“Zinnia!” Yannis shouted.

Zinnia’s face went pale, and her breathing turned sharp and fast. Her body gave out, and she collapsed backward. Yannis caught her just in time.

“Z–Zinnia…” Nathan’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the color drain from her face. Somehow, he managed to push himself up from the bed.

Hunched over, he reached for the drawer. But in his condition, it was no use. Even though his fingers touched the handle, he didn’t have the strength to pull it open.

When Nathan realized how helpless he was, his face twisted in pain.

“What are you trying to do?” Jackson steadied him.

“M–Medicine… in the drawer…” Nathan stammered, pointing with a shaking finger.

Jackson pulled the drawer open and grabbed a small white porcelain bottle. He poured out the pills.

“Five–give her five.” Nathan’s voice was hoarse and rough, like the words were scraping up from his throat. He sounded both panicked and angry.

He stared at Zinnia in Yannis’s arms–her face was so pale, her pupils already losing focus. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. He wanted to get up, but he couldn’t.

“Zinnia, take it. Now.” Jackson held five blood-red pills to her lips.

“Zinnia, take the pills,” Yannis said, holding her close. His eyes, usually calm, were filled with fear.

Zinnia felt a sharp, stabbing pain spreading across her chest, and a loud buzzing filled her ears. She leaned against Yannis, her head spinning.

The pain made her eyes well up with tears. When she felt the pills near her lips, she opened her mouth out of instinct. She knew this medicine. She’d taken it before.

Zinnia realized she was having another attack. It had been years since the last one, but the pain was all too familiar–every time, it felt like death was reaching out for her.

This time, though, the pain in her chest was even worse. When she thought about Nathan risking his life to save her, the ache deepened to a numb, cold sting.

Now she understood why Nathan had become so weak so fast. He’d made this medicine for her. She didn’t want that kind of sacrifice.

The medicine was hard to make–it needed three sleepless nights of close watching, and Nathan was the only one who could make it. She didn’t know how he did it, but his body was already too fragile for that kind of strain.

Back when he was healthier, even one round of making the medicine would leave him exhausted for days. Now, with his body so weak, making it was like throwing away what little life he had left.

Nathan had chosen to risk everything for her, but she didn’t want his so-called kindness.

Zinnia felt a wave of anger. If Nathan didn’t care about his own life, then she’d die with him. She’d give his life back. If Nathan died because he tried to save her, she’d never be happy living with that guilt.

Zinnia slowly closed her eyes. She wasn’t afraid of dying. After all, this life was only hers because Nathan had stolen it back for her.

“Zinnia, take the pills,” Jackson urged.

But Zinnia kept her mouth shut. Her face was growing even paler, and she looked weaker by the second. Jackson, Yannis, and Nathan were all on edge.

Chapter 356

When she closed her eyes, Yannis felt like someone had stabbed him in the chest. He knew she was refusing the medicine on purpose.

She was sick, her mind was all over the place, and she tended to overthink. She probably thought everything was her fault.

“Z–Zinnia, swallow the pills… please,” Nathan said, his voice breaking. His eyes were bloodshot from coughing, filled with panic.

He knew she must’ve figured out what he had done for her.

Zinnia’s eyelashes twitched when she heard his shaky, weak voice. Before she could react, Yannis grabbed her face and forced her mouth open.

“Zinnia, swallow the pills,” Yannis said. “Nathan’s still waiting for you to save him.”

Jackson didn’t waste the chance–he slipped the pills into her mouth. Yannis tilted her chin slightly, and Zinnia swallowed on instinct. Both Jackson and Yannis let out a breath.

“Nathan, she swallowed them,” Yannis said, looking back at Nathan, whose face was tight with worry.

Hearing that, Nathan finally collapsed back onto the bed. He shut his eyes, his face pale as a sheet.

He gripped the sheets hard as he fought back the pain. The stress and fear had pushed his body too far.

In a raspy voice, Nathan said, “B–Bring Zinnia over…”

He looked at her in Yannis’s arms. She was still pale, her breathing shallow, eyes closed.

Yannis carried her to the bed. Nathan reached out and felt for her pulse, his brow furrowed. After a few seconds, he let go.

“H–her condition is stable for now…” he said weakly.

For years, Nathan had been helping Zinnia recover. Her health had been steady for a while. As long as she didn’t get too emotional, her illness wouldn’t come back.

But now Nathan was the one in trouble. And to Zinnia, Nathan meant everything. If something happened to him, she wouldn’t be able to handle it. That was why everyone was so scared.

Her sudden collapse today had shaken all of them–Nathan, Yannis, and Jackson. Luckily, she took the pills in time, and her condition was under control now. She was safe, for the moment.

Still, every time her illness flared up, it damaged her body more. It had been five years since her last attack, and now it was happening again. That meant it would keep coming back, more and more often. She might not make it to eighteen.

Nathan hadn’t meant to yell at her. He’d just been too worried today. All he ever wanted was for her to be okay.

“Yannis, take Zinnia to rest first,” Nathan said, his voice low. A fresh wave of pain hit him, making him clench his fists and lower his gaze.

“Got it.” Yannis picked Zinnia up in his arms and walked slowly toward the door. She felt weightless, like he was carrying a bundle of cotton.

When he reached the doorway, Yannis stopped. “Nathan, Zinnia did this because she wanted to save you. You were willing to give up your life for her, and now she’s trying to do the same for you. Though we might have been a little reckless.”

Nathan stayed quiet, listening.

“Zinnia has bipolar disorder,” Yannis added.

Nathan blinked, stunned.

Yannis carried Zinnia out of the room.

Once the door closed, Nathan’s hand dropped to the side. He hunched over, a sharp pain rising in his chest–then he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Chapter 356

He didn’t know if keeping the truth from Zinnia had been the right choice.

When he found out what she’d done, he was furious. He didn’t want her hurting her own body. His life was already at the edge, but he still wanted her to live well.

But now, she had bipolar disorder–because of him.

Ever since Nathan had left, Zinnia had become more sensitive. After everything that happened, her anxiety only grew worse. Over time, her emotions started to slip out of control.

Since Nathan got seriously ill, everyone had been focused on him. They hadn’t noticed Zinnia’s emotional state. Without anyone realizing it, she had slowly fallen into bipolar disorder.