All too late for his love

Zayn was furious at Willow's disrespect. His expression clouded as a storm raged within. The light in his eyes went out while he put down his utensils.

"Willow Sanford, do I disgust you?"

Willow wanted to explain that she was triggered by the nightmarish memories from the dungeon and that she wasn't disgusted by him. Alas, she was too nauseated to speak.

She had a weak stomach to begin with. She hadn't taken any food since last night, and her stomach suffered as a result.

However, she only managed to vomit out some bile mixed with strands of blood.

"Willow, answer me!" Zayn shot up from his seat, ready to teach her a good lesson, when he spotted specks of blood on the corner of her lips.

His eyes wavered in shock. "Willow, why did you cough up blood? Do you feel unwell?"

He then approached her and pulled her into a tight hug. A look of heartache flashed across his eyes as he stared at her pale face.

Earlier, she had coughed up blood when she had 'late-stage stomach cancer," which he assumed was a ruse to gain his sympathy. However, she couldn't have possibly put on an act. She spent most of the time fighting him off, and she wouldn't have had the time to stuff a blood bag into her mouth.

"Mr. Carter, please release me. I'm just feeling a little sick." Willow brought up her stomach cancer to Zayn multiple times, but he refused to believe in her. Hence, she gave up talking about it.

He did not let go of Willow. Instead, he glared at the corner of her lips, which were stained with blood.

Thankfully, she did not cough up much blood. That must have happened because of an empty and weak stomach or because she suffered a scratch in her throat or mouth.

Despite feeling sorry for her, he soon felt a surge of anger. She'd rather starve than eat the breakfast he prepared, which he took as a sign of her disgust toward him.

"Willow, you difficult woman! Eat up, now!" he demanded, nearly force-feeding her in his rage. However, he reconsidered that idea, not wanting to embarrass himself by feeding someone who found him repugnant. His pride wouldn't allow it.

In the end, he brought her a bowl of com soup. Since she did not have any trauma related to com soup and wanted to avoid any stomach issues, she finally took small sips of the soup.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

Her stomach felt much better after consuming the soup. Soon, she finished the bowl of corn soup. Still hungry, she helped herself to a second serving, which she ate slowly.

Zayn's hostility gradually dissipated as he watched her obediently drink the soup. He didn't notice the softening of his demeanor, marked by the grin on his lips.

Though he wasn't fond of sweet com soup, he made it because it was Willow's favorite. Watching her

enjoy it, he decided to get himself a bowl as well.

The corn soup didn't bother him as much today, perhaps because hen happy. He even considered was rekindling their relationship if Willow could behave like she did today.

He might have harbored longtime grudges against her, but he wouldn't mind sweeping them under the rug in exchange for moments of fleeting sweetness like this.