CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: WHO TOUCHED MY WIFE’S FACE

Jenson took a step to the side, impassively avoiding Crystal Sutton’s subtle maneuver.

The man said in a flat voice, "Eighth wasn’t incited by Zinnia. You’ve misunderstood her."

Crystal Sutton could hardly believe it. She was in this state, yet Jenson’s first instinct was to defend Zinnia Lawrence.

She lifted her head, fresh tears streaming down her face. She was so overcome with a sense of innocence and grievance that she hiccuped, unable to utter a single word before turning to throw herself into Sienna Forrest’s arms.

Just as Crystal Sutton wanted, Sienna Forrest immediately became her mouthpiece, complaining to Jenson.

"Brother Three, look at the state Crystal is in! She’s been in and out of the hospital ever since she came back, and it’s always Zinnia Lawrence beating her. You’ve spoiled Zinnia to the point where she’s completely lawless!

"Crystal is the real daughter, while Zinnia is just a fake! If you weren’t backing her, how would she dare to be so audacious? Crystal has been wronged so badly, yet you’re still protecting that woman? Eighth is just a kid. He has no reason to hate Crystal, so why would he go out of his way to cause trouble for her? It must have been Zinnia who put him up to it! Eighth has been fooled by her since he was little; he listens to her more than anyone!"

This time, Crystal was so badly hurt, Sienna just wished Jenson would give Zinnia a beating too. That lone orphan, that jinx! How dare she trample all over her, a Forrest!

Jenson’s gaze fell upon her, and the sheer pressure within it made Sienna’s face pale. Her heart lurched.

"Sienna Forrest, in what capacity are you standing here? Don’t forget your surname is Forrest, not Sutton. Zinnia Lawrence is your sister-in-law. Get out."

His voice was quiet and detached, not quite a reprimand, but Sienna was too frightened to utter another syllable.

She knew Jenson was furious and didn’t dare challenge his authority. Her eyes reddened, and she choked back a sob as she pushed Crystal Sutton away and ran out.

Crystal Sutton fell back onto the hospital bed, her lips trembling.

"Brother Jenson, Sienna was just speaking up for me. Are you blaming me to make an example out of her? But I’m the one who was beaten and wronged..."

Her tears streamed down, a picture of pitifulness. As he looked at her, an image of Zinnia—her eyes red but her expression stubbornly unyielding—flashed through Jenson’s mind.

His voice softened slightly, but his eyes held a hint of annoyance. "Eighth was being mischievous today. I will scold him and bring him here to apologize to you later. But let me say it again: this has nothing to do with Zinnia. Take this. Buy yourself something nice. Consider it for your medical fees and compensation."

Jenson took a bank card from his wallet and placed it on the bedside table. Without a second glance at the stunned Crystal Sutton, he nodded.

"You should rest."

He turned and strode to the door. He opened it and left, giving Crystal no opportunity to hold him back or pester him.

The moment he shut the door, he came face-to-face with Simon Sutton and his wife, Mandy Lowe, who had just walked up. Following behind them was Zinnia Lawrence.

The man’s eyes met Zinnia’s. Her expression immediately turned cold, and she averted her gaze.

Jenson’s gaze, however, turned glacial, and his entire aura became sharp and forbidding.

"Jenson, you..." Mandy Lowe began to speak.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, Jenson’s jet-black pupils, seemingly laced with a cold poison, swept toward her. He questioned them in an icy tone, "Who touched my wife’s face?!"

Zinnia hadn’t expected him to lead with such a question. She turned to look at Jenson, shocked. Wasn’t he just inside, heartsick and worried about Crystal Sutton? He abandoned her and Eighth to rush over here. What is this now?

Before she could figure it out, Jenson had already strode to her side and pulled her into his embrace. As he moved, he inadvertently jostled Mandy Lowe, who stumbled and twisted her ankle. Simon Sutton quickly caught her.

"Does it hurt?" Jenson raised his hand, intending to touch Zinnia’s injured right cheek, but he stopped, afraid of causing her more pain.

A pang of soreness hit the tip of Zinnia’s nose. Her heart churned with a complex mix of emotions she couldn’t begin to identify, and she felt tears threatening to well up.

She blinked rapidly and said in a low voice, "It’s none of your business."

Jenson let out a cold laugh. "Such an impressive show of ability. If you’re so capable, why didn’t you stop that filth from getting near you?"

Hearing herself implicitly called "filth," Mandy Lowe’s chest heaved with indignation.

