CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: JENSON FORREST SAVES HER AND GETS SLASHED

Crystal Sutton put on a wronged expression and stepped forward.

"Sister, are you still angry about what happened last time? I’m sorry. My appetite has been poor since I became pregnant, and I fainted from low blood sugar. That’s what made Jenson misunderstand and think you pushed me. He cares so much about the child. Sister, I sincerely apologize to you again. Can you forgive me?"

She was slender with a plain face. While none of her features were particularly striking, they combined to create a pleasant look, one perfectly suited for a pure and innocent expression.

At this moment, her face was full of sincerity, leaving no room for anyone to criticize her, yet Zinnia Lawrence saw the immense malice hiding beneath.

She hated this side of Crystal Sutton. She still remembered their first meeting.

Crystal Sutton had been led into the Sutton family’s living room by Mandy Lowe. She had immediately rushed forward to hug Zinnia, only to let go just as quickly and apologize timidly.

"Sister, I’m sorry, did I get your dress dirty? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to..."

Zinnia hadn’t understood the situation back then. Mandy Lowe had protectively pulled Crystal Sutton into her arms and glared reproachfully at Zinnia.

"Mom, who is she?"

Little Zinnia didn’t understand why her mother was hugging another child. She had only asked a simple question, but it made Crystal Sutton tremble like a frightened bird.

"Does Sister not like me? I’m sorry, I’ll leave..."

Mandy Lowe clutched Crystal Sutton and said sternly to Zinnia, "Don’t call me Mom again. I am not your mother!"

After so many years, Crystal Sutton hadn’t changed a bit.

Zinnia Lawrence’s lips curled. "Fine. Then bow."

Crystal Sutton was stunned. Zinnia Lawrence scoffed, "You’re the one insisting on apologizing. It would be a disservice to your sincerity if I didn’t let you."

How could Crystal Sutton possibly agree?

Her eyes reddened, and she turned to Jenson Forrest, silently pleading for help.

Zinnia’s gaze followed hers, her own clear eyes landing on Jenson Forrest.

Jenson Forrest’s gaze was deep. Zinnia Lawrence wore a daffodil-yellow dress today. Her long, black hair was casually held up with a claw clip, with two soft strands of hair falling along the side of her face, accentuating her fair skin and making her look gentle and captivating.

She sat beside Alaric Hawthorne. As the wind lifted the hem of her dress to brush against his suit trousers, she looked like a demure little wife.

This woman ran away from home for eight days. Not only did she jump onto a stranger’s motorcycle that night, but now she was delivering a lovingly prepared lunchbox to another man.

Jenson Forrest noticed a dish of sweet and sour crispy eggplant in the container. It wasn’t difficult to make, but it was a lot of trouble. She really went to a lot of trouble for him.

The man’s sharp brow tightened, making him appear even colder.

"I was the one who misunderstood you that day. It had nothing to do with Crystal. You slapped her and took out your anger, so don’t be so unforgiving."

Zinnia’s heart clenched. She really didn’t know what she had been expecting, to actually think Jenson Forrest would be any different from Mandy Lowe all those years ago. Ha.

Before Zinnia could speak, Alaric Hawthorne stood up.

"You’re wrong, President Forrest. If people will argue their case even when they’re in the wrong, why should someone who is in the right have to be forgiving?"

Jenson Forrest’s gaze shifted to him. The two men’s eyes met, and the air seemed to crackle with invisible blades.

Jenson Forrest’s thin lips suddenly curved. "Dr. Hawthorne, you’re also mistaken. Between a husband and wife, what matters isn’t who is right or wrong, but that they care for each other. Zinnia, come here."

The man’s deep gaze locked onto Zinnia once more as he held out his hand to her.

Zinnia stared at his outstretched hand, her heart feeling as if it had been squeezed.

He said that what mattered most between a husband and wife was caring for each other, but did he care about her? If he did, then what was Crystal Sutton?

But his words and his gaze were so deceptive they left Zinnia dazed, tempting her to reach out and take his hand.

However, before Zinnia could react, Crystal Sutton wedged herself between Zinnia and Jenson Forrest and said anxiously, "Jenson, Dr. Hawthorne, please don’t argue. I’ll bow and apologize to Sister..."

Crystal Sutton bent over to bow, but at that exact moment, a sharp, vicious voice screamed out.

"Alaric Hawthorne, you heartless doctor! You stood by and did nothing while my son died! You’ll pay for his life!"

With the shout, a middle-aged man in a black long-sleeved shirt pulled a knife from his clothing and began swinging it wildly in their direction.

Zinnia, who had her back to the man, instinctively turned around. A sharp glint of white light flashed before her eyes, heading straight for her face.

