CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96: DOES JENSON FORREST STILL CARE ABOUT HER?

When Zinnia Lawrence stepped out of the elevator, she had already regained her composure, though her heart was raw. She was grateful she hadn’t cried.

She was quite exhausted, having been so busy lately and sleeping only four or five hours a night. This was especially difficult while pregnant, a time when she was prone to drowsiness.

But she was happy, feeling that it was all worth it.

It’s all good. Just a little while longer and I’ll have the thirty million to pay back Jenson Forrest. Then I’ll owe the Forrest family nothing. After that, I can be free and just be myself.

Zinnia took a deep breath, straightened her spine, and lifted her chin with a smile.

Unexpectedly, she came face-to-face with Crystal Sutton and Mandy Lowe.

"Eighth’s condition has relapsed, and he’s back in the hospital. How can you possibly smile?" Mandy frowned, her tone a harsh condemnation.

Crystal gently pulled on Mandy’s arm. "Mom, don’t talk about her like that. She must be worried about Eighth too, or she wouldn’t have come to the hospital to visit."

Crystal’s display of understanding was so sickening, Zinnia felt like she could puke with her eyes closed.

Without breaking her stride, she started to walk past them, but Crystal grabbed her arm.

"Sister, don’t worry too much about Eighth. My baby will be born in a few months, and by then, he’ll surely be a match for his uncle and can cure him completely."

As Crystal spoke, she proudly puffed out her stomach.

Zinnia’s gaze fell on her lower abdomen. She couldn’t tell if Crystal was deliberately arching her back or if the baby was just growing quickly, but a slight, curved bump was already visible.

Zinnia’s breath caught in her throat, a sharp pang stabbing at her heart.

Mandy chuckled, patting Crystal’s arm. "Silly girl, who knows if she’s here to see Eighth or to seduce Jenson!"

She then turned back to Zinnia. "Zinnia, I know you and Eighth are close. Now that Eighth is sick, his life could be in danger, and only the baby in our Crystal’s belly can save him. This is fate. If you truly care for Eighth, you’ll hurry up and divorce Jenson. Don’t delay Crystal and Jenson’s engagement..."

Zinnia lowered her head, a self-mocking smile touching her lips.

It’s like the whole world is waiting for me to divorce Jenson Forrest. But Crystal is the other woman. What right does she have to be so smug in front of me?

Zinnia lifted her head, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Engagement? But my husband told me he has no intention of getting engaged to your daughter."

"How is that possible! Crystal is carrying his child, and this child is the only hope to save his brother’s life! How could he not marry her?" Mandy frowned.

Crystal caressed her belly. "Sister, Jenson only said that because he feels a sense of responsibility toward you. He loves this baby. Have you forgotten? He even bought an asteroid for our baby."

Zinnia suddenly grabbed Crystal’s wrist.

"Are you sure the baby in your belly is Jenson’s? Fine. Let’s go get a paternity test right now."

Crystal panicked, trying to wrench her hand away. "Let go! Let go of me, I’m not going!"

Staring at Crystal, Zinnia raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Weren’t you just swearing the baby is Jenson’s? Why are you so scared now?"

Crystal forcefully yanked her hand free. "I’m not scared! I’m just worried that an amniocentesis might harm the baby!"

She tugged on Mandy’s arm. "Mom, let’s not entertain her madness. Let’s hurry upstairs to see Eighth. I’m so worried."

"Yes, yes, let’s go."

Mandy supported Crystal as the two quickly stepped into the elevator.

Zinnia glanced back at Crystal one more time. Crystal’s reaction had been quite extreme.

Could she actually have a guilty conscience?

But Jenson really did seem to care about the baby in Crystal’s belly. Comparing his attitude to how he’d treated her own pregnancy, Zinnia felt a sharp pang in her heart.

Cherish life, stay away from Jenson Forrest. All troubles, shoo, shoo, shoo!

Zinnia silently chanted this mantra twice before quickly walking away.

「A week later.」

Zinnia completed her collaboration with Gigatrend Games, and another sum of money was smoothly deposited into her account.

Just as she exited the game company’s building and settled into a taxi, she received a call from Granny Tilton. Old Madam Forrest had suddenly fainted.

Zinnia immediately instructed the driver to change course and head for the Forrest family’s old residence.

She rushed into the old mansion, only to find Old Madam Forrest sitting calmly in the courtyard.

"Grandma, why are you sitting out here? Where’s the doctor?"

Old Madam Forrest took Zinnia’s hand. "Be honest with Grandma. You and Jenson... you never actually reconciled, did you?"

Zinnia froze. Taking a closer look at the old madam’s complexion, she realized the wily old woman had tricked her.

