CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 95: EVEN SELLING BLOOD AND A KIDNEY WOULD SETTLE THINGS WITH HIM

"You think you can earn thirty million? Zinnia, you’re clearly just putting on an act. You never had any intention of leaving the Forrest Family, did you?"

Katherine Rhodes looked at her with pure disdain. Zinnia had never held a job in her life; she was nothing but a parasite.

If she left the Forrest Family, where would Zinnia get thirty million? This is just a ploy to play hard to get.

Katherine never bothered to hide her dislike and contempt for Zinnia. In her eyes, Zinnia was just a sparrow that had clawed her way onto a high branch and wouldn’t let go easily.

Zinnia was aware of this and tried to remain calm as she said, "Rest assured. Since I’ve signed the divorce agreement, I’m determined to go through with it."

Katherine still didn’t believe her. "Then swear a solemn oath."

Zinnia laughed. "Believe it or not, I have no obligation to convince you. I’m here to see Eighth today. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving."

As Zinnia started to turn away, Katherine grabbed her, her voice dripping with mockery. "You don’t dare to swear! The fox’s tail is showing now, isn’t it?"

Zinnia frowned. "There’s no need to provoke me. You don’t believe me anyway, so it doesn’t matter whether I swear an oath or not. There are still more than ten days left until the deadline Jenson and I agreed upon. Please be patient; the outcome will be clear in due time. But if you keep looking for trouble with me, I might just be provoked into being contrary and decide not to divorce after all."

"You’re threatening me?!" Katherine was furious.

Zinnia pulled her hand away. "If that’s what you think, then so be it."

Katherine stared at Zinnia, a knot of frustration tightening in her chest. She’s completely different from the timid, accommodating little wife she used to be. She seems to mean what she’s saying.

But the Forrest Family could cast her out and make her a divorced pariah. What right did a pitiful girl raised by the Forrests have to act so high and mighty, as if the family were a pit of fire she had to escape?

Katherine felt extremely vexed. She took a deep breath before nodding. "In that case, there’s no need to wait any longer. Here’s the thirty million I’ve prepared. Contact Jenson immediately and go to the courthouse to finalize things."

She took a bank card from her purse and handed it to Zinnia.

Zinnia glanced down at it and shook her head. "I don’t need it."

"Hah. You don’t need it, or you truly have no intention of divorcing? Zinnia, if the Forrest Family hadn’t taken you in fourteen years ago, you’d be dead in a ditch somewhere by now. A person should know to repay kindness, and more importantly, to know their place. You and Jenson are from two different worlds. If it weren’t for that disgraceful thing you did four years ago, and how you wheedled your way into the old matriarch’s favor until she insisted on standing up for you, do you really think you could have married into the Forrest family and become the young mistress?"

Zinnia had always known what Katherine thought, and she knew most people likely felt the same. But she never realized that hearing those words directly from Katherine’s mouth would be so ugly and piercing, so hard to bear.

Her face turned pale and she clenched her fists, reiterating, "I will get the divorce. I’m not taking your card because I made an agreement with your son to repay this money with my own abilities, not because I’m playing tricks to stall for time. Rest assured, even if I have to sell my kidney, give my blood, or beg on the streets, I will pay back every last cent of this thirty million!"

Her clear eyes were reddened, but they burned with resolve.

Katherine watched Zinnia for a moment before a slight smirk touched her lips. She put the card back into her purse and said, "Very well. I’ll trust you this one time. I just hope you aren’t putting on an act of false pride, you stubborn wretch."

Zinnia laughed. "So, once I’ve repaid this money, will my slate with the Forrest Family be wiped clean?"

Will I no longer have to bear this heavy debt of gratitude, to be despised and looked down upon by Katherine every day, unworthy of self-respect or the right to hold my head high? Once I’ve paid back these thirty million, can I finally be my own person, with dignity?

Katherine chuckled. "Alright then. As long as you promptly divorce Jenson this time, we’ll call it a clean slate with the Forrest Family. I’m not an unkind elder. You did grow up here, after all. If you face difficulties in the future and come asking the Forrest Family for help, I’ll lend you a hand for Julia’s sake."

Of course, Zinnia would never seek Katherine’s help. She simply gave Katherine a faint smile before turning and pulling open the door to the stairwell.

However, Zinnia never expected that after taking just a couple of steps, she would run right into Jenson Forrest as he stepped out of the adjacent elevator. His gaze swept over, landing on her pale face and the redness rimming her eyes. Zinnia froze for a moment before quickly lowering her head.

"Jenson?" At that moment, Katherine also came out of the stairwell.

Jenson’s gaze shifted between the two women, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Katherine hurried forward to explain. "Zinnia came to see Julia. We were just talking about Julia’s illness, and Zinnia got emotional and cried because she feels so bad for her."

"Is that so?" Jenson’s dark gaze remained fixed on Zinnia.

Zinnia looked up at him, her almond-shaped eyes now clear and dry. She nodded. "I’ve already seen Julia. I can’t be of any help by staying here, so I’ll be leaving now." With that, she stepped forward and pressed the elevator button.

Katherine stepped forward and tugged on Jenson’s arm. "Jenson, come with me to see Dr. James. Didn’t you specifically bring him back as an expert for Julia? Why has her condition still progressed?"

Zinnia glanced at the man’s departing back before stepping into the elevator.

Jenson, however, stopped in his tracks. He looked down at Katherine, his eyes radiating a palpable pressure. "What did you say to her just now?"

Katherine frowned. "Are you questioning me? What could I have said? We just talked about Julia’s condition..."

Jenson stared at Katherine, his thin lips curling. "Does discussing Julia’s illness require hiding in the stairwell?"

Realizing she couldn’t fool him, Katherine said with annoyance, "It was nothing much. I heard you two had already signed a divorce agreement, so I just asked her if it was true."

"Who told you we signed a divorce agreement?" Jenson’s gaze turned sharp. He hadn’t told anyone about signing the agreement with Zinnia. In his mind, that document was destined to be voided sooner or later.

"Zinnia told me herself. How else would I know?" Katherine frowned. She then gave a mocking laugh. "Jenson, she’s really grown her wings now. Her desire for a divorce is incredibly strong. She even told me she’d pay back the thirty million even if it means selling her kidney, giving blood, or begging on the streets, just to wipe the slate clean with our family. And I’ve already agreed to it."

Jenson’s fists suddenly clenched, his eyes dark and stormy. Very well. She’d sell her kidney and give her blood just to settle the score with him. That woman couldn’t wait to broadcast their divorce to the entire world.

"Jenson, she’s being so heartless. You can’t be soft on her this time. The Forrest Family raised her for so many years, let her live as a pampered young mistress. She owes our family so much, but instead of being grateful, she’s started to treat us like enemies..."

Katherine was in the middle of her mocking tirade when Jenson cut her off with a cold voice. "She has never owed the Forrest Family anything!"

"How can you say..."

"She saved Grandmother’s life. For that alone, it was only right and proper that the Forrest Family raise her. Since she married me, she is my legitimate wife. Does the wife of Jenson Forrest not deserve to live a pampered life?"

After speaking in a low, firm voice, Jenson strode away without a glance at the utterly foul expression on Katherine’s face.

Katherine could only glare at his retreating back, so furious that her grip left indentations on her million-dollar handbag.