Come in 332
Posted on July 09, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 332

โ€œWhat is it, Zinnia?โ€ Nathan gently placed the peeled orange segments in her palm.

โ€œNathan, letโ€™s go see Giselle,โ€ Zinnia said, looking at him with purpose in her eyes.

Nathan looked puzzled. โ€œWhy should I see Giselle?โ€

With that, Zinnia and Nathan left their courtyard and headed to Giselleโ€™s place.

Nathan didnโ€™t really believe in such things, but seeing the worry in Zinniaโ€™s eyes, he finally agreed to accompany her to see Giselle.

When they arrived at Giselleโ€™s courtyard, she was lounging on a recliner beneath the tree, soaking up the afternoon sun. Simon was sitting beside her, munching on fried cheese. Giselle was getting on for years and often low on energy, so she hadnโ€™t gone out to socialize with the neighbors that afternoon.

Only Giselle and Simon lived at the Polley residence. His parents were always too busy to come home, even during the holidays.

As soon as Simon saw Zinnia and Nathan arrive, he immediately jumped up and called out, โ€œZinnia, Nathan!โ€

โ€œThere you are! Come and sit,โ€ Giselle said to them with a warm, affectionate smile.

Zinnia responded warmly, โ€œMerry Christmas, Giselle!โ€

Giselle beamed and urged warmly, โ€œMerry Christmas! Zinnia and Nathan, come sit down.โ€ Giselle turned to Simon beside her and said kindly, โ€œSimon, go get some fried cheese for Zinnia and check if the mussels in the steamer are ready. If they are, pack some up for her, too.โ€

โ€œOkay!โ€ Simon chirped, scampering off to the kitchen.

โ€œCome here, you two.โ€ Giselle beckoned warmly, motioning for them to sit.

Zinnia and Nathan walked over and took their seats beside Giselle.

โ€œGiselle, we came to ask for your help,โ€ Zinnia said urgently, her voice trembling. She could barely contain her anxiety. Just thinking about Nathanโ€™s condition made her eyes well up with tears.

Seeing Zeeโ€™s eyes turn red with tears, Giselle gently stroked her cheek and said kindly, โ€œZee, you mustnโ€™t cry on Christmas Day. Iโ€™m here, so donโ€™t be afraid.โ€

Hearing Giselleโ€™s words, Zinnia paused for a moment and then pouted, her lips trembling with a hint of grievance. โ€œGiselleโ€ฆโ€

Giselle gently patted Zeeโ€™s back and soothed her, โ€œDonโ€™t cry, sweetheart. If you cry now, youโ€™ll cry all year. Donโ€™t worry. Iโ€™m here.โ€

Nathan watched from the side, feeling a pang in his heart.

Only after comforting Zinnia did Giselle finally release her. Then she looked at Nathan, her kind eyes brimming with tenderness and sorrow. โ€œNathan, when you left five years ago, I told you that you would face a great trial, but you wouldnโ€™t listen to me.โ€

Zinnia listened to Giselle and turned to Nathan in surprise. โ€˜How could I not have known about this?โ€™ she thought.

Nathan knitted his brows and said firmly, โ€œGiselle, I canโ€™t let my parentsโ€™ murder go unavenged even if it costs me my life.โ€

Within five years, Giselle performed divination for Nathan and warned him, โ€œIf you leave home, you will surely encounter a life-threatening calamity.โ€ But Nathan would never give up avenging his parentsโ€™ murder even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

Giselle sighed deeply, her heart aching for the heavy burden Nathan carried, yet she knew well she could do nothing to stop him.

โ€œLet me see your hand,โ€ Giselle said, studying Nathan intently.

Nathan extended his hand, and Giselleโ€™s aged, dry yet warm fingertips came to rest on his wrist.

After carefully checking Nathanโ€™s pulse, Giselle looked up, her eyes wide with shock. โ€œYour bodyโ€ฆโ€

Giselle knew Nathan would face a calamity, but she never imagined it would be this severe. Giselle had some medical knowledge. She was not an expert, but it was enough to easily assess Nathanโ€™s physical condition.

Her eyes flashed with rare anger as she scolded, โ€œNathan, you let your body get this bad, and only now you come back? Donโ€™t you care about your life at all?โ€

Giselle looked at Nathan, the boy sheโ€™d watched grow up, with a mix of frustration and affection.

