CHAPTER 118: CHAPTER 118: NOT AN OUNCE OF PITY

Zinnia’s breath hitched, and she grabbed Yara Fairchild’s hand, pulling her behind her.

"Young Master Forrest, how imposing. Should we apologize to the esteemed Miss Sutton?"

The man wore a black mask, obscuring the expression on his face, though the handsome features beneath it were clearly taut. He frowned but hadn’t spoken yet when Crystal waved her hand dismissively.

"Sister, Jenson is just worried about the baby I’m carrying. The baby is innocent. Even if Miss Fairchild and you dislike me, you shouldn’t take it out on my unborn child..."

"If you really cared about your child, you wouldn’t be doing so many wicked things during your pregnancy," Zinnia cut in. She had never seen such a shameless pregnant woman! "Don’t you know the child in your womb is connected to your black heart? It’s watching and learning from you!"

Yara Fairchild nodded in deep agreement. "You’ve done nothing to earn good karma, so why are you putting on an act? ’The baby, the baby,’ you talk about it all day long. You want the whole world to know that only you, Crystal Sutton, can get pregnant and have kids, is that it?"

They barraged her with one accusation after another. Crystal looked completely lost, tears streaming down her face as her body swayed and she fell toward Jenson. She knew he wouldn’t let her fall. And she was right; the man raised his hand to support her.

"Jenson, I..." Crystal pressed her advantage. She murmured softly, closed her eyes, and let her legs go weak as she burrowed into his embrace.

Jenson frowned as he supported her and glanced toward the car. The driver started to approach to take Crystal, but Zinnia couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Just then, an empty taxi pulled up, and she grabbed Yara Fairchild to leave.

"Put her in the car."

The driver came over, and Jenson pushed the fainting Crystal toward him. He turned to chase after Zinnia, only to see that she had already gotten into a taxi and it was driving off. He took a few steps to chase after them, but Zinnia clearly had no desire to speak with him. She rolled up the window without even glancing in his direction.

Recalling her words—that he should be a good ex-husband and stay out of her sight—a gloomy look flashed in Jenson’s eyes, and he stopped in his tracks.

Meanwhile, inside the other car, Yara Fairchild was still fuming. "That dog Forrest is getting better and better at putting on an act, even wearing that big mask! Does he think a mask can hide what a scumbag he is?"

Zinnia was speechless.

"And Sutton the Bitch, fainting right on cue! Does she know how to do anything besides pretend to faint? Is That dog Forrest blind? How can he not see through it? Zinnia, you shouldn’t have stopped me. I should have just spat in her face and seen if that b*tch could keep up her act!"

While Yara was still fuming, Zinnia raised the car window, a mocking smile playing on her lips. Jenson probably sees right through Crystal’s act. But he cares about her, so he’s willing to be deceived, even when he knows the truth.

"Alright, spitting on her would be a waste of good saliva. Let’s find a pharmacy quickly so I can treat your wound. We don’t want it to scar."

Yara Fairchild remained indifferent. "If it scars, it scars. No big deal."

Zinnia tapped her on the arm. "You learned martial arts and got into film school. Do you really want to be a martial arts replacement forever? Our goal is to be in front of the camera, on the big screen! I’m waiting for you to become a huge star. What A-list actress have you ever seen covered in scars?!"

"You’re right... Oh no, do you think this scrape will leave a scar? If it does, I’m going to curse that b*tch in my sleep."

"Crystal Sutton is dead set on making it in the entertainment industry. You have to beat her. Become more famous and more popular than her—that would be the best revenge you could get for me."

Zinnia’s encouragement lit a fire under Yara Fairchild, who nodded in solemn agreement, suddenly feeling the weight of her mission. "Actually, an opportunity just came up," she said. "The actress for the fourth female lead in a historical fantasy drama ran into some trouble, and Joy said she’d introduce me to the director."

***

Jenson watched their car drive away, then walked back to his own. The driver had already laid the unconscious Crystal down in the back seat and was holding the door open for Jenson.

Jenson, however, didn’t get in. He looked down at Crystal lying there and instructed the driver, "Take her back to the Sutton family estate. And give Simon Sutton a message: he’s on his own for the rest of the investment funds."

"Understood, President Forrest," the driver responded.

He was about to close the car door when Crystal, who had been lying there feigning unconsciousness, suddenly opened her eyes and struggled to sit up. "Jenson, I thought I just heard you say you were canceling the investment. Did I hear wrong?"

Jenson’s promised investment in the Sutton family was supposed to be injected in three phases. With only the first payment made, the Sutton Group would face a ruptured cash flow without the subsequent funds. If a financial crisis like that were to happen, given the Sutton family’s current state, bankruptcy wouldn’t be out of the question.

