CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35: GOT HURT FROM PLAYING TOO WILD

Zinnia Lawrence bit her lip hard, a sour, bitter taste brewing in her mouth.

Jenson Forrest frowned, pinching her chin and forcing her to let go.

Zinnia released her bite but immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, lunging forward to bite him again.

She wanted to draw blood like last time, to make him hurt, but Jenson’s cool, detached voice sounded by her ear.

"I come out with you for a moment, and you play so rough you leave a mark. If anyone asks later, I won’t cover for you."

Zinnia froze, hesitating to bite down, yet she was unwilling to back down.

As she wavered, two figures flickered in the hallway before quickly retreating. Their hushed voices drifted in.

"Wow, they’re playing rough."

"That guy’s legs are so long, and the girl’s skin is so fair. The sexual tension is off the charts! And that size difference is incredible!"

"Oops, looks like we accidentally became extras in a romance drama scene."

"Let’s go, let’s go, down to the next floor..."

As their voices and footsteps faded, Zinnia’s pale face flushed crimson. She shoved the man hard.

"I can go back with you, but you need to call the hospital first."

Jenson lifted her down and set her on the floor.

"I’ll have Timothy Cohen make the arrangements at the hospital later."

He took Zinnia’s hand to lead her out, but she forcefully pulled it away.

"Call Timothy Cohen and tell him now."

Her distrust was obvious, and Jenson’s expression darkened once more.

The man suppressed his irritation, but his patience wore thin. He pressed a firm hand on the back of her neck.

Zinnia felt her footing become unsteady. She took two small, stumbling steps on her toes and crashed into Jenson’s chest.

His chest was rock-hard, and the impact left her dizzy. Before she could recover, he bent down and bit her on the neck.

His body was noticeably warmer than hers. The warm, wet sensation made Zinnia’s entire body go rigid, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

She braced herself for his retaliation, for the pain.

But...

The pain never came. Instead, he began to suck firmly, the searing touch bringing a numb, tingling itch.

Sensing her stiffness, the large hand on the back of her neck gentled into a soft caress, and the sucking turned into faint, teasing nibbles.

His breathing was heavy, brushing against her ear, each wisp an act of invasion and arousal.

Zinnia was defenseless. Her body instantly went limp, and she sagged against him, her hands clutching his collar.

Her docile submission pleased Jenson, and a slight curve touched his thin lips. Supporting her lower back with one large hand, he pulled out his phone and called Timothy Cohen.

"Go to the hospital and handle things for Mason Lawrence."

He hung up and finally released Zinnia.

"Satisfied?"

Zinnia nodded. Jenson reached for her hand again.

Zinnia forcefully yanked her hand free and turned to leave. "Go hold Crystal Sutton’s hand. You stopped caring if I lived or died a long time ago, so why bother putting on an act for others?"

Jenson abruptly pulled her back, his brow furrowed.

"What do you mean I don’t care if you live or die?"

"At the pool, didn’t you save Crystal Sutton and abandon me?"

Zinnia sneered. Jenson pursed his lips. "I taught you how to swim, so I know exactly how capable you are. Weren’t you kicking around in the water just fine, enough to shove Crystal Sutton away? Did you really need me to save you?"

Zinnia froze. So he saw her kick Crystal away?

He hadn’t refused to save her; he just hadn’t realized she needed help at that moment.

While this eased some of the ache in Zinnia’s heart, the scar remained.

"Even so, you still chose to save Crystal Sutton! You stayed with her all night. Did you ever once care whether I lived or died?" Zinnia’s voice broke.

She gave up. She didn’t want to say any more. The memory of that night was painful to recall. For the past two nights, her dreams were filled with the feeling of struggling in deep, dark water.

She shook Jenson off and tried to leave again, but he retorted with a sneer, "You have the nerve to bring that up? Crystal wanted to call the police. The Sutton family’s security cameras caught you two fighting by the pool. She can’t swim. If I hadn’t stayed behind to clean up the mess, were you really prepared to be dragged into court?"

Zinnia froze again. He stayed that night because Crystal was going to call the police?

Where did Crystal get the audacity! I didn’t even push her. Why would I be afraid of her calling the police?

Zinnia clenched her fists. She wanted to scream at Jenson for choosing to be deceived by Crystal instead of believing her.

Just then, two more people entered the washroom. Jenson grabbed Zinnia’s hand and, without another word, pulled her back to the private room.

When they entered, the atmosphere was lively. Everyone was gathered around Winston Forrest, toasting him.

Jenson led Zinnia to the sofa. He sat down in his original spot and tried to pull her down beside him.

Zinnia twisted her wrist, shaking off his large hand. "I’ll sit with Winston."

With that, she walked toward Winston. That bastard thinks he can have a woman on each arm? The nerve!

