CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75: ZINNIA LAWRENCE’S ORIGINS

Gloria Grant knew there were some things that shouldn’t be said; she had just let one slip.

She immediately nodded. "Yes, yes, but she’s been ungrateful and unfilial since she was a child. You’re the only one Mom can rely on..."

"Don’t worry. I’ll remind Rose to wire the money as soon as I get back," she said, then lowered her voice to a whisper in Gloria Grant’s ear. "If Zinnia Lawrence discovers the truth about her background—and she is not one to be trifled with—do you think she might send you to prison?!"

Gloria Grant’s face turned pale, and she hurriedly covered her mouth.

「That night.」

In a private room at The Imperial Court, the atmosphere was decadent.

After finishing their discussion, Jenson Forrest and Miles Chase leaned back in their chairs. Jenson sipped his drink alone.

Miles Chase raised his glass. "For the past two years, with Third Brother and Raquel being abroad so much, we haven’t gathered much. It’s rare to have a quiet chat like today. When Raquel returns, we must have a proper gathering."

The "Raquel" Miles Chase mentioned was Raquel Sterling, the young master of the old and established Sterling Family of Veridia. Raquel’s parents were also Jenson’s godparents. Raquel Sterling, Miles Chase, Jenson Forrest, and Finn Quinn had all grown up together.

Finn Quinn also nodded. "Yeah, Raquel is even busier than Third Brother. The last time I was in M Country for a commercial, I hoped to see him, but he couldn’t even make time for that."

Jenson Forrest’s brow furrowed slightly. He tilted his head back and downed the wine in his glass.

Seeing his mood worsen and his interest in their conversation wane, Miles Chase clicked his tongue and leaned in to ask, "Successful in business but unlucky in love, huh? Third Brother, have you and Zinnia made up yet?"

Jenson Forrest glanced at him and chuckled. "What do you know? Even when we fight, our bond is as strong as ever."

Ah, a man’s pride. He understood completely.

"Sure, sure, your relationship is great, and Zinnia can’t live without you," Miles said. "But no matter how good a couple’s relationship is, constant arguments are damaging. How many days has it been already..."

29 days, Jenson Forrest silently counted in his head, since that woman first mentioned divorce.

"Need your brother to help you out?"

Normally, Jenson Forrest wouldn’t entertain such a suggestion. But today, the man’s gaze actually shifted to Miles Chase, and he raised an eyebrow.

Miles Chase was secretly amused. Tsk, so he can’t keep up the act after all.

He immediately put down his glass and adopted a serious tone. "If you can’t coax a woman, you have to pull out the big guns! Play the pity card! As long as she still has any feelings for you, she won’t be able to harden her heart. Besides, Zinnia cares so much about you, Third Brother. If you were even slightly unwell, that girl would be frantic with worry. She’ll definitely fall for it."

Jenson Forrest had thought he might have a good idea, but hearing this, he lost interest and looked away. In the past, Zinnia had cared about him deeply. If he caught a minor cold that he himself ignored, she would stay up all night, never leaving his side. But that was her love for a brother; now, she was much more heartless. He had even faked a blood disorder before, but she still hadn’t agreed to move back to Sovereign Court for a few more days.

Miles Chase, however, was still brainstorming. "Okay, how about this? I’ll text Zinnia right now and say you’re drunk here, asking her to come pick you up. When she arrives, Third Brother, you pretend to be wasted, and one thing will lead to another. I guarantee you two lovebirds will be sweet as honey tomorrow. What do you think?"

Jenson Forrest tilted his head back, drained his glass, and smirked. "Good idea. Never bring it up again."

Miles shrugged just as a female companion swayed over to call him. Seeing that Jenson Forrest had no desire to continue the conversation, he got up and left.

As he reached the pool table, however, he took out his phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to Zinnia. I’ve done my part as a brother. Whether it works or not all depends on how much Third Brother means to Zinnia.

Who would have thought that as soon as he put his phone down, Finn Quinn would sidle over, glance at the screen, and chuckle before taking a photo of his own and sending it to Crystal Sutton.

"What are you doing? Don’t just send that to people!"

"Are you the only one allowed to send messages? It’s time Third Brother saw who really cares about him."

Miles snatched the phone back, trying to unsend the message, but Crystal Sutton’s reply had already popped up.

*Did Jenson drink too much? I’ll be there right away. Finn, please take care of him for me.*

Miles Chase was speechless. I’m so screwed.

