Nathan had slept so deeply that he didnโt wake until dusk was falling. When he finally opened his eyes, a wave of exhaustion still lingered in his body, though the pain had eased considerably.
He glanced out the window at the darkening sky. Worried that Zinnia might be hungry, he instinctively pushed himself up, wanting to get out of bed.
He had barely lifted himself when he noticed Zinnia keeping vigil by his bedside. He immediately eased down.
Zinnia rested her head on the edge of the bed with her eyes closed in sleep. Her long, thick lashes drooped, her lips pressed tight, and even her brow was furrowed.
No one knew what she was dreaming of. Her expression stayed just as serious, even in her dreams.
These days, Zinnia hadnโt been resting well, either. After keeping watch over Nathan for so long, exhaustion finally overtook her, and she dozed off by the bedside, her breathing soft and even.
Nathan quietly watched Zinniaโs sleeping face. Suddenly, he heard her murmur softly in her sleep, โNathan, you have to get better. I promise Iโll do my best.โ
Hearing her words, Nathan felt his heart melt. Seeing her brows tightly furrowed, he instinctively reached out, yearning to smooth them away with his fingertips.
Before his fingertips could touch her, Zinnia suddenly jerked awake. Her eyes flew open as she bolted upright.
Seeing Nathan awake, Zinnia jumped to her feet and looked at him with concern. โNathan, youโre awake. How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?โ
Zinnia hadnโt had a single peaceful sleep since Nathanโs accident. Every night, sheโd lie awake, afraid something might happen to Nathan while she was asleep. She would always wake up in the middle of the night, startled and anxious.
If Nathan hadnโt forbidden her from entering his room, Zinnia would probably have sneaked in at midnight just to check his pulse and breathing, making sure he was still alive.
โIโm fine. Donโt worry,โ Nathan said softly, meeting Zinniaโs concerned gaze. His heart ached with guilt. It was his fault that she had to put up with all this.
โLet me check your pulse,โ Zinnia said, gently taking Nathanโs hand.
When Nathan first returned after being bitten by the snake, his internal energy was in chaos as the two opposing poisons battled within him, making diagnosis impossible.
But after three solid hours of sleep, his condition gradually stabilized.
Zinniaโs eyes sparkled with joy as she checked his pulse. โNathan, itโs working. Giselleโs method really worked. The poison in your system has stabilized for now!โ she exclaimed.
Nathanโs energy flow had long been in turmoil, never reaching equilibrium. It left his body in a constant cycle of weakness and exhaustion.
Giselleโs medical skills were average, but she had a knack for researching cute little things, especially poisonous ones.
But now, after Nathan was bitten by the snake, the two extremely potent venoms clashed inside his body and unexpectedly brought him to a stable equilibrium.
Nathan looked down at Zinnia and said softly, โNow can you stop worrying so much?โ
โWhoโs worried about you?โ Zinnia retorted stubbornly.
Nathan chuckled softly and said, โThen how come I heard you murmuring in your sleep that you hope nothing will happen to me?โ
Chapter 334
Zinnia didnโt buy it. โThatโs nonsense. Iโd never talk in my sleep,โ she retorted.
โZinnia, didnโt you know?โ Nathanโs eyes crinkled with amusement as he looked at her. โWhen people are exhausted and restless, they sometimes talk in their sleep without even realizing it.โ
In an instant, Zinniaโs face burned with embarrassment. She had really been exhausted lately. Every night, her mind was restless with worries, making it hard to sleep.
Zinnia turned away with a huff. โYou know Iโm worried, so you have to get better, okay?โ
After hearing Giselleโs words today, Zinnia finally felt a ray of hope in her heart. With that hope, a sense of relief washed over her.
โZinnia, donโt tell anyone about my condition stabilizing for now,โ Nathan said, looking at her seriously.
โOthers? Does that mean Quincey canโt know, either?โ Zinnia said, thinking of Quincey. Right now, Quincey was the only other person who knew about Nathanโs condition.
