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

tending to Zinnia’s hand. He picked

in the small town meant doing

take the bowl when Yannis gently moved it out of her reach and said, “Let me

you.

to cool it and then carefully brought the spoon to

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

soup was brought to her

consecutive blood draws, Zinnia’s hands and

spoonful and fed it to her, saying with a playful smile, “Right now, I’m taking care of you. But if anything ever happens to me, it’ll be

future–gotta treat you well, or your big

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

act for a second. So many people cared about him, honestly. Especially Devin and Layla–if Yannis just asked, they’d move

Sure, Maisie might

rely on you, Zinnia. I still remember you promised to support me, sweetheart. So you’d better work hard and earn lots of money to keep me.” Yannis gently wiped the soup from the

“With

even need to earn to support you?” Zinnia puffed out her cheeks,

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

Zinnia replied with

was doing–using this little game to motivate her, to make sure she took care

herself.

owe him so much. No way am I letting anything happen

went downstairs to check

become such a light sleeper that even the slightest noise could wake him, so she didn’t dare check on

she had to go to the third–floor home lab to check on the seed

control, Zinnia’s thoughts immediately

rushed in to find Nathan doubled over in a coughing fit. Alarm flashed in her eyes as she hurried to

she began gently rubbing his

feel every protruding bone. ‘How could he have become this gaunt in

throat tightened, making it nearly

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

person. He shouldn’t have to go through this. He just doesn’t deserve this,‘

“It’s fine, really… Just

turned bone–white. His chest heaved rapidly, and a faint gloss

hoarse as

in the room; he was downstairs in the living room, doing