CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 97: HOW COULD I NOT CARE ABOUT YOU

The thinner man appeared even calmer and more self-possessed, composed and steady.

This was the face she had seen for years, the man she was determined to expel from her heart, yet he tugged at her heartstrings every time she saw him.

Zinnia chalked this flutter of emotion up to the curse of being weak to a handsome face.

She was about to force herself to look away when she was startled by a loud SPLASH.

Zinnia was shocked. She had just noticed Old Madam Forrest heading toward the pool.

Could the old madam have accidentally fallen in? Zinnia was about to rush over, but Granny Tilton appeared from nowhere and held her back.

"Third Young Mistress, please stay calm. The Old Madam doesn’t want you to come out."

At that moment, Old Madam Forrest’s panicked cries rang out from the poolside.

"Quick! Someone! Help!"

Jenson clearly heard the commotion too.

When Zinnia turned her head to look at the pool again, the man’s tall figure had already rushed over and was trying to help Old Madam Forrest.

"Grandma, what’s going on?"

"Zinnia! Zinnia drank too much and fell in... What do we do? Jenson, you... Hey, Jenson!"

Panic was written all over Old Madam Forrest’s face. She wobbled slightly, but before she could finish speaking, a dark figure flashed past her. Jenson had already leaped into the pool, plunging into the water.

Zinnia’s position was slightly elevated, giving her a clear view of the scene at the pool. She watched in disbelief.

Then she saw the dramatic old trickster, Old Madam Forrest, turn to look at her, even waving at the peeking Zinnia to signal she should hide better.

Zinnia was speechless.

Just a moment ago, the old madam had said she wanted to prove something to her, and Zinnia couldn’t figure out how she planned to do it.

Well, now she knew.

"When it comes to scheming against her own grandson, our Old Madam is in a league of her own," Granny Tilton said, holding Zinnia back, clearly enjoying the show.

Zinnia was at a loss for words. "Grandma is really..."

"Third Young Mistress, hide well! Don’t let the Third Young Master see you."

Seeing Jenson surface in the pool, Granny Tilton quickly pulled Zinnia down into a crouch.

Through a gap, Zinnia could still vaguely see the scene by the pool.

Jenson clearly hadn’t found anyone. The moment he surfaced, Old Madam Forrest pointed to the other side of the pool.

"Jenson, over there! Quick, look over there..."

"My dear Zinnia! Grandma shouldn’t have let you drink!"

"Why haven’t you found her yet? Zinnia, if anything happens to you, how could Grandma possibly go on living!"

...

It seemed Old Madam Forrest was pouring a lifetime of acting skills into this performance, wailing in despair every time Jenson broke the surface.

At first, Zinnia could only watch helplessly as the old lady created a commotion. But as she watched Jenson dive repeatedly into the water to search, her expression gradually grew quiet and complex.

It was early winter now, and the pool water was frigid.

Jenson hadn’t done any warm-ups before jumping in. He had even forgotten to take off his overcoat...

Zinnia furrowed her brow. She couldn’t watch any longer. Shaking off Granny Tilton’s hand, she strode quickly toward the pool.

"Zinnia, didn’t Grandma tell you to hide? Why did you come out... Quick, go hide again! Grandma will handle him for you!"

Old Madam Forrest was displeased to see Zinnia approach.

Zinnia took the old woman’s hand. "Grandma, I saw everything! Please, let Third Brother come up. What if he gets a cramp...?"

"Worried already? In this family, you’re the most soft-hearted one!"

Old Madam Forrest tapped Zinnia’s forehead helplessly, then turned her head and called out, "Did you hear that? See how worried your wife is about you? Hurry up and get out."

Zinnia’s back stiffened slightly. She turned to look and, sure enough, saw Jenson had swum over to their side without her noticing. He was in the water, gazing at her intently.

Their eyes met. The man braced his hands on the edge of the pool and hauled himself out of the water, like a swift beast emerging from a cold, dark abyss.

He was drenched from head to toe. Water streamed down his black hair and cheeks, while his heavy overcoat was soaked, dripping large, cold drops onto the ground.

