CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: UTTER DISAPPOINTMENT IN HIM

Zinnia Lawrence’s palm pressed against her lower abdomen under the table as she looked at the photo. So, that was the kind of smile on her face just now. Warm and full of yearning.

Yes, as each day passed, it became harder and harder for her to let go. With Mason being the way he is, this child was her only blood relative in the world. Besides, this was her and her brother’s child.

"We need to find a way to go to the hospital for a prenatal check..." Yara Fairchild said, already worrying like a father-to-be.

Zinnia Lawrence frowned and shook her head. She didn’t dare to go. Once she did, she was afraid that with the Forrest Family’s influence in Veridia, she wouldn’t be able to keep it hidden from Jenson Forrest. She still wanted to divorce Jenson quickly and go abroad, not wanting any more complications. Once she was abroad, giving birth to the child would be easier to handle. Even if the Forrest Family found out, Jenson would probably have married Crystal Sutton and had their own child by then, so he wouldn’t care about her baby.

Her phone on the table started buzzing. Zinnia Lawrence glanced at it; it was a call from Sienna Forrest. Zinnia directly declined the call. As she was putting the phone down, another call came through.

Yara Fairchild exclaimed in annoyance, "Such a pest! Does she expect us to buy a pair of scissors and chase her down?"

"Ignore her. You love ox maw, don’t you? Try some." Zinnia put the phone on silent and placed it aside.

But just as it quieted down, the screen lit up again. This time it was Katherine Rhodes calling.

"It’s your mother-in-law. It’s definitely nothing good, don’t answer it," Yara Fairchild scoffed.

Zinnia thought for a moment and decided to answer. She sensed something might have happened. Besides, knowing Katherine’s personality, if she didn’t answer now, there would be more trouble later.

"Zinnia! Are you at The Grand Horizon Mall? Get yourself to the first-floor jewelry section immediately and handle the situation. I’ll be there shortly!" Katherine’s voice was very stern, and she hung up right after.

Feeling confused, Zinnia still settled the bill with Yara Fairchild and went down to the first floor.

In the jewelry section, a crowd was packed three layers deep around the jade accessories counter. Yara Fairchild cleared a path in front, pulling Zinnia forward. Before they could see the situation clearly, Zinnia heard a familiar sobbing voice.

"Sob... Eighth Master, please let me go."

It was Crystal Sutton.

"Damn! Who’s screaming like a stuck pig in a mall!" Yara exclaimed as she broke through to the front and got a clear view of the scene.

Zinnia saw it too. Inside the jade counter, Julia Forrest had two bodyguards pinning Crystal Sutton down while he brandished a hammer, about to smash it onto Crystal’s wrist.

Crystal’s shoulders were held down, her arm placed on a small tabletop, her face filled with panic as tears streamed down. She struggled and screamed at the bodyguards, "Let go of me! If you don’t, I’ll call the police! The police might not do anything to the Eighth Master, but with this many witnesses, none of you will get away!"

The two bodyguards hesitated. Julia Forrest planted his foot on a stool, looking every bit the little scoundrel. "You work for the Forrest Family. Who do you listen to, me or her? Hold her tight! Otherwise, I’ll have you all packed up and kicked out!"

He waved the hammer again and turned back to warn Crystal. "This bracelet belongs to my Seventh Sister. Do you think you’re worthy of it?! Just keep your paw still, and I won’t hit you! If you keep squirming and I end up crippling you, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself!"

As Julia spoke, he raised the hammer again. Crystal’s face turned pale with fright and she shrieked, "Sienna! Sienna, help me!"

Sienna Forrest rushed forward to grab the hammer from Julia, scolding him angrily. "Eighth, let go of her right now! Do you hear me?"

"Sixth Sister, get out of the way, or I’ll smash you too! You’re not that smart to begin with. If I make you a fool, the Forrest Family will have you on their hands forever!"

Sienna was furious. As a pampered young lady, she was no match for the half-grown boy and could only stomp her feet in frustration. She turned her head and saw Zinnia, who had just broken through the crowd. Her anger flared, and she let go of Julia to charge at Zinnia. "Zinnia! This must be your doing! Eighth listens to you the most, so tell him to let Crystal go!"