*

That afternoon, Zinnia and Yara Fairchild moved out of Alaric Hawthorne’s apartment. By evening, Yara had returned to her film set.

Zinnia went to bed early, feeling dizzy and unwell. She quickly sank into darkness, her body growing heavier and more exhausted, as if she were lost in a desert, hot and thirsty.

Zinnia struggled to wake, realizing she had a high fever. Her limbs felt heavy and weak. She barely managed to reach for her phone under the pillow, instinctively wanting to dial her emergency contact.

Before her finger could press the button, a WeChat notification chimed.

Zinnia opened it and saw the photo. The man leaned lazily back against the club’s leather chair, his neck tilted back and the top two buttons of his shirt undone. The line of his side profile was refined and elegant. Not far from him sat a girl in a short skirt, looking as pure and innocent as a college student. Though there was some distance between them, the girl was clearly sneaking glances at him.

That look was all too familiar to Zinnia. Once, she too had only dared to secretly admire him with that same gaze from the shadows.

"Heh..." Zinnia let out a raspy laugh, and the phone slipped from her hand.

She drifted in a daze. She didn’t know how long had passed before she was jolted awake again by a buzzing vibration. She groggily answered the call and put the phone to her ear.

"Zinnia, don’t forget to come watch the race tomorrow. Do I need to pick you up? Zinnia?"

Winston Forrest paused. Hearing no answer from Zinnia, only heavy breathing, he furrowed his brow.

"Winston, I... I feel terrible..." Zinnia’s muffled voice came through, startling him.

"Where are you? Hey? Zinnia!?"

But the other end of the line went silent.

Winston, who had already showered and was about to sleep, shot up and hurried into his dressing room. He changed clothes swiftly and called Jenson Forrest. To his surprise, there was no answer from Jenson’s phone either.

「The Imperial Court.」

Crystal Sutton rushed over. Before entering the private room, she stopped a waiter, gave him a few instructions, and handed him two thousand yuan.

When she entered, she saw Jenson still sitting where he was before, while a woman in a white miniskirt was tentatively trying to press herself against him.

Crystal strode over and said coldly, "Get away. You don’t get to touch him."

The woman in the skirt looked reluctant, but upon seeing Crystal and recalling the online rumors, she bit her lip and moved away.

Crystal was about to sit in the now-empty seat, but the man suddenly opened his eyes.

"This seat doesn’t belong to you either." His gaze was cold and clear, showing little sign of intoxication.

Crystal froze, feeling wronged and humiliated. Her body swayed, and as she plopped down, she stumbled right into Jenson’s arms. "Jenson, you scared me."

Before Jenson could push her away, Crystal sat up on her own, her voice full of concern. "Finn sent me a text saying you drank too much. I was worried sick and personally brewed some hangover soup. May I pour some for you?"

She had brought hangover soup, but she hadn’t brewed it herself. Worried she’d be too late and Jenson would be gone, she had ordered takeout on the way.

She leaned over to pour the soup, but Jenson had already stood up. An aura even gloomier than before radiated from him as he strode toward the exit.

"Jenson!" Crystal stood up in a panic.

Finn and Miles walked over. Finn began, "Third Brother, Crystal cares so much about you, you..."

Before he could finish, Jenson clamped a hand on his shoulder. The force was so great that Finn, caught off guard, felt a numbing pain shoot through his shoulder, and his body swayed.

Jenson released his grip and walked away.

Finn clutched his injured shoulder. "Hiss... Why is Third Brother so angry? I have two action scenes to film tomorrow! Is it dislocated?"

"Let me see," Miles said.

Finn let go, only for Miles to slap the spot hard. Finn’s face twisted in pain, and he swung a fist at Miles.

Miles dodged it and offered his diagnosis. "It’s not dislocated. But you’d better wise up. Next time you’re so meddlesome, it won’t just be a dislocation." He made a throat-slitting motion.

Outside the private room, Jenson walked briskly, his handsome face livid.

Crystal came, but Zinnia didn’t! The implication was obvious, and a layer of frost seemed to settle over Jenson’s heart.

Yet, Crystal stubbornly chased after him, tailing him closely. "Jenson, wait for me..."

Jenson stopped abruptly. "Don’t follow me!"

His voice was harsh and severe, startling Crystal. Her eyes reddened, and she had no idea how she had offended him.

Just then, Timothy came striding toward them. Jenson ordered, "Take her home."

But Timothy said, "President, Madame has had an accident."