CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 100: THAT’S ALL FOR HIM AND HER

The cool sensation jolted Zinnia Lawrence awake. She opened her eyes, frantically pushing at the man on top of her.

Jenson Forrest noticed her resistance, released her, and lifted his head.

Zinnia’s face was flushed red. She turned her head away, panting rapidly and letting out a soft moan. "Don’t..."

Jenson froze, his Adam’s apple bobbing. It took almost all his self-control to roll off of her. He unzipped his sweatshirt, stood, and walked to the window.

Zinnia silently sat up and awkwardly straightened her disheveled clothes and hair. She kept her head down, trying to calm herself.

Behind her, Jenson’s voice broke the silence. "Your hair is still wet. Come over here."

Zinnia turned and saw he had composed himself. He had already plugged in a hairdryer and was gesturing for her to come sit. Her hair was indeed still damp, so she stood and walked over.

"I’ll do it myself."

But Jenson pressed down on her shoulders, making her sit on the edge of the bed. He switched it on, and a gust of warm air blew across her scalp. Zinnia sat with perfect posture, feeling his fingers gently weaving through the strands of her hair.

Zinnia’s hair was in excellent condition—soft, straight, and thick. Jenson found himself entranced, his hands lingering in her hair as he dried it for a long time.

When he finally switched off the hairdryer, Zinnia suddenly looked up at him. "That day... you also fed me an orange candy. Do you remember?"

Jenson put the hairdryer down. "Which day?"

"Fourteen years ago. The day you brought me back to the Forrest family home."

Jenson thought for a moment. He remembered bringing her home that day, but the specific details were already a blur.

Seeing his expression, Zinnia knew he’d forgotten. "That day, I nearly died at the hands of York Lawrence," she said. "I’d barely escaped with my life, and all I could see was red. My mouth was filled with the taste of blood. You brought me back and called the family doctor, but I refused to let him get near me. So you popped an orange candy into my mouth. I still remember what you said."

A faint smile touched Zinnia’s lips. "You said, ’Have a piece of candy; it won’t hurt anymore. Is it sweet? If you let the doctor take a look, I’ll reward you with a big jar of these candies, okay? There are other flavors, too. Does Zinnia want to try them?’"

As she spoke, a vague memory surfaced for Jenson as well. He found it rather amusing, and a faint smile touched his lips. "So all it took was one piece of candy to calm you down back then?"

Zinnia smiled and nodded, lowering her gaze to hide the emotions churning within her. He didn’t know. After being abandoned by her parents from the Sutton family at the age of six, that was the first time in two years she had tasted candy. And he was the one who gave it to her.

After that day, she was once again a child who could have sweets. It was as if a ray of light had pierced through the darkness of her world. The very next day, Jenson really did give her a jar of colorful, fruit-flavored candies. But after all these years, orange remained her favorite, and she never forgot the taste of that single piece of candy from that night.

"Yes! And after all these years, it’s still the only trick you know!" Zinnia pouted at Jenson.

Jenson clicked his tongue. He looked at her, a rare hint of amusement in his deep eyes that made him seem surprisingly gentle.

"Making fun of me? But as it turns out, it’s the only trick I need. It always works on you."

The tips of Zinnia’s ears turned red, and she lowered her head. Sitting there, she looked exceptionally soft and gentle.

Jenson leaned in slightly. He cupped her small face in his hands, tilting her head up to look at him. "You’re all grown up now, and still getting flustered over a piece of candy? Are you shy?"

Zinnia’s cheeks grew warm with embarrassment.

But then Jenson suddenly said, "Back then, one candy was enough to trick you into being my little sister. Now, can one candy trick you into being Mrs. Forrest again?"

Zinnia’s hands, which were resting on the bed, suddenly clenched the sheets. Her breath hitched. She stared into Jenson’s dark, boundless eyes, which were now devoid of laughter and filled with a deep, predatory intensity. Lightly, yet firmly, she shook her head and forced a smile.