Nathan gave her a gentle smile. โ€œPlease donโ€™t be upset, Giselle. Your health comes first.โ€

Giselle glared at Nathan, her voice trembling with anger. โ€œYour condition is this bad. Your senses are already fading, and only now do you come back? If you really donโ€™t care about your own life, how can I possibly not be angry with you?โ€

Nathan had left home in perfect health, but he came back barely alive. Giselle was naturally angry about it.

Zinniaโ€™s eyes lit up with hope. โ€œGiselle, does this mean thereโ€™s still hope for Nathan?โ€

Seeing Zinnia, Giselleโ€™s expression softened. โ€œThereโ€™s still hope for now.โ€

โ€œGiselle, Nathanโ€™s condition is critical right now. We have a universal antidote formula, but one crucial ingredient is still missing. Iโ€™m afraid he may not hold out until we find it,โ€ Zinnia said.

โ€œIs there any other way? Weโ€™re not even sure if that antidote will work,โ€ Zinnia added, her eyes shining with desperate hope.

Giselle rubbed the bracelet on her wrist, a solemn look replacing her usual kindness. She said, โ€œThat formula works.โ€

โ€œReally? That formula actually works?โ€ Zinniaโ€™s heart leaped with excitement as she heard Giselleโ€™s words.

What they feared most was that the formula would prove useless, making all their efforts for nothing. But if it really worked, then there was still hope.

Giselle gave her a reassuring nod. โ€œYes, it works.โ€

Zinniaโ€™s eyes dimmed with disappointment. โ€œGiselle, thereโ€™s one ingredient we still canโ€™t find. Weโ€™re not even sure if it really exists. Could you divine where we might find it?โ€

Giselle seemed to have anticipated her question. She gently rolled the prayer beads on her wrist, gazing intently at Nathan. โ€œFrom the southwest,โ€ she murmured, โ€œthe fated one will come.โ€

Zinnia couldnโ€™t make sense of this cryptic answer. โ€˜What does that even mean?โ€™ she wondered, unable to decipher its hidden meaning.

Nathan fell into deep thought. Zinnia couldnโ€™t help but ask, โ€œGiselle, do you mean the ingredient is in the southwest?โ€

Honestly, neither Zinnia nor Nathan dared to pin all their hopes on it. If they couldnโ€™t find it, then everything would be in vain.

โ€œDonโ€™t worry too much, Zee,โ€ Giselle gently stroked her head. โ€œEverything will work out just fine.โ€

โ€œHold out your hand,โ€ Giselle said. She reached into the embroidered vintage pouch at her waist, took out a small wooden vial, uncorked it, and tipped out a tiny emerald-green snake. It was no bigger than a pinky finger.

Nathan held out his hand. The moment the tiny snake was released, it darted onto his palm and sank its fangs deep into his wrist. A sharp pain shot through him, and Nathanโ€™s brow furrowed slightly.

โ€œNathan!โ€ Zinnia cried out in alarm, instinctively reaching to pull the snake away.

Giselle said firmly, โ€œZee, let the snake inject its venom into Nathan. This venom is potent enough to counteract the toxins in his system. It should temporarily stabilize his vital functions and slow the deterioration of his organs.โ€

Giselle stopped her and explained gravely, โ€œOtherwise, even if you find the antidote in the end, by then Nathanโ€™s body will be too far gone. Heโ€™ll die regardless.โ€

Hearing Giselleโ€™s words, Zinnia bit her lip hard. She forced down the anguish in her eyes as she wrung her hands desperately in her lap.

Zinnia bit her lip anxiously, worried that Nathan would end up poisoned all over again. She turned to Giselle and asked, โ€œGiselle, can this venom really be cured in the end?โ€

Zinnia was well aware of Giselleโ€™s venomous creatures. Giselle often ventured into the mountains to catch small creatures and then experimented on them with her own secret concoctions. Every single survivor became deadly poisonous.

โ€œDonโ€™t worry, Zee,โ€ Giselle patted her back reassuringly. โ€œThe venom will be neutralized along with the poison already in Nathanโ€™s system.โ€

The moment the venom entered his system, Nathanโ€™s lips turned deathly pale. Seeing the worry etched on Zinniaโ€™s face, he steadied his voice to assure her, โ€œItโ€™s okay. Donโ€™t worry.โ€


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