Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 352

In the middle of the night, Zinnia woke up parched. She had left her room earlier to get some water, but never got around to drinking it.

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She opened the door and walked toward the kitchen island. Just as she finished pouring a glass of water and turned around, she suddenly spotted a figure by the floor–to–ceiling window. Her drowsiness vanished instantly.

Setting down her cup, she hurried over, calling softly, “Yannis?”

Sure enough, the figure by the window was Yannis. Huddled in the corner, he stared blankly out the window, his usually sharp eyes now so dark that not a glimmer of light remained. He neither spoke nor moved.

Zinnia crouched beside him, calling softly, “Yannis?”

Yannis showed no reaction whatsoever, his gaze unfocused as he stared blankly out the window.

Zinnia followed his gaze out the window but didn’t see anything unusual, just ordinary lights. She called again, “Yannis?”

Zinnia grew worried about his condition. Afraid the alcohol might be making him unwell, she gently reached out to feel his forehead, then his cheek. The sobering soup worked. His skin felt cooler now, and the feverish heat had faded.

Perhaps Zinnia’s touch had roused him slightly, as broken, barely audible murmurs escaped his lips: “Don’t leave me. Please, don’t leave me.”

Yannis’s forehead rested against the cold glass window, with city lights outside casting shifting patterns across his face. A corner of the sheer curtain fluttered, scattering mottled shadows.

His hair hung limply over his brow, adding an unguarded vulnerability to him. If one looked closely, his whole body was trembling slightly.

Zinnia’s heart clenched at the sight. She had never seen Yannis look so broken, as if abandoned by the whole world. “Yannis,” she murmured, alarmed by his condition. She reached out and held his hand, his knuckles white from gripping too hard.

As soon as Zinnia touched his hand, a sudden force pulled her into a tight embrace. A faint whiff of alcohol lingered around her. Zinnia froze, too stunned to react.

Yannis rested his head on Zinnia’s shoulder, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, like a wounded lion cub seeking comfort and protection.

then slowly wrapped her arms around

go, take me instead. I’m begging

so dependent and vulnerable pained Zinnia. An inexplicable tightness settled in her chest. She thought,

11:28 Tue, Sep 30

Chapter 352

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his lips. Yet now, out of his mind, he pleaded. Zinnia could sense the profound anguish laced

Yannis was at his most vulnerable now; she mustn’t trigger him, or his psychological

back, she coaxed him softly, “I’m not leaving. I

of his eye, landing hot against her neck, while an aura of anguish and desolation radiated from his entire

couldn’t quite place. She lowered her head to look

his ever–present smile, he is hiding a profound suffering no one else could see.‘ Suddenly, she recalled what Sofia had told her

heart ached with belated sympathy for him. “I

at comforting others, so she tried to recall how she’d seen

when Zinnia and Maisie were walking around the school track, they saw a boy

her hair. Zinnia didn’t catch what

I’d heard what that boy said back then; then

taken effect; Yannis fell silent. He simply held her, saying nothing, making no

back to your

were going numb from crouching. Now that Yannis had

night, and the living room is getting chilly. If we stay

saying he’d put Yannis to bed and told her not to worry. But when she came out, she found

remained silent. Zinnia tried to pry his arms from around her waist, but after struggling for what felt like ages, his grip was ironclad. She couldn’t budge him an inch. Zinnia

crouching, Yannis suddenly straightened his legs. Caught off guard, Zinnia lurched forward, and in an instant, she found herself sitting squarely in his

11:28 Tue, Sep 30

Chapter 352