"Ah! My hand! My hand is broken!" Before Sienna could grab Zinnia, Crystal let out an earth-shattering scream.

Julia had brought the hammer down.

At the same time, Timothy Cohen’s voice rose from behind the crowd. "Disperse the crowd! No photos!"

Zinnia turned her head to see two rows of security guards in black quickly clearing away the onlookers. A tall, imposing man walked over with a stern presence, his sharp gaze sweeping past Zinnia like an arrow as he approached. Before Zinnia could react, Jenson Forrest’s towering figure brushed past her like the wind and went straight to the counter.

"Julia Forrest!" His voice was deep and icy.

Seeing him, young Julia dropped the hammer in fright and tried to jump off the chair. Jenson strode forward and grabbed the boy by the back of his collar, effortlessly lifting the lanky boy into the air.

"Brother! Brother, I was wrong! Ugh... I can’t breathe! Seventh Sister, save me!" Julia kicked and struggled, his toes unable to touch the ground as he cried out for mercy.

Seeing Eighth in trouble, Zinnia rushed over. She held onto Julia and pleaded with Jenson, "Jenson, Eighth is still sick! Please let him go! He said he knows he was wrong!"

She used one hand to pry at Jenson’s fingers, which were clamped around Julia’s collar, but the man’s grip was incredibly strong. His large hand was as if forged from steel, and Zinnia couldn’t break it. Julia’s neck and face were already turning red, his eyes welling with tears as he looked at Zinnia for help.

Even if the boy hadn’t been standing up for her, Zinnia would never let anyone bully her little brother—not even Jenson Forrest. In her anxiety, Zinnia grabbed Jenson’s hand and bit down hard on his wrist bone.

She bit with all her might, because she was furious too. Was seeing Crystal Sutton a little aggrieved enough to make Jenson so angry and distressed? He was even willing to be so ruthless to Eighth, who was still sick!

Frustrated and heartbroken, she wished she could bite off a piece of his flesh, and she almost immediately tasted blood.

Jenson finally released his grip. Zinnia caught Julia, stumbling back a couple of steps before steadying the boy. When she looked up again, a sobbing Crystal Sutton had already thrown herself into Jenson’s arms. She nestled against the man, her face as white as snow, holding up her right hand, which showed a large dark bruise on her arm.

"Brother Jenson, it hurts so much, I’m scared... Sob... I think my hand is broken. Will I ever be able to play the violin again? It hurts, it really, really hurts..."

She swayed weakly. Jenson wrapped an arm around Crystal’s shoulder, his brow furrowed, his deep eyes fixed with a cold glint on Zinnia and Julia, who was leaning against her. "Look at the fine mess you two have made!"

Seeing this, Zinnia felt her blood run cold. She was his wife, yet he naturally sided with his lover. The two of them, she and Eighth, didn’t even weigh as much as Crystal Sutton alone.

Feeling humiliated, Zinnia curled her lip. But before she could say anything, Julia’s eyes rolled back, and he slid toward the ground.

"Julia!" Zinnia cried out, holding onto him as they both sank to the floor. She anxiously patted his small face. "Eighth? Eighth, what’s wrong?"

Julia’s face was flushed, his forehead covered in sweat. Thinking of his medical condition, Zinnia was filled with worry and panic. When she couldn’t wake him, she instinctively looked to Jenson for help.

Jenson, however, remained expressionless. He simply lifted the still-crying Crystal into his arms.

Zinnia’s vision went dark, as if she’d been plunged into an icy abyss. Her bloodshot eyes stared at the man’s retreating back. "She’s perfectly fine, but Eighth is unconscious! Can’t you see who needs help more?"

Her voice trembled, and her body quivered slightly.

Jenson glanced down at her, his expression inhumanly cold. "Wrongdoing has consequences. Who taught him to be so arrogant and violent at such a young age?!"

Zinnia felt his words were a direct reprimand to her. Everyone knew how attached Julia was to his sister, Zinnia, who had spent the most time raising him. She was his sister-in-law, but she was like a second mother to him. Does Jenson think she was the one who put Eighth up to this?

Disappointment reached its absolute limit, yet Zinnia’s expression grew calm. She smirked. "I taught him! If you have a problem with it, come and hit me!"