Come in 6
Posted on July 07, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 6

โ€œSheโ€™s running a 104ยฐF fever! How did none of you notice? Sheโ€™ll damage her brain at this rate. Iโ€™ll start an IV first. When her temperature drops, get her some light food,โ€ the doctor said.

Looking at Zinnia lying on the hospital bed, her face burning red, he let out a quiet sigh. โ€˜Poor thing. She came back to a home that felt like anything but family. Why doesnโ€™t the Shaw family care for such a sweet kid?โ€™

โ€œGot it,โ€ Howard replied. He glanced at Zinnia, his expression unreadable.

She had passed out right after leaving the hospital, so heโ€™d had to carry her back. He couldnโ€™t believe she hadnโ€™t said a word beforeโ€“wasnโ€™t she afraid of damaging her brain?

His mind spun from the doctorโ€™s words about her fever lasting since last night. The fact that sheโ€™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 Zinniaโ€™s cracked, dry lips. Her eyes welled up with tearsโ€“why did Zinnia have to go through so much?

โ€œHow did Zinnia get this fever?โ€ Howard asked, fixing Lucy with a hard stare. Now he understood why Zinniaโ€™s hand felt like ice this morning.

Lucy looked down, her voice quiet. โ€œLast night, you guys pulled Ms. Betty Shaw out of the pool, but left Ms. Zinnia Shaw in the water. She canโ€™t swim, and she was shivering all over when we pulled her out.

โ€œI asked if she wanted to go to the hospital, and she refused. I tried to call the family doctor, but she wouldnโ€™t let me. She must have gotten sick from that whole mess.โ€

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 hadโ€“half sad, half relievedโ€“was enough to break Lucyโ€™s heart.

โ€œZinnia fell in too?โ€ Howard looked down at Zinnia in the hospital bed, frozen. Heโ€™d been so focused on saving Betty yesterday that heโ€™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 sheโ€™d been shaking uncontrollably. Howardโ€™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. Zinniaโ€™s condition was clearly worse, yet sheโ€™d stubbornly refused to see a doctor. Howard felt a wave of anger risingโ€“even if Zinnia wanted to act out, she couldnโ€™t risk her health like this.

โ€œMs. 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,โ€ Lucy said, her voice trembling. She couldnโ€™t understand why the Shaw brothers couldnโ€™t see how amazing Zinnia was.

โ€œWhat?โ€ 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. โ€œYouโ€™re awake!โ€ Lucy quickly rushed to Zinniaโ€™s side as she opened her eyes.

โ€œLucy?โ€ Zinniaโ€™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 wellโ€“she had a fever, a really bad one.

Zinnia let out a quiet sigh. She figured if her master found out, heโ€™d be furious, glare at her, and snap, โ€œDidnโ€™t I tell you to take care of yourself? Do I need to babysit you 24/7 to keep you safe and sound?โ€

Zinniaโ€™s master had a cool, detached demeanor, yet heโ€™d turn red with anger every time she fell ill.

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

โ€œIโ€™m here, Ms. Zinnia Shaw.โ€ Lucy hurried to stand up, her heart ached at Zinniaโ€™s pitiful expression.

Howard felt a pang seeing tears welling in Zinniaโ€™s eyes. โ€˜Why does she look so upset? Like a kid whoโ€™s been totally wronged and has nowhere to turn.โ€™

โ€œWould you like some water?โ€ Lucy asked gently, looking down at Zinnia with motherly care.

โ€œYeah,โ€ 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 couldnโ€™t bear seeing Zinniaโ€™s pathetic look.

Lucy then bent down to help Zinnia drink.

Zinnia felt awful. Her eyelids felt like lead, too heavy to open. She didnโ€™t even notice Howard standing there.

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

Without her master around, Zinnia knew sheโ€™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.

โ€œGet some rest. Iโ€™ll be right here,โ€ Lucy said softly. She felt her heart breakingโ€“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 104ยฐF 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. โ€˜Iโ€™m her family, yet sheโ€™d rather lean on Lucy than ask me for help? Just how little does she trust us?โ€™

Heโ€™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 couldnโ€™t quite pin down.

โ€œLucy, stay with Zinnia. Iโ€™ll go update Mom and Dad upstairs,โ€ Howard sighed and hurried off.

Everything had happened so fast that he hadnโ€™t had a chance to tell his parents about Zinniaโ€™s fever or that sheโ€™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 adviceโ€“even though she guessed Zinnia probably didnโ€™t want to see the Shaws.


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