked at her calm, indifferent face, his heart aching slightly. “You know perfectly well Nathan only has eyes for Zinnia. Waiting for him is in vain.”

Ever since Quincey confessed his feelings, Fiona had remained cold toward him. In her heart, there was only Nathan and Zinnia.

“I never expected to be with him. I just want to stay by their side,” Fiona said softly, her voice calm and gentle.

She knew she could never have him. Nathan’s world had always revolved around Zinnia since they were kids. If she hadn’t helped them back then, she wouldn’t even have had a place by their side.

“Stop waiting for me. I have no feelings for you,” Fiona said, downing the water in one gulp. Her deep eyes glinted with detachment. “You’re not getting any younger. You should find someone who loves you, and you can love in return!”

To Fiona, they had known each other for over a decade. She didn’t want their relationship to fall apart because of romantic entanglements.

Quincey gazed at Fiona beside him. Her exquisitely radiant face was framed by cascading chestnut waves, and she lowered her deep eyes with indifference.

She was clad in a form-fitting black dress that accentuated her slender waist. Her curvaceous figure exuded effortless elegance and charm, yet her expression remained cool and aloof.

Though usually so distant, she would only show a faint smile when she saw Nathan and Zinnia.

Zinnia’s mind was in complete disarray. She thought, ‘I’ve just uncovered a shocking revelation. I never knew Fiona liked Nathan, and Quincey was in love with Fiona? Oh, my head hurts. Everything just feels so tangled and complicated right now.’

“You tell me not to wait for you, yet you stubbornly cling to Nathan and Zinnia. So selfish,” Quincey said. His lips curled into a humorless smile as he met Fiona’s indifferent gaze. His tone was teasing, but the smile never reached his eyes.

Fiona had spent nearly a decade in Gernmiland, carving out a successful career on her own. She was hardly as gentle as she seemed. Her tenderness was reserved only for Zinnia and Nathan.

Fiona cared for Zinnia simply because she loved Nathan. She told Quincey not to wait for her, yet she herself couldn’t help but keep waiting for Nathan.

Fiona knew Nathan wasn’t into outsiders. His world was all about Zinnia. However, she was still willing to give up everything to return home to start from scratch, just to stay by their side.

“Can’t help it.” Fiona curved her lips with a faint smile. “Life needs some persistence, or it would be too dull.”

Fiona never expected Nathan to return her feelings. She knew he was no ordinary man. Instead, he was exceptional, far beyond her reach. Any hope she had for his affection was nothing but a delusion.

Fiona only wanted to stay by Nathan’s side while he was still alone. Once someone else came into his life, she would quietly leave.

Chapter 325.

Quincey met her earnest gaze and then lowered his eyes to conceal the turmoil within.

Fiona looked at Quincey, her eyes turning slightly cold. She spoke each word slowly and deliberately. “Quincey, I don’t want romantic feelings to ruin what we have. I don’t want us to end up not even being friends.”

Fiona didn’t want romantic entanglements to ruin their friendship. She only hoped they could stay friends, just as they were now. That would be enough for her.

She thought, ‘If Quincey blabs, we might not even be friends. And if Nathan finds out about my feelings for him, I could lose him as a friend, too.’

“Okay,” Quincey responded tersely. His lips tightened briefly as he met Fiona’s frosty gaze.

With that, Fiona washed her cup, put it away, and walked off without another word.

Not feeling well, Nathan didn’t stay much longer after Zinnia returned to her room and soon retired to his own.

Fiona and Quincey didn’t live in the main house. Adjacent to the courtyard, both of them had their own two-story cottage right next to it.

Quincey watched as Fiona walked away slowly. His deep eyes darkened with emotion. ‘In her world, there’s only Nathan,’ he thought bitterly. Even though Nathan had never spared her a glance, she still wanted to stay by their side at all costs.

Zinnia just wanted to get some water but accidentally overheard some bombshell gossip. Her head was spinning. She couldn’t even think straight.

‘Fiona likes Nathan, but now Nathan’s health is failing. If the worst happens to him in the end, how devastated will Fiona be?’ she wondered.

Zinnia once asked if Nathan liked someone. His voice was calm as still water when he said there was no one he liked. She knew he was telling the truth. He really didn’t have anyone special in his heart.

She thought, ‘From what Quincey said, Fiona clearly knows Nathan would never return her feelings, yet she’s still willing to wait in silence…

‘Quincey knows Fiona doesn’t return his feelings, yet he’s still willing to wait. This whole situation is like a tangled web. Oh, it’s giving me a headache.

‘Fiona’s always been so bold, yet even she doesn’t dare tell Nathan how she feels. She’s scared they might not even be friends. What on earth is this thing called a crush? Why does liking someone have to be so complicated?’

Zinnia didn’t even get her water in the end. Lost in thought, she trudged back to her room.

The next morning, Zinnia was awakened by the constant popping of Christmas crackers. It was Christmas day, and as was tradition, the morning began with a burst of festive noise.

Last night, the sounds of fireworks and crackers went off one after another, never stopping all night long.

Zinnia blinked at the morning light streaming through the window. Downstairs, she could faintly hear the cheerful chatter of children. Sitting up in bed, she ran her fingers through her tousled hair.

She went downstairs to find a group of excited kids lined up in the living room. They eagerly offered Christmas wishes to Nathan and the others. “Merry Christmas, Nathan. Merry Christmas, Fiona. Merry Christmas, Quincey!”

“Merry Christmas! Zinnia is still asleep, so you’ll have to wait a bit,” Nathan said as he handed out small presents to the children.

“We don’t mind waiting, Nathan.” Simon stood at the front, clutching the present Nathan had given him. His chubby little face looked soft and sweet.

They’d promised the night before to come play with Zinnia. So true to their word, the kids were up bright and early, full of energy and excitement.

“Come, sit over here. Had breakfast yet? If not, come join us,” Quincey called out, coming from the kitchen with a casserole tray.

“We’ve already eaten, but Nathan’s cooking is so good. We can always eat more!” Simon chimed in.

Chapter 325

The kids all knew Nathan was an amazing cook. Before he left, they’d often come over to hang out with Zinnia, hoping to catch him in the kitchen making something delicious. If they were lucky, they’d get to enjoy the food, too.

In fact, the kids absolutely adored Zinnia and Nathan.

“If you’re still hungry, come grab a seat,” Quincey said, gesturing for the kids to join him at the table. “Eat your fill. Then you can take Zinnia out to play with you.”

The kids eagerly lined up and took their seats at the dining table.

Nathan looked up and saw Zinnia slowly coming down the stairs. “You’re awake,” he said to her warmly.