CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51: ZINNIA LAWRENCE BORN TO BE WILD

Zinnia Lawrence had just finished breakfast and was getting into her car when Yara Fairchild called.

She had seen the news in their residential community’s group chat and was worried sick, so she asked her film crew for leave and rushed over.

Zinnia agreed to meet her at a café, but before they could exchange more than a few words, their landlord called. Her tone was nasty, and she demanded Yara return immediately.

Zinnia accompanied Yara back to their apartment complex, only to find the landlord had already thrown all of their belongings out the door, scattering them everywhere.

The real kicker was that she also refused to refund the more than four months’ worth of rent they had already paid.

"This apartment almost became the scene of a murder! I’m letting you off easy by not suing you! Renting to people like you is the worst luck imaginable! And you still want the rent back? Dream on!"

The landlord was a woman who weighed nearly two hundred pounds, standing with her hands on her hips and a fierce expression on her face.

"What do you mean, ’people like us’?"

Yara was furious. She understood the landlord was upset and had come back with a sincere desire to resolve the problem, willing to negotiate. But who could endure the landlord’s awful attitude and outright insults?

"You’re a pair of shameless flirts, stirring up trouble with men, and you have the nerve to ask me that?!"

Her disdainful gaze scanned Zinnia from head to toe as if looking at something filthy.

She could say what she wanted about Yara, but insulting Zinnia was crossing the line.

Yara erupted. She lunged forward, grabbed the portly landlord, and began dragging her toward the stairs.

"Do you have crap for brains? Can’t you think for yourself? ’Blame the victim,’ huh? You seem to be an expert on that! Now, come with me!"

Yara was surprisingly strong. The landlord staggered, fear in her eyes, before flopping onto the stairs and starting to wail.

"Assault! Murder!"

Yara had intended to drag her to the residents’ committee to sort things out, but she never expected the woman to resort to such cheap tricks. Yara coldly rolled up her sleeves.

"Fine! ’Assault and murder,’ is it? Today, I’ll show you what real fighting power looks like!"

Zinnia grabbed her, her face filled with anxiety. "Don’t! You’re the eight-time reigning martial arts champion, undefeated in the entire city! You’re the woman the leader of the Tiger’s Head Gang tried to recruit three times! Your lightest tap would break at least two of her legs. That thug who challenged you last time ended up paralyzed. It’s only because you were a minor back then that you don’t have a criminal record! You have to calm down!"

Yara turned around, completely baffled. Was I really that incredible?

But she recovered quickly. Turning back with a menacing sneer, she said, "Let go! I have to teach her a lesson today. If anything happens, Brother Wyatt from the Tiger’s Head Gang will handle it for me!"

The landlord wasn’t easily fooled, but she recalled seeing several medals and trophies while clearing out their things. They really did seem to be for martial arts.

She swallowed hard, though she tried to keep her neck stiff.

"Don’t try to scare me! It’s my property, and I don’t have to rent it if I don’t want to!"

"You signed a lease agreement. During the rental term, you have no right to evict my clients without their consent."

Just then, a familiar, clear voice echoed from the stairwell behind them.

Zinnia turned to see Alaric Hawthorne walking up the stairs in a gray suit.

His eyes curved slightly behind his lenses as he met her startled gaze, and then he turned to the landlord.

"I am their lawyer. My name is Hawthorne, and I’m here specifically to handle this incident."

Alaric projected an elite, professional air. The meticulous and steady demeanor of a doctor was surprisingly similar to that of a lawyer.

The landlord’s gaze grew even more uncertain. Yara, dissatisfied, tugged on Alaric’s sleeve and shook her fist.

"You’re early. Go wait downstairs. After I’ve beaten her into submission, you can come back up to sort things out."

The landlord and Zinnia were both left speechless.

Even Alaric was at a loss for words for a moment. He then addressed the landlord, "This incident proves the apartment has safety hazards, which makes breaching the contract even more inappropriate. If we sue, you will undoubtedly have to pay compensation and a penalty for breach of contract. Ma’am, if you truly refuse to refund the rent, then our only option is to proceed with legal action..."

The landlord’s resolve had long since crumbled. She shouted, "I’ll refund it!"

Alaric glanced at Yara, who quickly held out her phone with the payment QR code.

"Just refund the rent to me. We can forget about the penalty for breaking the contract."

After what had happened, the apartment would probably be difficult to rent out anytime soon. She had originally planned to renew the lease for another year, figuring the incident would be long forgotten by then and the landlord wouldn’t suffer any loss. But who knew the landlord would have such an attitude?

The landlord transferred the money and stood up to leave, but Yara blocked her way by propping a foot against the wall.

"Apologize!"

The landlord lost her nerve, quickly turning to Zinnia and muttering, "I’m sorry."

Yara lowered her leg. The landlord scrambled up the stairs and slammed her apartment door shut with a bang, as if a ghost were chasing her.