"I’ve grown up, though. I’m not so easily fooled anymore. Stop joking."

She reached out, pushed his large hands away from her face, and stood up. "I’m going to call Grandma. I have work this afternoon, and I assume you do too..."

She walked quickly toward the entryway, where Jenson had left her phone on a small cabinet. She didn’t dare to look back at Jenson’s expression. Her heart was in turmoil, torn between hoping he would stop her and say something to make her stay, and a deeper fear that if he did, she wouldn’t be able to resist and would give in.

But as she made the call, she realized she had overestimated her importance to him. Jenson didn’t say another word. What he said just now was probably just an offhand comment after all.

The moment Zinnia hung up, Old Madam Forrest had Granny Tilton open the door.

"The Old Madam is waiting for you downstairs," Granny Tilton said.

Zinnia and Jenson went downstairs together. When Old Madam Forrest saw them descending together, she immediately sized them up. Seeing their expressions, her heart sank.

This doesn’t look like they’ve reconciled at all, does it?

"Jenson, I told you to properly coax your wife. Did you do it? Did you give her a sincere apology?"

Frowning in anger, Old Madam Forrest waved Zinnia over. Zinnia walked over, took the matriarch’s hand, and sat beside her.

"Grandma, Jenson did try to coax me, and he apologized. I’ve already forgiven him. Besides, he didn’t intentionally abandon me that day. I truly don’t blame him anymore."

"So, does that mean you two have reconciled?" The old madam looked from one to the other. Could it be that they’ve made up but are just too shy to show it?

Zinnia glanced at Jenson. His expression was cold and distant as he sat down in a nearby armchair.

He addressed his grandmother, "Grandma, you don’t need to worry about our affairs. Even if we get a divorce, she will still be considered the youngest member of the Forrest family."

Jenson’s words—"still be considered the youngest member of the Forrest family"—tugged sharply at Zinnia’s heart. Her nose tingled, and she had to fight back tears.

She had been so determined to get a divorce, just so she could go back to being his ’sister.’ Now that her wish was granted, she should have been happy. Instead, all she felt was a spreading bitterness.

On the surface, however, she beamed and nodded. "That’s right, Grandma."

"A divorce! Why on earth are you still talking about divorce? I will not agree to it! Don’t even think about it!" Old Madam Forrest thundered.

Zinnia quickly tried to calm the old woman, coaxing her, "Grandma, Jenson and I have already discussed this. We both feel a divorce is for the best, and we hope you can respect our decision."

Jenson saw the light, hopeful smile on Zinnia’s face, and a flash of derision crossed his eyes. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the wooden armrest of the chair.

"Absolutely not! Jenson, say something! Zinnia is still young and impulsive, but what about you? Are you also going to go along with this nonsense? Are you trying to anger your grandmother to death?"

Old Madam Forrest glared furiously at Jenson, who glanced at Zinnia once more. He saw her looking back at him, her expression tense. She’s probably afraid I’ll go back on my word and block her path to freedom. Grandma is this upset, and still, she won’t soften or yield in the slightest. She’s so dead set on divorce that nothing could change her mind. Since the Forrest family and the title of Mrs. Forrest have become shackles that keep her from truly smiling, why should I keep forcing her?

He spoke in a low voice, "Grandma, she’s not a child. She knows what she’s doing, and no one can stop her. I have an important meeting this afternoon, so I’m going back to the office."

"You scoundrel! We haven’t finished talking! You get back here!"

Old Madam Forrest furiously slapped the arm of the sofa, but Jenson didn’t turn back. His tall figure quickly disappeared down the hall, his very posture exuding coldness and impatience.

Zinnia lowered her lashes, her right hand tightening around the few pieces of candy in her pocket. Everything between them began with a piece of candy all those years ago. Now, it was ending with a few pieces of candy. Perhaps this could be considered a proper beginning and a proper end. So be it...