Chapter 939: How much of it was a lie?

"So this is my tree... it’s short, but it lasted longer than the others I planted." Finn grinned, casting Nina a knowing, slightly proud smile. "It’s nurtured for survival... and it survived."

Nina chuckled, squeezing his hand gently. "It’s cute."

"Is it?"

"Mhm." This time, Nina gazed at the tree with a smile.

Just moments ago, she had been roaming the greenhouse with a heavy heart, longing for him. Even with Cassandra, she had felt tense. But with Finn around, even though this was the second time she was walking around and being shown the same place, the feeling was different.

It felt like an entirely new experience.

"I like it," she said, glancing back at him.

Finn flashed her a subtle smile before looking back at the tree. "I don’t like it, to be honest."

"Because it’s short?"

"Because it was nurtured to survive, not just to live, to flourish at its peak, and then rest to give space for other things to take its spot." He shrugged and then grinned, facing her again. "The next time I plant something, it’ll be the biggest in our home."

Nina’s heart softened, and it showed on her face as she nodded. "Let’s go back to the hospital. I’m sure your doctors are panicking because a patient is missing."

"Don’t worry about that," he reassured her, laughing. "Cassandra helped me with it."

"..." Nina pressed her lips together and raised an eyebrow.

Noticing the reaction on her face, Finn cleared his throat and spoke again before she could ask. "I called her because I want to tell her something important."

"You should have called me first," she blurted out, only to bite her tongue as soon as she realized what she had just said.

"I know," he chuckled helplessly. "But... I have to tell her something because I know... I won’t be able to help her in the future."

To be precise, the moment Finn woke up, he had already decided. Jonathan was smart to make his way into Cassandra’s life first, before appearing in Nina’s. And if there was someone Finn had to protect, it was his heart—it was Nina.

The least he could do was warn Cassandra, knowing she was smart and powerful enough to protect herself. Nina was also smart and resilient, but he wanted to shield her from anything.

"I’m sorry if that gives the wrong idea."

"Who said it’s giving the wrong idea?" she returned. "It’s not like I’m the jealous type."

Finn raised an eyebrow, watching her pout as she looked away. His eyes softened as he chuckled, pulling her hand closer to him.

"Don’t be jealous," he said, tilting his head, his eyes on her. "I should delete her number if that’s what you want."

"I said I’m not jealous!" she huffed. "And I’m not toxic. I know her, and I’m sure she’s not like that at all."

But even with that, Finn’s lips curled into a playful smile. Seeing his expression, despite his slightly exhausted face, Nina pouted a little.

"Fine," she gave in, sliding her eyes to the side. "That made me a little jealous. Why would you call someone else before me?"

Slowly, Finn pulled her into his embrace to coax her. "I’m sorry. It won’t happen again."

"It better not." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Or I’ll be very angry."

"I promise."

"Tsk." Nina lightly punched his chest. "Let’s go back to the hospital. Even if Cassandra managed to get you out there using her license, you’re not physically fit to roam around like this. Goodness. I can’t believe she agreed to take you out."

"If you’re going to scold her, you should scold your brother as well."

"Huh?"

His smile stretched as he wiggled his brows. "Yugi helped me."

"Yugi...?"

"Apparently, he’s been keeping tabs," Finn said. "Let’s go? He’s waiting for us in the parking lot, I think. He’s not going to roam around because his sister is here."

"..." Nina blinked, a bit surprised that Yugi’s name had come up. She knew Yugi was a busy man, as he was Penny’s righthand in the Prime Group operations. Yugi’s position in Penny’s company was just as significant as Penny’s. Hence, she hadn’t expected that Yugi had been keeping tabs on Finn’s situation.

She didn’t dwell on it, though.

Nina smiled and nodded. "I’ll just get my things and change. I’m still in uniform."

"Hmm... now that you mention it..." Finn glanced down at her clothes and then back at her face. "You should’ve been our school bell."

"Oh, God, please." Nina shook her head as he laughed. "Wait for me here... or let’s just meet in the parking lot."

"I’ll wait for you here. The parking lot is near, so I’ll wait."

"Okay."

Having said that, Nina released his hand and turned away. As she walked a little distance from him, she stopped when he called her again.

"Yes?" She looked back, tilting her head slightly.

Finn just smiled and faintly huffed. "Come back."

"Of course. Where would I go?" she quipped before continuing her walk.

Meanwhile, Finn stood in the same spot, keeping his eyes on her. The smile on his face faded slightly as another sigh escaped his nostrils. When Nina was out of sight, he slowly turned his head toward the short tree not far away.

He gazed at it for a while and smiled. "My favorite thing about this greenhouse is that it has only one known entrance, but there are a few exits and doors. Above all, because of the glass walls, it’s easy to spot someone’s reflection," he spoke aloud, his eyes still on the tree. "I didn’t know you were the type to eavesdrop on a couple’s private time."

Slowly, Finn turned his head and quickly spotted Jonathan standing in the corner. The latter smiled at him, his eyes squinting.

"It was a sweet interaction. I’m a bit astounded that someone like you is capable of shedding tears," Jonathan teased. "Even if it’s fake, I knew you were incapable of shedding tears, which makes me wonder... how much of what you told her was the truth, and how much of it was a lie?"