His handsome face seemed steeped in ice, glowing with a cold, pale light, while his eyes, calm and unwavering, were fixed on Zinnia.

A chill ran down Zinnia’s spine under his stare, and she instinctively shrank her shoulders.

Old Madam Forrest raised a hand to her nose and pulled Zinnia behind her, letting out a harrumph.

"This is all your own doing! I’m sure you know full well how you ended up alienating everyone! And this was all my idea, so don’t you dare try to scare Zinnia with that glare!"

Zinnia lowered her head. "Alienating everyone" is an exaggeration, she thought. But even though it wasn’t my idea, I do feel a little guilty right now.

The man said nothing. He withdrew his gaze and strode toward the villa.

Old Madam Forrest nudged Zinnia. "Zinnia, did Grandma go too far? Why don’t you go check on him for me?"

Zinnia was left speechless.

Although she felt the old lady was being a bit unfair for making such a mess, she knew it was all for her sake.

She was also responsible, and she worried Jenson might really be pushed too far by the old lady’s games. After a moment’s hesitation, Zinnia nodded and quickly chased after him.

Jenson walked quickly. By the time Zinnia followed him into the villa, the man had already gone upstairs, leaving a wet trail behind him.

Zinnia followed him all the way to the bedroom. Hearing a noise from the bathroom, she hurried over, pushed the door open, and began to explain anxiously.

"Are you all right? That thing just now..."

She hadn’t expected to see Jenson already tossing his discarded overcoat on the floor. His thin cashmere sweater was also halfway off, revealing his firm, pale abs.

Flustered, she squeezed her eyes shut. "I’ll go out first—ah!"

Just as she turned, her arm was grabbed.

The next second, Zinnia was pulled into the bathroom by the man and pinned against the wall.

Zinnia’s back hit the cold tiled wall. Before her was the man’s equally frigid body. His large hand clamped around her waist, a deep chill seeping through her clothes and into her skin.

Her chin was lifted by two long, strong, yet ice-cold fingers.

"Was it fun?"

Water dripped from the fringe of Jenson’s hair, landing on Zinnia’s eyelids and the bridge of her nose. Zinnia didn’t dare meet the man’s cold, sharp eyes, now just inches from her own.

She blinked and instinctively started explaining.

"I didn’t do it on purpose, don’t misunderstand! It was Grandma. She somehow found out that I almost drowned at the Sutton Family’s house, and that we’re getting a divorce. She thought I was heartbroken and wanted to leave you because you saved Crystal instead of me, so she..."

As she spoke, Zinnia realized she was just shifting the blame and making her grandmother the scapegoat, so she fell silent.

She took a deep breath, finally lifting her eyes to meet his.

"I’m sorry. I apologize."

A chill still lingered in Jenson’s eyes. He didn’t release her chin.

"So, were you heartbroken?"

Zinnia pressed her lips together. How could she not have been?

To this day, the memory of being underwater was still as clear as if it had happened yesterday.

The water that day had been just as bitterly cold as this.

But Zinnia forced a slight smile.

"It’s all in the past. Anyway, I only told Grandma I wanted a divorce because I felt you didn’t care about me, only about Crystal’s safety. But Grandma is very stubborn and has this misunderstanding about you... she insisted that you still cared about me and wanted to prove it. I just didn’t expect her to prove it like this..."

Zinnia didn’t finish her sentence, because Jenson suddenly lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

The kiss was so gentle and unexpected, seemingly filled with endless tenderness.

Zinnia froze, completely stupefied.

Wasn’t he angry just a moment ago? Why, all of a sudden...

As she stared in bewilderment, she heard Jenson’s husky voice.

"Zinnia, Grandma isn’t being stubborn. And she didn’t misunderstand me."

Zinnia was dumbfounded, staring at Jenson with a wooden expression, but her fingertips trembled unconsciously, pressing against the cool wall.

What did he mean by that?

Amidst the sound of her own uncertain, racing heart, Jenson rested his forehead against hers, rubbing it gently as if letting out a soft sigh.

"Silly girl," he said. "It’s not that I don’t care. How could I possibly not care about you..."