CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 7: FINE, I’LL SATISFY YOU

Mason Lawrence was the only person in the Lawrence family who treated Zinnia Lawrence well. York Lawrence was an alcoholic and a gambler who abused his family, while Gloria Grant was selfish and only cared about herself.

At ten years old, Mason and Zinnia clung to each other for survival. When they couldn’t escape, he would hold her and take the beatings with her.

On one snowy night, York Lawrence lost money gambling and came home drunk, beating Zinnia to within an inch of her life. When Mason heard the news, he climbed over the school wall and rushed home, only to find Zinnia had bitten off one of York’s ears. She herself was nearly dead, and the room was covered in blood.

Mason carried Zinnia on his back to seek help from the Sutton family, but they were on a cruise, celebrating Crystal Sutton’s debut violin performance. With no other choice, Mason carried Zinnia for three hours through the night and knelt outside the Forrest family’s old mansion, which ultimately led to Zinnia being adopted.

Fourteen years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Back then, my brother fought for a chance for me to survive. Now, I will absolutely not give up on him.

"Don’t worry, your brother is stable. A new research lab has been established in Y Country dedicated to waking patients in a vegetative state, and I want to send your brother there. Coincidentally, you passed Lise’s interview and are also headed to Y Country..."

"As a medical test subject?" Zinnia hesitated.

Alaric Hawthorne nodded. "Professor Cohen, who is in charge, is an expert in brain research. I guarantee that your brother’s condition won’t be any worse there than it is now. My junior is formidable; I wouldn’t dare try to fool you."

Alaric feigned a look of fear.

Zinnia recalled their first meeting in high school. They were both sheltering from the rain under an eave when she mistook him for a pervert groping girls. She slapped him hard and told him to scram. The boy didn’t explain and just left in the rain. Only when her butt was slapped again did she realize it was just a loose billboard being blown about by the wind.

The next day, she ran into Alaric Hawthorne on campus again. Ironically, they were wearing matching hoodies. She rushed over to apologize, but he backed away warily and pointed to his clothes.

"I’m really not a pervert."

Zinnia was so mortified that she blushed just thinking about it now.

She covered her face. "Senior, please don’t bring it up again..."

Alaric chuckled, and tiny specks of light danced in his eyes behind his glasses.

"By the way, will the medical expenses be high?"

"Don’t worry, it won’t be exorbitant. Plus, I’m planning to return to my alma mater for further studies and might even join the research institute."

"That’s great! Senior, I don’t even know how to thank you." Zinnia was completely relieved and overjoyed.

Mason had been in a coma for a year. The longer he was unconscious, the lower his chances of waking up became. Now, at least, there was more hope.

"Treat me to a meal? You’ll have to cook it yourself. Once we’re in Y Country, we’ll be schoolmates again. I’ll be counting on you to take care of your senior then."

Alaric glanced sideways at her, his smile as refreshing as a gentle breeze. His alma mater happened to be the same university where Lise taught.

"No problem." Zinnia nodded, smiling brightly at Alaric, her expression full of anticipation for the future.

"Oh, have you decided on your audition piece?"

"My resume hasn’t even been approved yet..."

"How could it not be? Hurry up and prepare for the interview. Lise’s concert tour will be in the country early next month, and the interview will likely be scheduled around then."

Zinnia felt Alaric’s analysis made sense and nodded in agreement.

"I’ve written a new piece that would also work well as a dance track. I’d like to choreograph to it. What do you think, Senior?"

"That’s a great idea."

The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they failed to notice the man in the black Bentley in the adjacent lane, his cold gaze fixed upon them through two car windows.

The car stopped below Yara Fairchild’s apartment building. Zinnia tried to unbuckle her seatbelt, but a corner of her clothing was caught, and she couldn’t pull it free.

"Let me see."

Alaric leaned over and helped her undo the seatbelt.

"There you go." He smiled at her, and for a moment, they were very close.

Zinnia felt uneasy. She quickly thanked him, got out of the car, and waved through the window.

"Drive safely, Senior."

The roads in the old neighborhood were narrow. Zinnia watched until Alaric had safely driven away before turning to enter the building’s stairwell.

It was completely dark now. The voice-activated lights were broken, and just as Zinnia reached for her phone to use its flashlight, a powerful force suddenly gripped her slender waist.

"Ah!" Zinnia cried out as her back slammed hard against the wall.

"So lovey-dovey, so reluctant to part. Is he the next guy you’ve got lined up? You idiot, do you think he’s some good person?" a man’s icy voice rang out.

Zinnia recognized the voice. Her legs went weak, and she started to slide down the wall, only to be pinned there by his hand on her waist. She stared at the blurred outline of his handsome face, her initial panic turning to anger. She decided to provoke him, retorting sharply.