Jenson hadn’t expected her sudden move, and his handsome face turned frosty.

Zinnia was already sitting leisurely beside Winston Forrest.

Winston refused two glasses of wine. Before sitting down, he snapped his fingers to call a waiter over.

"A glass of warm milk, please."

The waiter was efficient, quickly bringing over the warm milk.

Winston took it and handed it directly to Zinnia. "Was your stomach bothering you? I didn’t know you had stomach problems."

Zinnia took the milk and took a sip. The warm liquid entering her empty stomach made her feel much better.

She turned to Winston, her eyes curving into a smile. "Winston, you’ve really grown up! So mature and considerate now?"

Winston Forrest, the family’s fifth son, was less than two years older than Zinnia. They had attended the same elementary, middle, and high schools.

In middle school, Zinnia skipped a grade, and they ended up in the same class. By high school, she was his senior. Their relationship had always been quite hostile. They couldn’t stand each other as children, and Winston had often secretly bullied Zinnia. It was only in the six months before Winston went abroad that they finally grew up, resolved their grudges, and became closer after a few incidents.

In Zinnia’s memory, Winston was completely self-centered and never cared for anyone.

"You’re underestimating me. Your fifth brother is now a man with female fans all over the world. How could I be the same as I was before?"

Zinnia raised her eyebrows and clinked her glass against his.

"I’ll toast you with milk instead of wine. Congratulations on achieving your dream, Fifth Brother!"

There was genuine happiness in Zinnia’s eyes, but also a hint of melancholy. Her own dream of dancing had been cut short four years ago.

After she and Jenson Forrest started their relationship, Katherine Rhodes considered her a disgrace and barely let her leave the house for two years. After marrying Jenson, it was even more out of the question for her to perform in public.

Winston raised his eyebrows and smiled, reaching out to gently pat Zinnia’s head.

"You can do it, too."

"I’m afraid it’s too late..."

"It’s never too late to chase a dream. Trust your fifth brother."

He tilted his head back and drained the wine in his glass, which made Zinnia smile again.

They leaned in close, whispering to each other with a natural intimacy.

Jenson Forrest leaned over and picked up a cigarette pack from the table, then leaned back lazily against the leather seat.

His cool, pale knuckles tapped the bottom of the pack, knocking a cigarette out. He caught it between two long fingers and tossed the pack back onto the table. The sound caused a slight lull in the atmosphere.

But the pair engrossed in their conversation didn’t even look up.

Jenson sneered, reaching for a lighter.

Beside him, Crystal Sutton had already struck a match and leaned in. "Jenson, let me."

Jenson glanced at her, his eyes cool. At such a close distance, his exceptionally handsome face was mesmerizing. His gaze was indifferent; even when he looked at you, it was as if he didn’t truly see you.

But the desire to conquer wasn’t exclusive to men. To women, a man like him was a fatal attraction.

Crystal’s heart raced, and the hand holding the flame trembled slightly. Just when she thought Jenson would refuse, he tilted his head toward the flame and took a deep drag.

His cheeks hollowed slightly, making the chiseled lines of his face appear even sharper and more defined.

Crystal blushed, a scorching heat filling her heart.

But in the next second, she saw Jenson tug at his tie with one hand as he turned his head slightly to exhale a cloud of smoke. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his exposed neck, which was marked by a deep hickey.

The heat in Crystal’s heart was doused as if by a bucket of ice water, and her expression instantly soured.

It was obvious who left that hickey. It wasn’t there a moment ago. Did they share a passionate kiss while they were out?

Crystal instinctively glanced at Zinnia. Zinnia was wearing a white V-neck T-shirt, and a noticeable hickey was visible on her swan-like neck.

Crystal was practically dying from anger and jealousy.

When Zinnia looked up, she saw Crystal lighting Jenson’s cigarette. For a moment, the two of them were extremely close. From her angle, it almost looked like Crystal was about to kiss Jenson.

The discomfort in her stomach, which had just begun to ease, returned.

Their eyes met. He exhaled a cloud of white smoke that obscured his gaze, but the faint curve of his thin lips held a hint of casual mockery.

Zinnia looked away. Out of sight, out of mind. But someone wouldn’t let her off the hook.

"Miss Lawrence, Miss Sutton, why are you both so quiet? Let’s play a game!"

It was Lucy Lucas. She had planned to wow everyone with her singing, but Zinnia had ruined her moment.

"Sure! How do we play?" Crystal eagerly chimed in.

"Let’s keep it simple and just roll dice. Whoever rolls the lowest number loses. The loser has to either drink or answer a question."

Zinnia found the idea tedious. Besides, Crystal was pregnant and couldn’t drink.

She assumed Crystal would refuse, but to her surprise, Crystal agreed immediately and even shot Zinnia a provocative look.

"Sister, you wouldn’t be scared to play, would you?"