CHAPTER 12: CHAPTER 12: HE WAS RESOLUTE—DIVORCE IS JUST A DREAM

Jenson Forrest froze. At this moment, he understood. Even though he had burned the divorce agreement, she still hadn’t given up on the idea of divorcing him.

The desire in his eyes instantly faded, replaced by an icy chill. He fiercely pinched Zinnia Lawrence’s small face.

"In my bed, and you don’t want me? Who do you want, then?"

Zinnia Lawrence’s eyes reddened as she glared at him. "Anyone but you! Get off me!" Her nose tingled with an old ache. She used to wait for him every night, only for him to leave her to an empty house. Now that they were getting divorced and she had finally managed to let go, why was he provoking her again?

Her whole body resisted, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Jenson Forrest’s handsome face was sullen as he stared at her intently. Just as Zinnia was about to drown in his intense, shadowed gaze, he turned over and lay back down.

Zinnia Lawrence let out a sigh of relief, but an unspeakable sadness filled her. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep.

A long silence ensued. Just when she thought Jenson was asleep, his cold voice rang out.

"Zinnia Lawrence, we are not getting divorced. Stop dreaming!"

Zinnia Lawrence’s breath hitched. She opened her eyes, and after a long moment, she murmured, "But I miss my brother..."

I miss the Jenson who was gentle with me, who held me in the palm of his hand. I want to find that brother again... I’m also afraid that if we keep going like this, we’ll become strangers, and even the warmth from my memories will be lost forever.

Zinnia’s voice was very soft, and the man behind her said nothing.

She thought he hadn’t heard, but a moment later, she heard a knock on the wall.

THUMP THUMP THUMP, THUMP.

Zinnia’s eyes instantly welled up.

When he was with Crystal Sutton and they were trending online, she held back her tears. When she decided to divorce him, she didn’t cry either. But now, the tears she had held back for so long began to roll down her cheeks silently, like a broken dam.

The memory took her back to when she was eight. She was almost beaten to death and left with severe psychological trauma. It was Jenson Forrest who brought her to the Forrest family, and from then on, Zinnia only trusted and clung to him.

Grandma Forrest arranged her room next to Jenson’s. When Zinnia was tormented by nightmares and cried out at night, Jenson would rush over, hold her, and soothe her. She would quickly calm down, sleeping peacefully in his arms.

Her condition didn’t improve even with a psychologist’s intervention. One night, Jenson rolled over and kicked a soft bundle off the bed, making his hair stand on end in shock. He turned on the light to find the little girl sitting on the floor, holding a pillow. She had a large bump on her forehead, and her eyes were brimming with tears.

Jenson was only fourteen at the time, and his temper was already bad. He nearly lost his mind. With a dark face, he threw her back into her room.

The next day, however, he woke to find a shivering little ball behind him again. She didn’t dare get too close. The moment she was discovered, she would retreat to the foot of the bed, clutching her pillow and biting the corner to stifle her sobs as large tears rolled down her cheeks.

Left with no choice, Jenson had someone put another bed next to his, with a screen separating them. But even so, there was often an extra lump in his bed at night.

Jenson’s sleeping posture, once completely unrestrained, became remarkably proper. The most rebellious and untamable young master in Veridia spent his entire adolescence with a princess bed in his room, moonlighting as a nanny at night. No one would have believed it if word got out!

She slept in his room like that for over a year, and the sense of dependency became ingrained in her bones.

Until one morning, while she was still asleep, Jenson, with a dark face, threw her out of the room, blanket and all. No matter how much she cried or played pitiful, he didn’t soften.

Later, though they slept in separate rooms, Zinnia’s bed was placed against the wall of Jenson’s room, headboard to headboard. Separated by a wall, she would knock before bed, and he would knock back. They would bid each other goodnight this way until he went abroad to study six months later.

From the age of eight to ten, that was the time their relationship was at its closest. But sibling relationships inevitably drift apart as people grow up. When Jenson went abroad, the distance between them grew. His world became increasingly vast and colorful, and though she desperately tried to catch up, she was still pushed to the sidelines, until everything shattered completely on the night she turned eighteen.

But Zinnia remembered. Three long knocks, one short... That was my brother telling me, "Sleep now. I’m here."

And now, Jenson Forrest was telling her that her brother had always been here.

Yes, he was here. He just wasn’t willing to love me like a husband should.

Zinnia’s heart twisted, aching and swelling.

Perhaps because he didn’t hear her response.

THUMP THUMP THUMP, THUMP.

Jenson knocked twice more. Zinnia slowly raised her hand and tapped on the headboard.

In the darkness, someone sighed softly.

The man reached out again, pulling Zinnia into his embrace. Her small face pressed against his broad chest, and this time, she didn’t struggle. She was docile and obedient, just like the tearful little girl from his memories.

"Be good. We won’t get a divorce, okay?" Jenson’s low, hoarse voice sounded from above her as his lips gently kissed the crown of her head.

Zinnia’s tears soaked his chest, but she said nothing. Her courage was completely spent for the night. She wasn’t even sure if he was just putting on another act.

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ. On the bedside table, Jenson’s phone vibrated.

The man stirred, and Zinnia immediately wrapped her arms around his waist.

Jenson lifted his hand and threaded it through her hair, stroking it gently. "Sleep now."

Zinnia closed her eyes, her breathing gradually evening out. A moment later, a rustling sound was heard. The phone’s screen flickered on, but he quickly shielded the light with his hand. The woman in his arms remained perfectly still.

Jenson gently lifted her arm and slowly got out of bed. Taking his phone, he went into the dressing room. Soon, he emerged fully dressed, opened the door, and left.

On the bed, Zinnia opened her eyes, gazing into the void outside the window.

