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    55 vouchers


    The hospital wasn’t far from Cloud Harbor, but weekend traffic jammed every road. By the time they finally made it back, Zinnia drifted asleep, her head resting on Yannis‘ shoulder.


    Yannis was working on hisptop when he felt a gentle weight settle on his shoulder. His fingers paused over the keyboard and he nced down at her peaceful face.


    Yannis carefully moved theptop aside and took the half–finished orange juice from her loose grasp. Exhaustion lined her face–she frowned even in sleep. And her favorite drink was left unfinished.


    Yannis drained the cup. Too sweet, but drinkable.


    He then touched her hand. It felt a little cold. He tucked his suit jacket around her. “Turn up the heat,” he told the driver.


    A faint minty fragrance drifted to Zinnia’s nose, and the furrow between her tightly knit brows unconsciously eased a little.


    Yannis‘ long, elegant fingers lightly brushed her forehead. He murmured, “Sleep well. When you wake up, everything will be fine.”


    “The Shaw family will never get another chance to hurt you. The Shaw family and Maelis, I’ll make them pay,‘ he swore.


    Perhaps it was his promise–Zinnia’s brow smoothedpletely.


    Yannis carefully applied more ointment to her cheek. Only a faint pink mark remained where the p hadnded. But the p hadn’t justnded on her face; it had wounded everyone who cared for her.


    When they reached the garage, the driver opened their door. Zinnia was still deeply asleep. Yannis bent down and scooped her up, her small body curling into a little bundle in his arms.


    He frowned and thought, ‘She’s still so light. I really need to fatten her up.


    Zinnia stirred, her brows knitting as if about to wake. Sensing this, Yannis gently patted her back. She rxed again, unconsciously nuzzling closer against his chest.


    As they approached, the motion–sensing elevator slid open automatically. Yannis carried Zinnia inside, and then it ascended smoothly.


    In her bedroom, Yannis knelt to remove her shoes. Sunset light bathed them–him kneeling by the bed, her sleeping–in golden stillness.


    When Zinnia woke up, the setting sun outside her window painted the sky withyers of fiery clouds, filling the whole room in a warm golden glow. For a moment, she felt as if she had returned to the days in that small


    town.


    Back then, her favorite time was the summer sunset. Every evening, the afterglow painted the sky with unique beauty. Each sight was a feast for the eyes.


    20


    When the sun set, Nathan would always take little Zinnia’s hand and lead her to the herb garden. Together, they would gather herbs there. In the peaceful silence, the lingering glow of the sunset gradually faded for a moment, time seemed to melt away.


    But when her gaze fell on the shiny apricot–colored floor, she was suddenly pulled back to reality–she was to longer in that small town, and Nathan was no longer <i>by </i>her side.


    The door creaked open slightly. Zinnia looked up and saw Yannis‘ figure appear in the doorway. She dazed for a moment. The emptiness she’d felt moments ago was quietly reced by his solid presence.


    “You’re awake.” Yannis said, pushing the door fully open when he saw she was awake. “Hungry<i>? </i>I made your favorite food.”


    “Um,” Zinnia mumbled, she looked at Yannis. “How did I get back?” She remembered being <b>in </b>the car, then nothing.


    “I carried you back,” Yannis replied, a teasing smile ying on his lips.


    Zinnia’s drowsy mind jolted awake. She sat up straight, her cheeks turning crimson. “Y–you carried me back?” She was embarrassed and could feel her ears burning.


    She waspletely exhausted that afternoon, and didn’t remember when she fell asleep, let alone how she ended up being carried home.


    “You were sleeping so soundly. I couldn’t bear to wake you.” A yful smile tugging at his lips, clearly enjoying her embarrassment. He added, “I just scooped you up. Princess–style.”


    Zinnia’s cheeks burned hotter. The earlier mncholy vanished,pletely drowned out by acute shyness. Fidgeting with the bedsheet, she murmured, “Yannis, next time I fall asleep, just wake me up, okay?”


    “Nope,” Yannis grinned. “It’s such a rare chance for me to hold you in my arms. Honestly, my ego is kind of enjoying this.”


    “En–enjoy this?” Zinnia muttered.


    “I just want to hold you close,” Yannis drawled. His eyes sparkled with genuine warmth beneath the teasing. “If you weren’t asleep, I wouldn’t have this perfect chance to cuddle you.”


    Yannis watched her closely. The lost, lonely look he’d seen when he first opened the door was gone, reced by flustered energy. That was better.


    Zinnia’s ears were practically glowing. She shouldn’t have asked. Yannis was always like this–saying things that sounded like flirting, impossible to tell if he was serious or just teasing.


    “Yannis, I’m a grown–up now. You can’t be so touchy–feely with me,” Zinnia tried to sound stern.


    “But to me, you’re always a little girl,” Yannis replied with a tender smile. “I still want to hold you close in my


    lift


    you up to the stars.”


    arms<b>, </b>


    “And nt a kiss on your lips?” Zinnia blurted as the phrases always came as a package deal, then froze.


    ‘Oh my gosh, did I really just say that out loud? My tongue is running a marathon today and my brain’s <b>still </b>in bed!‘ Zinnia thought to herself and pped both hands over her mouth, eyes wide with horror.


    “Kiss?” Yannis was momentarily stunned. “Well, Zinnia, you’re still too young for that,” Yannis said.


    Then, the implications dawned on him. She was right at an age when teenage feelings started bubbling up. She was beautiful, kind, and trusting, and he’d noticed plenty of guys eyeing her at today’s party.


    rm bells suddenly went off in his mind. Forgetting all about calling her to dinner, he strode into the room, sat down at the desk. His expression turned serious.


    Zinnia looked at him, puzzled, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.


    “Zinnia,” he started, his voice low and firm, “you’re still young, and there are things you might not fully understand yet. Physical intimacy, like kissing and other such things, isn’t appropriate until you reach adulthood. <fnf9c8> Chapters first released on Find[?]ovel</fnf9c8>


    “If anyone ever tries to force you, don’t hesitate to fight back. Use whatever you can to protect yourself, and I’ll handle the fallout.”


    Yannis looked at Zinnia, his gaze intense. “Zinnia, there are plenty of smooth–talking boys out there. They always deceive girls. You’re still young and it’s easy to get confused.


    “So if you ever like someone, bring him to me first. Let me check him out for you. I won’t let anyone cheat you.”


    田


    <b>AD </b>


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