"So what if he is? He’s still better than you!"

"Ha, better than me? And you let him kiss you? Mrs. Forrest, don’t forget, we are not divorced yet!"

Zinnia froze, realizing Jenson Forrest had misunderstood. She instinctively moved her lips to explain, but the man’s cold voice cut her off.

"So desperate for company? No wonder you dared to climb into my bed at eighteen!"

Zinnia’s watery eyes trembled, and she felt the blood drain from her face. She fought back tears. "That’s right! So hurry up and sign the papers, so you don’t have to worry about me cheating on you... Ah!"

Before she could finish, the man’s fingers seized her jaw.

"So besides divorce, you have nothing else to say to me?"

Zinnia’s lips curved into a slight smirk. "That’s right. Why should I keep a man who won’t even kiss me? Just to watch him turn into a shriveled old geezer?"

The pressure in the air around Jenson Forrest dropped even lower. The fingers holding her chin tilted her head up. Zinnia was forced to crane her neck, the delicate line of her throat stretched into an arc so sharp it looked as if it might break, reflecting a soft sheen in the dim light. The man’s thumb and forefinger applied a bit more pressure, and Zinnia’s lips parted uncontrollably, like a fish gasping for air.

"So desperate for a man’s kiss? Fine. I’ll satisfy you."

Jenson’s voice was frigid, but the breath that brushed against Zinnia’s nose was scorching. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she stared wide-eyed as the man’s impossibly handsome face drew closer and closer. Her heart pounded like a drum, but tears welled up, threatening to overflow.

How she had once longed for his kiss...

But not like this, not as a cruel, humiliating punishment.

SLAP!

The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the dark hallway. As if chiming in at the worst possible moment, the malfunctioning sensor light suddenly flickered on.

The man’s head was turned slightly to the side, his thin lips pressed into a displeased line. The sharp line of his jaw appeared even more defined, and a red mark bloomed on his pale cheek. An icy mist seemed to swirl around him.

Zinnia’s face was ashen, and tears streamed from her eyes. The very air seemed to freeze. The sensor light went out again, as if cowed by the man’s terrifying aura.

Just as Zinnia felt she was about to break under the oppressive atmosphere, Jenson released her. Without a word, he turned and strode out of the building. His tall silhouette blocked the moonlight, his broad shoulders cloaked in a silver glow, appearing cold and desolate.

Only after he had disappeared did Zinnia finally gasp for breath, collapsing to the ground as she clutched her trembling hands. After a long moment, she picked herself up and walked, step by step, up the stairs.

In the car, Jenson lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. Smoke curled from his thin, cold lips as his tongue prodded the inside of his slightly numb right cheek.

The little girl has some strength.

The man’s deep eyes lifted, a dim light dying within their depths. Seeing the lights on the sixth floor turn on, he flicked his wrist, stubbing out the cigarette before driving away.

***

"I think I saw Jenson’s car. Did he bring you back?" Yara Fairchild asked loudly as she came through the door.

Zinnia was sitting on the sofa, changing the dressing on her wound. Thinking of the slap, her hand holding the cotton swab trembled. HISS.

"Honestly, you’re hopeless! Don’t move, let me do it!" Yara rushed over, took the cotton swab, and began to carefully clean Zinnia’s wound.

Zinnia smiled. "Yara, what would I do without you?"

York Lawrence’s abuse had often forced Zinnia to hide out at Yara’s apartment in the same building. Yara’s parents heavily favored their son, and the family was not well-off, so Yara would save her own food for Zinnia. The two girls had forged a sisterly bond through the hardships of their youth.

They were the same age, but Zinnia had skipped grades and graduated four years ago, while Yara was still a junior in college. Yara had rented this one-bedroom apartment to be closer to her part-time jobs.

"You’d better know it. You’re a genius beauty, and I’ve always planned on riding your coattails, so you’d better get it together and repay me! If you ask me, you should take Jenson for all he’s worth in the divorce. Are you just going to let that green tea take advantage?"

Zinnia gave a bitter smile. If she and Jenson were a normal couple, she naturally wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave empty-handed. But she was raised by the Forrest family. That debt of gratitude was too heavy. She couldn’t hold her head high in this marriage and had no right to talk about assets.

"He refuses to sign the divorce papers..."

"Tsk. He doesn’t want you, but he can’t stand you leaving him first. That’s just how proud men are. Jenson is no different from any other petty man!" Yara shook her head, feeling it was unfair to Zinnia.

Zinnia’s gaze dimmed.

Yes, that must be it. Jenson wouldn’t miss her, much less suddenly fall in love with her. His pride was simply wounded.