I had actually seen it when I peeked. It was a WeChat message from Rose Lowell, Crystal Sutton’s agent. I didn’t ask him to stay; I knew it would be useless. I’ve tried before. The scars on the soles of my feet haven’t even healed. Why humiliate myself again?

Downstairs, a car engine roared to life. Zinnia threw off the covers, got out of bed, and walked to the window. The rain that had been held back all night poured down in sheets. A black sedan cut through the rainy mist and disappeared down the mountain road.

That was my beloved man, making a romantic dash to another woman. Liar. He told me to sleep, but he wasn’t even here.

Zinnia turned and went to the dance studio, a room Jenson had personally prepared for her when she was a child, complete with the best soundproofing. She chose a high-energy song and, fiercely tearing at her skirt and collar, began to spin madly. She danced until she was slick with sweat, feeling a sense of catharsis. After a shower, she lay down on the bed again, her body exhausted but her mind still restless and unable to sleep.

The lingering scent of him on the bed was irritating. Zinnia picked up her phone; it was past two in the morning. Her stomach churned, the bitter taste of medicine stirring up again.

Why do I have to suffer so much while that bastard has nightly rendezvous with his mistress, living it up?

Zinnia opened her phone’s browser, searched for "infertility," and then used Jenson Forrest’s phone number to leave consultation messages with several clinics. Only then did she curl up on the sofa with a blanket and fall asleep.

「The next morning, the wind and rain had ceased.」

In the courtyard, the servants had already cleared away the broken branches and fallen leaves, leaving no trace of the storm from the night before.

Old Madam Forrest went out early to meet with friends. Zinnia came downstairs, had breakfast, and was about to head out to her Dream Dance training when Katherine Rhodes called out to her.

"Julia’s teacher sent over the notes and practice sheets. You take them to him and help him out a bit. I’m going to an art exhibition today and can’t make it, so you stay with him for the day."

"I have things to do today..."

Before Zinnia could finish, Katherine Rhodes cut her off impatiently. "What important matters could an idle person like you possibly have? Honestly, Julia is so fond of you. If you’re so heartless you won’t even help him while he’s sick, fine. But to refuse such a small task? What kind of person does that make you?"

The driver came in to say the car was ready, and Katherine Rhodes hurried away. A servant handed Zinnia a tablet, and she went upstairs to print the materials for Julia Forrest.

Unexpectedly, just as she entered the hospital wing, she ran right into Crystal Sutton.

Crystal was with Rose Lowell. Rose’s bag slipped from her shoulder, its contents spilling out with a clatter. A medical report fluttered down and landed at Zinnia’s feet.

Zinnia looked down. Her eyes locked on the words: Prenatal Exam Report.

She couldn’t help but bend down and pick it up, her gaze fixed on the name.

Patient: Crystal Sutton. Gestational Age: ~6 weeks.

Her fingertips turned to ice. Over a month ago... that was right when Jenson had just left on his business trip...

"Sister, give that back to me," Crystal Sutton said, stepping forward quickly to snatch the report from her hand.

Zinnia stared at her, her mind a complete blank. Her lips trembled as she forced out the words in a dry, hoarse voice. "Is the child Jenson Forrest’s?"

Crystal handed the report to Rose to put away, her expression a mask of gentle, maternal sweetness. "Jenson really likes this child. He even bought the naming rights to an asteroid for the baby and named it Snowfall. Isn’t that beautiful?"

An asteroid... So that’s what it was for. A gift for his and Crystal Sutton’s child. Snowfall. Was that for Crystal Sutton, the ’snow’ that had ’fallen’ right into his heart? How incredibly romantic.

Zinnia’s throat felt as if it were blocked with iron, and her face went deathly pale.

"But you can rest assured, sister. I won’t use this pregnancy to force my way into the family. I know Jenson is a very responsible man. I’m not greedy. His love and our baby are enough for me."

Crystal smiled with satisfaction, her left hand nonchalantly stroking the jade bracelet on her right wrist.

Zinnia’s heart felt as if it had been slashed open by a blade and filled with grit, the pain making it almost impossible to maintain her feigned composure.

No wonder a single WeChat message from Rose Lowell could make him leave in the rain at midnight. Crystal Sutton was pregnant. He had already given the Forrest family heirloom, the jade bracelet, to her, acknowledging her status as his wife in his heart. Was Crystal just playing hard to get, still angry about what had happened four years ago? Were they still fighting?

Zinnia bit the inside of her cheek until it hurt, managing a stiff nod. "Everyone has their own ambitions. If you want to be a mistress and bear an illegitimate child, do as you please."

I’m divorcing Jenson anyway. What happens between him and Crystal Sutton has nothing to do with me. I can remain composed.

The words "mistress" and "illegitimate child" stung. Crystal Sutton’s fingertips dug fiercely into her flesh as she stared at Zinnia’s retreating back. She gave a cold chuckle and suddenly raised her voice.

"Aren’t you about to get a divorce, sister? Don’t you think it’s ridiculous for you to be saying that?"

Zinnia’s steps faltered. She turned back to look at Crystal.

Jenson already told her they were getting a divorce? He really couldn’t wait.

Zinnia strode back to Crystal. Standing a head taller, she reached out and patted Crystal’s head. "You have to open the lid to drink green tea. Crystal Sutton, does that mean I have to twist the cap off your skull to deal with you?"

Crystal stiffened. Zinnia sneered, patting her face. "You said ’about to,’ which means it hasn’t happened yet. As long as I am not divorced, I am Mrs. Forrest for every one of those days. It’s not for a mistress to come and laugh at me."

She patted Crystal Sutton’s face again. The motion was light, but Crystal suddenly let out a sharp "Ah!" and fell sideways to the ground.

"Zinnia Lawrence! What are you doing?!"