Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Early in the morning. Yannis put away the blood collection kit as he said, “Alright, you can turn your head

back now.”

Yesterday, both Zinnia and Yannis lost their heads. So caught up in Zinnia’s bloodletting to nurture the seed, they kept adding fresh wounds over her existing injuries and completely forgot they could’ve just used the blood collection kit.

Pressing a cotton swab to her arm, Zinnia waited for Yannis‘ word before she finally turned her head to look at her arm.

Once she was sure the bleeding had stopped, she removed the swab, revealing a tiny puncture mark. A faint bruise was already forming. Only then did she lower her sleeve.

Yesterday, they were both in a muddle, and it didn’t even cross Zinnia’s mind to draw blood. If they had just drawn blood, they wouldn’t have had to worry about Nathan finding out.

“Who knows how much blood this greedy little seed will end up sucking from you?” Yannis looked at the seed in the petri dish.

Another day had passed. Yesterday, Zinnia had drawn blood for the seed twice, and early this morning, she did it again.

‘If this keeps up, her body won’t be able to take it,‘ Yannis thought anxiously. He just hoped that damn seed would sprout soon. Otherwise, he didn’t know how much longer he could stand watching her go through this.

Seeing her draw blood every day and grow paler and dizzier was killing him.

Zinnia said, “I’m not sure. It shouldn’t take much longer. It’s already softer today than it was yesterday.”

Overnight, as she looked at the seed in the petri dish, she noticed all its wrinkles had smoothed out and it had grown much bigger.

It now looked about the size of a walnut. Most of its interior had already softened.

Yesterday, it absorbed the blood pretty quickly the first time, but the second time was much slower.

By night, it still hadn’t finished absorbing. Zinnia even got up at midnight to peek at it–about a third still remained.

When she woke up this morning, Zinnia noticed blood residue still at the bottom of the petri dish.

Its absorption rate was gradually slowing down.

If this thing keeps draining me like this, I really don’t know how much longer I can last, Zinnia thought.

By the end of today, it should be fully softened. Once it softened, it should start sprouting.

But after it sprouted, no one knew what might happen.

‘Will the Florivive actually bloom?‘ Zinnia wondered.

knew for sure. Even the Yarbrough family’s notes had no

Yannis said gently after tending to Zinnia’s hand. He picked up the bowl of nourishing chicken soup that

in the small town meant doing

Yannis gently moved it out of her reach and said, “Let

you.

soup with a spoon to cool it and then carefully brought the

by myself, you know,” Zinnia said, letting her left hand hang limply at her side. She was still a bit weak from the blood draw, and seeing Yannis insist on helping,

of soup was brought to her lips, she lowered her head

consecutive blood draws, Zinnia’s hands

a playful smile, “Right now, I’m taking care

in my future–gotta treat you well, or your big brother won’t have anyone

You still have Devin, Layla, and Maisie,” Zinnia

people cared about him, honestly. Especially Devin and Layla–if Yannis just asked, they’d move heaven and earth for

might grumble about Yannis‘ icy attitude, but

sweetheart. So you’d better work hard and earn lots of money to keep me.” Yannis gently wiped the

“With

worth, how much would I even need to earn to support you?” Zinnia puffed out her cheeks, surprised

you have to take good care of yourself

it,” Zinnia replied

this little game to motivate her,

herself.

him so much. No way am I letting anything

Zinnia went downstairs to check on

such a light sleeper that even the slightest noise could wake him, so

to the third–floor home lab to check on

control, Zinnia’s thoughts

find Nathan doubled over in a coughing fit. Alarm flashed in her

knees, she began gently rubbing his

could feel every protruding bone. ‘How could he have

tightened, making it nearly impossible

like this, it felt like a knife stabbing

such a good person. He shouldn’t have to go

really… Just let it

voice, Nathan’s grip on the bedframe turned bone–white. His chest heaved rapidly, and a faint gloss of

voice was hoarse as he

was downstairs