"AH! Jenson! Save me!"

Amid the chaos, Zinnia heard Crystal Sutton’s scream. Jenson must have gone to save her.

A bleak chill settled in Zinnia’s heart. Her body went stiff, her mind went blank. All she could do was close her eyes, resigned to the blade’s descent.

However, the pain she anticipated never came.

Zinnia only felt a strong force yank her aside, and the next second, she fell into a familiar, warm embrace. She breathed in his cool scent, reminiscent of pine on a snowy peak, a fragrance that held a comforting power.

Zinnia raised her head in disbelief and met Jenson’s deep-set eyes. For a split second, it seemed as if she was the only thing reflected in them.

"Scared, weren’t you? It’s all right now."

His large hand stroked the top of her head, his voice low and gentle.

Zinnia stared at him, stunned. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest, but she couldn’t tell if it was because of his sudden gentleness or if she was still reeling from the shock.

She raised her hands and wrapped them tightly around Jenson’s waist.

Crystal Sutton had fallen into Timothy Cohen’s arms, and she turned just in time to witness this scene.

At the critical moment, she had thrown herself at Jenson, but he had shoved her aside without a second thought. If Timothy Cohen hadn’t been there to catch her, who knows how pathetic she would have looked.

Crystal even suspected that if she hadn’t been standing between Jenson and Zinnia, he wouldn’t have even bothered to push her aside. His eyes were only on Zinnia!

Now, seeing Jenson and Zinnia locked in an embrace, her eyes burned with jealousy.

She rushed forward. "How can there be a lunatic like that in a hospital? Thank goodness you pushed me away, Jenson! Oh my god, Jenson, you’re hurt!"

The shouting pulled Zinnia back to her senses. Only then did she notice the gash on Jenson’s right arm. His suit jacket and white shirt were torn, and blood dripped from the wound. It was a shocking sight.

Crystal Sutton grabbed Jenson’s arm, tears streaming down her face. "It’s all my fault. If you hadn’t pushed me out of the way, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt, Jenson..."

So he had only saved her after making sure Crystal Sutton was safe? And this injury... he got it for Crystal Sutton’s sake.

"Zinnia, are you alright?"

Earlier, Jenson had protected Zinnia and kicked the man away. When the attacker tried to get back up, Alaric had kicked him again, twisting his arms behind his back and pinning him firmly to the ground. Now that security had arrived and taken control of the situation, Alaric finally had a moment to check on Zinnia.

Zinnia shook her head at him. "I’m fine. Are you okay, Senior... ah!"

Before she could finish, her waist was seized by a large hand. The grip was so tight that his fingers seemed to dig into the soft flesh there, making her gasp in pain.

A security guard came over to ask Alaric to help with the aftermath. He turned to Zinnia and said apologetically, "That man’s son had late-stage brain cancer and was no longer a candidate for surgery. He knelt and begged me to operate yesterday, but I had to refuse. His son passed away this morning, so overcome with grief, he... I’m sorry you all got dragged into this. I’ll have a colleague take care of President Forrest’s injury."

He called for a nurse and then hurried away with the guards.

"Sob, Jenson, does it hurt?" Crystal was still crying, blocking the nurse’s way.

Zinnia’s eyes were cold as she yanked her aside. "He’s not dead yet, and your tears aren’t a disinfectant. If you stop dripping them on his wound, he might heal faster!"

Jenson lowered his gaze to Zinnia, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. She was like a little kitten protecting its food. More than a little cute.

Crystal stumbled back a few steps, her teary eyes glaring at Zinnia accusatorily. "Jenson was hurt because of me! Why can’t I cry?"

Jenson’s head throbbed at the noise. His cold gaze shifted to Timothy Cohen. "Take her back to her room."

Timothy promptly stepped forward, draping a shawl over Crystal. "Miss Sutton, I’ll escort you."

Crystal didn’t want to leave. She didn’t want to leave Zinnia and Jenson alone together. She put on a pained expression, clutching her lower abdomen as her face grew pale. "Jenson..."

She had just opened her mouth when Jenson said, "Go get some rest. I’ll come see you later."

Crystal’s eyes brightened. She stopped arguing and nodded obediently. Turning to Zinnia, she said, "Sister, Jenson is so careless with himself. Please make sure the nurse bandages his wound properly."

She gave Zinnia a worried nod before turning to leave.

Zinnia helped Jenson sit on a nearby bench and motioned for the head nurse to approach. She couldn’t help but mutter, "Such a loving couple."

Jenson held his arm out, allowing the nurse to cut away his sleeve. Hearing her words, he lifted his thin eyelids. His gaze was deep as his lips curled into a slight smile. "Jealous?"