"Jenson, what do you mean by that!? She’s injured Crystal time and time again, and we never properly took her to task for it. This time, we only said a few words and slapped her to teach her a lesson. But in return, she spewed a thousand things that left my heart aching! It’s one thing for you not to discipline her, but how can you help a tyrant commit evil?"

Hearing Mandy twist the truth, Zinnia grew anxious. The whole reason she’d followed them was to explain things clearly. She tried to step forward to argue her case, but the man held her fast by the waist, keeping her in his embrace.

Jenson’s voice was frigid. "Didn’t properly take her to task? Heh. You’ve bloodied the face of my wife, Jenson Forrest’s wife. How much more ’proper’ do you want to get?"

Mandy was cowed by his powerful aura, her expression stiff. Simon Sutton tugged at her sleeve. No matter what, Zinnia was Jenson’s wife. Slapping her was the same as slapping Jenson.

He forced a smile. "Jenson, Crystal has suffered so much. Your aunt was just overcome with concern for her daughter and lost her sense of proportion. Zinnia said some rather nasty things just now, too. Even though she grew up in the Forrest household, your aunt and I have always cared for her and thought of her as our own. When we see her acting so rash and domineering, it’s only natural for us as elders to discipline her..."

Jenson’s gaze was ice-cold, and he refused to yield an inch. "My wife is modest, patient, and reasonable. If an elder was truly making a valid point, she would naturally listen. Why would she talk back? And ’minor discipline’ is even more laughable. I wasn’t aware the Sutton family runs its own courthouse. Or do you hold private tribunals now?!"

Simon Sutton’s expression froze as well, and the atmosphere grew taut with tension.

Perhaps hearing the argument outside, the hospital room door opened. Crystal Sutton, her arm in a sling, appeared in the doorway. "Mom? Dad?" she asked in surprise. "Brother Jenson, what’s happening?"

Mandy rushed to her side, supporting her with concern. "Crystal, why did you get out of bed? Hurry and go lie back down." She and Simon tried to guide Crystal back inside, hoping to defuse the tense situation.

But Jenson spoke again. "Aunt Sutton, aren’t you going to apologize to my wife before you go back inside?"

Mandy turned back, her face a mask of disbelief. Crystal looked equally hurt and shocked.

Even Zinnia was surprised. Would Jenson really keep embarrassing his future mother- and father-in-law like this, all for her?

"Why should I apologize? Jenson, look at the state of Crystal’s hand!" Mandy’s face flushed with anger.

Zinnia interjected at the opportune moment, "Aunt, do you have any proof that today’s incident has anything to do with me? Or are you just picking on an easy target?"

Simon Sutton’s face darkened. "Fine! Then let’s get Eighth over here to clarify everything, face-to-face!"

Eighth had acted on her behalf, so of course Zinnia couldn’t throw him under the bus now to save herself. She gave a cold laugh.

"If Crystal Sutton hadn’t acted like a mistress and taken something that didn’t belong to her, she wouldn’t have been hit. Eighth might have been a bit wrong in this, but the root cause of the problem is Crystal Sutton herself. Her own improper conduct is to blame!"

Crystal Sutton looked completely baffled and wronged, and she cried, "What did I take that I shouldn’t have? Sister, are you now randomly accusing me of theft?"

Zinnia grabbed Crystal’s arm and lifted her injured hand.

The jade bracelet, which they hadn’t been able to remove, was still on her wrist. Because her arm was hit, the entire area had swollen up, causing the already ill-fitting bracelet to become firmly stuck on her wrist bone, looking utterly ridiculous.

"This is the Forrest family’s ancestral bracelet. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for you to have it, Miss Sutton? Eighth was just trying to get back what belongs to the Forrest family. You wouldn’t cooperate, and as he’s just a child, it’s understandable that his actions were a little extreme.

"But while he’s a child who lacks restraint, you’re an adult, Miss Sutton. Don’t you understand the simple principle of not touching things that don’t belong to you?"

Exposing the fact that her husband gave the family heirloom to his mistress was embarrassing for her, too, which was why Zinnia hadn’t wanted to bring it up. But she couldn’t let Eighth take the fall for this. She couldn’t let him be branded as a violent, tyrannical punk who, at such a young age, was heartless enough to break someone’s arm for no reason.

Unexpectedly, Crystal Sutton didn’t look smug or ashamed. Instead, her face was a picture of utter confusion and grievance as she looked at Zinnia. "Sister, what are you talking about? What family heirloom bracelet?"

Zinnia was stunned. She turned to look at Jenson, only to see his face had turned completely black, so grim it looked as if ink might drip from it.

Huh?