Feeling helpless, she murmured, "Grandma..."

Old Madam Forrest’s expression hardened. "Grandma may be old, but I’m not muddle-headed or blind. Look at you. You’re not even wearing your wedding ring anymore."

Zinnia was at a loss for words.

She remembered the last time she and Jenson had come to the old residence, how he had personally put the ring on her finger to deceive his grandmother. They had promised by her bedside that they would reconcile.

But in truth, they never had. Some things simply couldn’t be hidden forever.

"Grandma, you can’t force things to be sweet. Third Brother and I have decided to let each other go. We... we are getting a divorce."

Zinnia gritted her teeth and held the old woman’s hand, choosing to confess.

The color instantly drained from Old Madam Forrest’s face. Her pale lips trembled, and her breathing grew ragged.

Extremely worried, Zinnia’s eyes reddened. "Grandma, I’m sorry. I’ve disappointed you. You can hit me or scold me, just please don’t get so upset you make yourself ill!"

She gently rubbed the old woman’s chest while telling Granny Tilton to fetch her medicine.

Old Madam Forrest took two pills. After a moment, her breathing evened out, and her complexion was no longer pale and ashen.

Zinnia, however, was terrified. Tears streamed down her face, soaking her cheeks. She clung to the old woman’s thin, dry hand, repeating over and over.

"Grandma, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry..."

She couldn’t bear to face the old madam, knowing how much she had hoped for Zinnia and Jenson to spend their lives together. But Zinnia had let her down; she couldn’t go on any longer.

She was terrified that she had made Old Madam Forrest ill with the news. Even more, she was afraid the old woman wouldn’t forgive her and would stop loving her.

However, Old Madam Forrest pulled the tearful Zinnia into an embrace, patting her back gently.

"Child, don’t say you’re sorry. Grandma knows you’ve already done your very best. If anyone’s at fault, it’s that bastard Jenson! Grandma isn’t angry, and I don’t blame my Zinnia."

The old woman’s aged hand patted Zinnia’s back, just as it had when she was a little girl.

Zinnia leaned against the old woman’s slightly stooped shoulders, her tears flowing even more freely. She was choked with sobs, unable to speak. "Thank you, Grandma... for not blaming me..."

"Alright, alright, don’t cry. Now, tell Grandma, is this all because of that Crystal Sutton? You tell me, and Grandma will stand up for you!"

Old Madam Forrest released Zinnia, using her wrinkled hand to wipe away her tears.

Zinnia fought to stop her tears and shook her head. "Grandma, it’s not because of Crystal Sutton..."

"Nonsense! How could it not be because of her! Your troubles with Jenson started the moment she came back! Grandma only found out today that at the welcome banquet held for her, you were bullied so badly you fell into the water! Did that bastard Jenson save Crystal Sutton?"

Zinnia was stunned. The incident had happened a month ago.

She asked in surprise, "Grandma, how did you find out about that?"

Sienna Forrest had come to the old residence today. While on the phone with one of her fair-weather friends, she had brought up the incident, mocking how pathetic Zinnia had looked. To this day, a video of Zinnia’s humiliating moment was still circulating among the socialites. Old Madam Forrest had overheard, and she had forced Sienna to give her the video. Watching it had infuriated the old woman.

"Don’t you worry about how Grandma knows. Just tell me, is this why you’re divorcing Jenson?"

Zinnia quickly shook her head again, a bitter smile on her face. "Grandma, it’s really not. There are no feelings left between Third Brother and me. You’ve seen it yourself; he doesn’t care about me anymore. That’s why he chose to save Crystal Sutton when we both fell in the water. You didn’t see how frantic he was then..."

"Nonsense!" Old Madam Forrest interrupted her, her voice firm. "Jenson is my own grandson. Do you think I don’t know what he’s thinking or who he cares about? He cares about *you*! And today, Grandma is going to prove it to you!"

Zinnia was speechless. How is she going to prove that?

As she stood there, bewildered, Granny Tilton approached them again. "Old Madam, the Third Young Master has returned."

Old Madam Forrest immediately stood up, pulled Zinnia behind a dense thicket of bushes, and whispered, "Zinnia, you stay right here. Don’t come out, no matter what happens! Grandma will prove to you that Jenson definitely cares about you!"

Old Madam Forrest let go of Zinnia and stepped out.

Zinnia was dazed, but in the distance, she saw Jenson’s tall figure already striding quickly in their direction.

She hadn’t seen him in a while. Perhaps it was the angle, or maybe it was the desolate scenery of the early winter garden, but while the man in the long coat still carried himself with a ramrod-straight posture, his handsome face looked as if it had grown thinner.