The stairwell fell quiet. The three of them looked at each other, then burst out laughing in unison.

"Not bad, Dr. Hawthorne. Impressive acting," Yara patted Alaric Hawthorne on the shoulder.

"Right back at you."

Zinnia looked at Alaric with confusion. "Senior, weren’t you on a medical aid mission? What are you doing here?"

"I just got back. I was worried it wasn’t safe for you two young women to live here, so just in case, I gave my number to a security guard and asked him to contact me if anything happened. Come on, let’s get out of here."

Alaric bent down, picked up two large luggage bags, and started downstairs. "Don’t worry about it; I’ll come back up for the rest."

As his tall figure descended, Yara nudged Zinnia’s shoulder.

"Jenson Forrest has dropped you off before, hasn’t he? But I don’t recall him being thoughtful enough to leave his number with security. Dr. Hawthorne is really a great guy... Oof!"

Zinnia clapped a hand over her friend’s mouth. "Your acting is pretty good too. Now hurry up and grab your things. Are you really going to make him come all the way back up?"

She picked up two cardboard boxes. Yara understood she didn’t want to talk about it and didn’t press the matter.

Once everything was loaded into the trunk of Alaric Hawthorne’s car, they got in, and he said, "Finding a place to rent on short notice is probably going to be difficult. As it happens, I have a vacant two-bedroom apartment nearby. Why don’t you go take a look at my place?"

Zinnia hadn’t spoken, but Alaric seemed to sense her hesitation and added, "Don’t worry, I won’t let you stay for free. You’ll pay rent. It’s not good for the apartment to sit empty, and I could use the extra pocket money. Plus, you can help me keep an eye on the place. It’s a win-win."

Zinnia initially felt it would be inappropriate, but he had phrased it so considerately. Besides, Yara was only in this mess because of her, and finding a new apartment on such short notice would be difficult.

"Then we’ll have to trouble you, Senior."

Alaric’s apartment was, of course, beautiful. The lighting, layout, and decor were all excellent. Zinnia still had at least a month or two before she could go abroad to study. Her original plan after the divorce was to rent a place with Yara, so a two-bedroom apartment was perfect.

When they came out of a bedroom, Zinnia said to Alaric, "Senior, let’s sign the rental agreement first."

"No rush," Alaric chuckled. "It’s been a busy morning, and it’s almost noon. Let’s find a place to eat first. I’ll have someone draw up the contract and call you when it’s ready."

"In that case, Yara and I will treat you to lunch, Senior."

Knowing her personality, Alaric raised an eyebrow and agreed.

Zinnia chose a trendy hot pot restaurant nearby.

At the restaurant, after they had ordered, Zinnia raised her glass. "Senior, we troubled you again today. I’ll toast you with water in place of wine..."

Alaric smiled and was about to speak when a saccharine voice cut in.

"Alaric, what are you doing with these two women?"

Sienna Forrest, dressed in a new, sequined suit from House X and carrying a platinum bag, stood a few steps away, her face a mask of arrogance. She glared at Zinnia, her mind racing with jealousy. This woman really is a natural-born slut! After climbing into Third Brother’s bed, does she now have the audacity to seduce Alaric?

Yara’s good mood vanished. She picked up her water glass and said, "It’s been a while. Still haven’t kicked that habit of leaving the house with stinky breath? How about a complimentary glass of mouthwash?"

She raised her hand, making a motion as if to splash the water at Sienna.

Sienna scrambled back, nearly tripping and falling awkwardly in her high heels.

"Splashing you would be a waste of water." Yara retracted her hand with a look of utter disdain, as if Sienna wasn’t even worth the effort, and casually took a sip of her water.

Furious and humiliated, Sienna forced herself to hold back her anger. Her eyes reddened as she turned to Alaric. "Alaric, they’re bullying me."

Zinnia nearly broke out in goosebumps at the sudden, syrupy sweetness in her voice.

Impressively, Alaric’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. "Sixth Miss Forrest, the flippant make themselves cheap."

Sienna froze, clearly not understanding. Yara couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

"The dimwitted Sixth Miss Forrest didn’t get it. Zinnia, hurry up and recite the full quote for her."

Yara nudged her expectantly, so Zinnia had no choice but to speak.

"The base debase themselves, and the flippant make themselves cheap. The one who starts trouble is trash, and deserves no sympathy when they get beaten."

Yara added, "Let me translate that for you: ’Frivolous and impulsive people bring dishonor upon themselves. You should repent at once before it’s too late, O esteemed Sixth Miss Forrest.’"

In an instant, Sienna’s face flushed red, then paled. Tears welled in her eyes. "You’re all going too far!"

Crying, she spun around and ran toward the entrance. "Third Brother, Crystal, they’re bullying me!"

Just then, several other people approached. Leading the group were a tall, imposing man and the delicate woman clinging to his side.

It was none other than Jenson Forrest and Crystal Sutton.