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.

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

to Zinnia’s hand. He picked

the small town meant

take the bowl when Yannis gently

you.

spoon to cool it and then carefully brought the spoon to her

Zinnia said, letting her left hand hang limply at her side. She was still a bit weak from the blood

brought to her lips, she lowered

blood draws, Zinnia’s hands and feet grew

now, I’m taking care of you. But if anything ever happens to me, it’ll be your turn to

or your big brother won’t have anyone to rely

have Devin,

wasn’t falling for his act for a second. So many people cared about him, honestly. Especially Devin and Layla–if Yannis just asked, they’d move heaven and earth for

that was not enough, there was always Maisie. Sure, Maisie might grumble about Yannis‘ icy attitude, but

So you’d better work hard

“With

to support you?” Zinnia puffed out her cheeks, surprised

curved into a gentle smile. “So, Zinnia, you have to take good

it,” Zinnia replied with

doing–using this little game to motivate her,

herself.

so much. No way

breakfast, Zinnia went downstairs to check on

woke up that morning, Nathan was still asleep. Recently, he had become such a light sleeper that even the slightest noise could wake him, so she didn’t dare check on

third–floor home lab to check on

temporarily under control, Zinnia’s thoughts

in to find Nathan doubled over in a coughing fit. Alarm

she began gently rubbing his

‘How could he have become this

tightened, making

saw Nathan like this, it felt like a knife stabbing at

He shouldn’t have to go through this. He just

said while coughing, “It’s fine, really… Just

turned bone–white. His chest

was hoarse as he reassured

downstairs in