Chapter 6

“She’s running a 104°F fever! How did none of you notice? She’ll damage her brain at this rate. I’ll start an IV first. When her temperature drops, get her some light food,” the doctor said.

Looking at Zinnia lying on the hospital bed, her face burning red, he let out a quiet sigh. ‘Poor thing. She came back to a home that felt like anything but family. Why doesn’t the Shaw family care for such a sweet kid?’

“Got it,” Howard replied. He glanced at Zinnia, his expression unreadable.

She had passed out right after leaving the hospital, so he’d had to carry her back. He couldn’t believe she hadn’t said a word before–wasn’t she afraid of damaging her brain?

His mind spun from the doctor’s words about her fever lasting since last night. The fact that she’d collapsed just now only showed how tough she was.

Shortly after, the doctor stepped out.

Lucy, who had raced over from the Shaw residence, clutched a cotton swab and a glass of water. She knelt beside the bed and gently dabbed Zinnia’s cracked, dry lips. Her eyes welled up with tears–why did Zinnia have to go through so much?

“How did Zinnia get this fever?” Howard asked, fixing Lucy with a hard stare. Now he understood why Zinnia’s hand felt like ice this morning.

Lucy looked down, her voice quiet. “Last night, you guys pulled Ms. Betty Shaw out of the pool, but left Ms. Zinnia Shaw in the water. She can’t swim, and she was shivering all over when we pulled her out.

“I asked if she wanted to go to the hospital, and she refused. I tried to call the family doctor, but she wouldn’t let me. She must have gotten sick from that whole mess.”

Lucy felt sick remembering how Zinnia had been left in the pool last night, watching her family rush Betty to the hospital without a second glance. She thought the poor girl must have been heartbroken.

Zinnia had stared for what felt like forever until a small smile crossed her face. She wrapped herself in the blanket Lucy had given her and went back to her room alone, refusing to let anyone call a doctor.

Even now, that helpless smile Zinnia had–half sad, half relieved–was enough to break Lucy’s heart.

“Zinnia fell in too?” Howard looked down at Zinnia in the hospital bed, frozen. He’d been so focused on saving Betty yesterday that he’d never even realized Zinnia was still there.

The temperature dropped sharply at night, making the pool water freezing cold. Betty had barely been in the water before they pulled her out, and she’d been shaking uncontrollably. Howard’s stomach twisted thinking about Zinnia stuck in that icy water all that time.

Betty caught a chill and spent two days in the hospital. Zinnia’s condition was clearly worse, yet she’d stubbornly refused to see a doctor. Howard felt a wave of anger rising–even if Zinnia wanted to act out, she couldn’t risk her health like this.

“Ms. Zinnia Shaw has done so much for this family. When you hurt your leg, she was the one who made the medicine that fixed you up,” Lucy said, her voice trembling. She couldn’t understand why the Shaw brothers couldn’t see how amazing Zinnia was.

“What?” Howard was too caught up in his irritation with Zinnia to pay attention to Lucy. He only caught something about his leg being hurt.

Lucy was about to say more when a cough came from the hospital bed. “You’re awake!” Lucy quickly rushed to Zinnia’s side as she opened her eyes.

“Lucy?” Zinnia’s eyes were foggy, and she called out reflexively at the familiar voice. She felt totally wiped out, and she knew this feeling all too well–she had a fever, a really bad one.

Zinnia let out a quiet sigh. She figured if her master found out, he’d be furious, glare at her, and snap, “Didn’t I tell you to take care of yourself? Do I need to babysit you 24/7 to keep you safe and sound?”

Zinnia’s master had a cool, detached demeanor, yet he’d turn red with anger every time she fell ill.

Just thinking about him made her nose tingle. She pouted and grumbled to herself, ‘What a jerk. Always leaving me behind. When he gets back, I’m gonna give him a piece of my mind!’

“I’m here, Ms. Zinnia Shaw.” Lucy hurried to stand up, her heart ached at Zinnia’s pitiful expression.

Howard felt a pang seeing tears welling in Zinnia’s eyes. ‘Why does she look so upset? Like a kid who’s been totally wronged and has nowhere to turn.’

“Would you like some water?” Lucy asked gently, looking down at Zinnia with motherly care.

“Yeah,” Zinnia replied, her voice thick and hoarse.

Before Lucy could move, Howard handed her a cup of warm water with a straw. She paused, glancing at him in surprise.

Howard tilted his chin up, signaling her to hurry. He couldn’t bear seeing Zinnia’s pathetic look.

Lucy then bent down to help Zinnia drink.

Zinnia felt awful. Her eyelids felt like lead, too heavy to open. She didn’t even notice Howard standing there.

“Thanks for taking care of me, Lucy. I just need a short nap,” Zinnia rasped. She took a couple of sips to ease her sore throat before drifting off again.

Without her master around, Zinnia knew she’d be on her own if she got sick. She had been worried that no one [would] keep an eye on her while she was getting the IV. But now that Lucy was here, Zinnia finally felt secure.

“Get some rest. I’ll be right here,” Lucy said softly. She felt her heart breaking–how could the Shaw family be so blind to such a kind soul?

Betty had barely fallen into the water, and the whole family had rushed to her side. Yet Zinnia had been underwater for hours and was now burning up with a 104°F fever, with only Howard bringing her to the hospital.

The more Lucy thought about it, the more upset she became. Tears welled up, and she quickly brushed them away.

Howard stood there, felt like he was invisible. ‘I’m her family, yet she’d rather lean on Lucy than ask me for help? Just how little does she trust us?’

He’d only seen her acting all tough and never seen this vulnerable side of her. Looking at her pale, weak face, he felt a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite pin down.

“Lucy, stay with Zinnia. I’ll go update Mom and Dad upstairs,” Howard sighed and hurried off.

Everything had happened so fast that he hadn’t had a chance to tell his parents about Zinnia’s fever or that she’d need to stay in the hospital for a couple of days.

Lucy looked at Howard but kept quiet. She knew he was just giving orders, not looking for advice–even though she guessed Zinnia probably didn’t want to see the Shaws.