Nathan said firmly, โDonโt tell anyone.โ As he recalled Giselleโs words, a shadow crossed his eyes. When it came to Zinnia, he couldnโt afford to let his guard down. He couldnโt fully trust anyone.
Zinnia and Nathan descended the stairs to find Fiona reading in the living room. Looking up from her book, she remarked, โOh, you two were home after all. The house was so quiet that I thought youโd gone out.โ
Realizing Quincey wasnโt downstairs, Zinnia asked, โWhereโs Quincey?โ
Fiona replied, โQuincey said he found a lead on what he was looking for. It was urgent, so he left without telling you.โ
Later that afternoon, while Quincey and Fiona were chatting with some of the elders in the small town, Quincey received a phone call.
His expression shifted abruptly, and without another word to anyone, he took off immediately. Fiona vaguely caught something about โflowersโ in his hurried words.
But since Quincey had always been as elusive as a ghost, Fiona wasnโt all that surprised by his sudden departure.
At her words, Nathanโs eyes lowered. โQuincey found a lead, yet he didnโt tell me right away,โ he thought.
Fiona set her book aside and looked at Zinnia. โItโs getting late, Zee. What do you want for dinner? Iโll make it for you.โ
โLetโs make some soup. We still have dishes left from lunch, so thereโs no need to cook much. How about we just stir-fry some bok choy and make tomato and egg toast?โ Zinnia advised, glancing at Nathan beside her.
Nathan had put his mask back on, hiding his face once more.
Fiona had never even seen what Nathan really looked like.
After a long afternoon nap, some color returned to Nathanโs lips, but he still couldnโt handle anything too heavy. Rich were definitely off the menu since theyโd be tough for him to digest.
โOh, Zinnia. You want to go vegetarian now?โ Fiona teased, genuinely surprised to hear her volunteer for veggies.
Having watched Zinnia grow up, Fiona knew better than anyone that the girl had always hated vegetables. Just mentioning them would make Zinnia wrinkle her nose. For Zinnia to bring it up herself was truly odd.
Zinnia pouted and said sweetly, โTomato and egg toast doesnโt really count as vegetarian.โ
โFiona, what were you looking at?โ Zinnia asked before Fiona could respond.
Chapter 334
โI was just tidying up the coffee table and found the photo album I took of you as a kid. I couldnโt help flipping through it,โ Fiona said, pointing at the album on the table.
Zinnia came downstairs and looked at the photo album. Flipping to a random page, she puffed out her cheeks and complained, โYou guys even took embarrassing photos of me!โ
Fiona looked at the photo. It showed five-year-old Zinnia clutching a small spoon, feeding herself from a cute bowl.
Beside her was fifteen-year-old Nathan, who was holding a fork with green vegetables and trying to coax them into Zinniaโs mouth.
Zinnia kept her lips tightly shut, pouting pitifully. It was an utterly adorable sight. Back then, Nathan was patiently trying to get her to eat her veggies.
Every time Nathan tried to get Zinnia to eat her veggies, he had to coax her endlessly, promising all sorts of things, like a new stuffed animal, the prettiest flowers, picking her up after school, or making her favorite lamb chops for dinner.
Sheโd rattle off a whole list of little demands, pouting pitifully about how much she was suffering and insisting Nathan had to spoil her. Only then would she reluctantly chew her vegetables.
She was a typical greedy little girl who always wanted more, even after getting her way.
Back then, Nathan would quietly listen as Zinnia talked, gently coaxing another bite of veggies into her mouth. When she finished, heโd always agree with whatever she wanted.
Sometimes, Zinnia would prattle on with a mountain of requests, so many that even Fiona couldnโt keep track, but Nathan remembered every single one and made sure to grant them all. From the time Zinnia was little, Nathan had spoiled her a lot.
Back then, Fiona stood by, snapping photos of Zinnia and Nathan with her phone. The camera wasnโt great, so the pictures faded and yellowed with time. It was a gentle reminder of those bygone days.
At the sight of the faded photographs, Nathanโs eyes softened with warmth.