This can’t be happening!

"Done with the act?" Jenson stared at the weak-looking Crystal, his eyes cold as ice.

Crystal’s fingernails dug into her palm. Panic surged through her, but she tried to hide it, crying, "Jenson, I didn’t..."

But Jenson had no interest in hearing her excuses. He turned to leave.

Crystal grew desperate. She scrambled out of the car and rushed to grab Jenson’s arm, pleading urgently. "The investment in the Sutton Group was a condition you agreed to, Jenson! How can you go back on your word?"

Jenson’s glance shot toward her, as sharp as a blade. Crystal’s hand froze in mid-air, not daring to cross the line.

Jenson looked away. "You don’t understand your limits," he said coldly. "I’ve made them perfectly clear to you. Didn’t I tell you not to provoke Zinnia again?"

A chill shot down Crystal’s spine. Jenson had indeed said that. The last time, in her room, he had warned her that if she provoked Zinnia again, what he had given could be taken back just as easily.

But that was when Zinnia was still his wife. They were divorced now; Zinnia was no longer Mrs. Forrest! Given Jenson’s status, how could Zinnia humiliate him like that? She didn’t deserve his protection or affection! Why was he still going to such great lengths for her? "Jenson, you can’t do this!" Crystal cried. "The Sutton and Forrest families have known each other for years; you’re cutting off my family’s lifeline! Besides, I didn’t provoke my sister. I honestly didn’t know anything—Rose never told me! And... it’s not like my sister was hurt..."

The livestream had just started to get traction when that lunatic, Yara Fairchild, snatched the phone. She exposed everything on the spot, and now the internet was tearing into Gloria Grant and Angus Grant. Rose Lowell was also taken into custody, and it was uncertain if she could even be bailed out. Zinnia, by comparison, was completely unharmed. So why? Why, after all that, was Jenson still pulling his investment from the Sutton Group?!

Bitterness and frustration swelled in Crystal’s heart. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and her vision went black. Her face was deathly pale, as if she really were about to faint at any second.

Yet Jenson merely cast a glance at her. "I’m not the police. They’re the ones who need evidence."

Crystal’s lips trembled. She dreaded to imagine what would happen if the Sutton family went bankrupt. Images of her impoverished childhood living in the Lawrence family’s house flashed before her eyes, and tears of pure terror streamed down her face. She had grown accustomed to her current lavish lifestyle; she absolutely could not go back to that kind of life.

She looked up at Jenson, her expression pleading as she cried and begged, "Jenson, I was wrong! I’ll go apologize to my sister, I’ll give her a sincere apology, just please don’t do this... My parents raised her for six years, after all. She definitely wouldn’t want to see the Sutton family collapse. I’ll go beg her. I’ll go right now."

Just as Crystal anxiously turned to leave, Jenson’s cold gaze shot toward her. "She doesn’t need your apology! Crystal Sutton, you broke the rules of the game, and you must face the consequences!"

His glare was like a blade, pinning her to the spot and making her realize the decision was final.

Lately, because of the baby, Crystal had started to get the wonderful feeling that Jenson truly cared for her. But in this moment, she felt with profound certainty just how ruthless Jenson Forrest could be. How could he be so cruel to her, without a single shred of compassion!

Jenson didn’t return to the company, nor did he go to the old family house. Instead, he had someone take him to Aria Villa, where Patrick Forrest and Katherine Rhodes lived.

During the day, Aria Villa was lively, with several luxury cars parked in the yard, none of which belonged to the Forrest family.

Jenson hadn’t called ahead; he’d come straight over. As he got out of the car and walked into the entrance hall, a servant spotted him.

The servant was very surprised. "Young Master Forrest, what brings you here? Madam has a few ladies over for mahjong; I’ll go inform Madam..."

Jenson was very busy. He had grown up with Old Mr. and Old Madam Forrest, and while he respected his parents, their relationship was not particularly close. He rarely visited, and when he did, he usually called ahead.

As the servant spoke, she turned to go inform Katherine, but Jenson’s eyes grew cold, and he said in a low voice, "No need."

The servant froze at his commanding tone as the man brushed past her, striding decisively into the villa. Soon, the conversation of several ladies playing mahjong in the small living room reached his ears.

"Mrs. Forrest, your third son really got divorced?"

"Of course."

"Well, congratulations, Mrs. Forrest. You’re finally rid of that troublesome daughter-in-law."

"If that vixen hadn’t climbed into his bed back then, and if Old Madam Forrest hadn’t felt sorry for her and forced him to marry her, with your son’s qualifications, wouldn’t you have had your pick of the entire city’s elite?"