"Hudson, what are you zoning out for? Think of something!" Zion interrupted my thoughts.


    I nced at Sylvia''s number on my phone and sighed.


    When he saw this, Zion rolled his eyes. "I haven''t even started sighing, so why are you sighing?"


    He rubbed his brow, looking visibly troubled and upset by Sylvia''s sudden arrival.


    "I don''t know why your girlfriend came to Adenville. Whether she''s here to see you or just to have fun, one thing''s for sure. Selena can''t know she''s here, and she absolutely cannot find out about this girlfriend of yours."


    He scratched his head, rolling his eyes again. "If Selena finds out, it would be a miracle if she didn''t get mad."


    Of course, I knew that. It was why I called Zion here in the first ce.


    After all, two heads are better than one, right?


    Zion stood up and started pacing, as if trying to work off his frustration. Then, he turned back to me and asked, "So, how long is your girlfriend nning to stay? When will she be leaving?"


    "I don''t know," I answered hopelessly.


    Since arriving in Adenville, and under Zion''s watch, I didn''t get many chances to speak to Sylvia. I had no idea what she had been going throughtely or what she was thinking.


    She didn''t discuss it with me beforeing to Adenville. Her unannounced appearance hadpletely thrown me off.


    When he heard this, Zion''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Hudson, be honest with me. Did you really have no clue she wasing?"


    Though I didn''t want to admit it, all I could do was nod.


    Zion let out a coldugh. "Your girlfriend is fun. She sure loves surprises but clearly doesn''t care if she drags you down with them."


    As much as I wanted to retort, it was true that her unexpected visit was indeed causing problems. I couldn''t think of anything to say to defend myself.


    I nced over at the room where Sylvia was staying, feeling a wave of frustration. For now, I could keep things under her radar, but if she nned on staying for a week or two, I was at a loss for how to handle it.


    Zion turned back to me. "So, what are you going to do? Can you tell her to go home?"


    "Are you serious, Zion? She just got here, and you''re suggesting I send her back? What do you think she''ll think of me if I do that?"


    "What would she think of you?"


    He gave a mocking smile. Then, he stepped closer and ced a hand on my shoulder. "How about this, I''ll introduce you to someone younger and prettier. You can just break things off with this one."


    It triggered me and I shoved him away. "If I break up with my girlfriend, then I''ll leave Adenville, and I won''t be around to help with Selena''s treatment."


    Hearing this, Zion''s smug look faded. He pursed his lips and scoffed. "What''s so special about this girlfriend of yours that makes her worth all this trouble?"


    I turned to him with a cold smile. "Then let me ask you, what''s so special about Selena that makes her worth all this trouble for you?"


    A few months ago, Zion was full of confidence. Even as Selena''s assistant, he had approached everything with a bright and upbeat attitude.


    Now, though, it was visibly different. He looked exhausted all the time. Though he was in his 20s, he looked as tired as someone in their 30s, like me.