Chapter 269
Rummaging through her bag, Zinnia replied, “Yes. I have the panacea with me. It I can counteract any poison.”
Ever since Zinnia was drugged in Yannis’s office that time, she had started carrying panacea pills with her wherever she went, just in case it ever happened again.
Over a decade ago, mind eroding powder was nearly impossible to remove, but Zinnia’s master had developed an antidote for it.
Zinnia said, “Lydia, once Ms. Hollis takes the pill, she will forget everything from her past.”
Zinnia had to explain the side effects before Bonnie took the panacea.
“There’s nothing worth remembering. Maybe it’s better forgotten,” Lydia said, glancing at Bonnie on the hospital bed.
Lydia thought, ‘What happened before shouldn’t be remembered anyway. Even after Mom lost her mind all these years, she would still think of that man. Maybe it’s truly for the best that she can finally forget.‘
Zinnia took out a small bottle, tapped out a pill, and handed it to Lydia. Zinnia said, “You can give this to Ms. Hollis.”
She explained, “Once Ms. Hollis takes it, the poison in her body will gradually be neutralized and should be cleared within three to five days.
“But her mental recovery will be slower. After all, she has suffered mental deterioration for over a decade. It will take a long time for her to fully recover.
“During this period, she’ll behave like a child and need to be taught everything again,” Zinnia added.
Zinnia hadn’t expected to find Bonnie poisoned when she arrived.
But poisoning was easier to handle than mental illness. At least she had an antidote for that. If it really were a mental disorder, she would have to figure
out how to treat it.
Lydia took the pill, walked over to the bedside, and bent down gently.
Bonnie was still clutching the rag doll tightly. She murmured, “Don’t cry. Mommy will take good care of you.
“Lydia, Lydia, my dear daughter.”
“Mom, I have some candy. Let’s have one, okay?” Lydia coaxed, while her heart was aching.
“Candy. I want candy,” Bonnie murmured childishly and opened her mouth.
“Here. Let me feed you.” Lydia placed the pill in Bonnie’s mouth.
Having taken bitter medicine for years, Bonnie had grown to dislike it and much preferred sweets. Once she got candy, she would be more obedient.
As the bitter taste of the pill spread through her mouth, Bonnie instinctively opened her mouth and wanted to spit it out.
“Mom, this is candy. Once you swallow it, it’ll be sweet.” Lydia held Bonnie’s mouth shut.
She added, “If you take the medicine, you’ll get better, and then we can go home.”
But Bonnie stubbornly refused to swallow it. She struggled violently, kicked Lydia with all her might, and flailed her arms wildly at her.
Lydia made a struggling sound.
“Lydia.” Zinnia rushed forward to help, grabbed Bonnie’s flailing arms, and pinned them down.
Bonnie saw Lydia still covering her mouth. With her hands pinned down, she sank her teeth deep into the back of Lydia’s hand in desperation. Veins
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Chapter 269
stood out, and blood immediately welled up from where Bonnie bit..
“It’s okay,” Lydia said. Though the pain was sharp, her expression remained unchanged.
She gently raised her hand and tilted Bonnie’s head back. With a convulsive swallow, Bonnie finally forced the pill down.
After that, Zinnia firmly pinched Bonnie’s cheeks, forcing her mouth open and finally freeing Lydia’s hand.
Blood continued to seep from the deep bite wound on Lydia’s hand.
After swallowing the pill, Bonnie clutched the rag doll tightly to her chest. Her eyes were red–rimmed from distress, and tears fell one by one.
The sight was truly heartbreaking.
“Don’t be afraid. Mommy will keep you safe.” Bonnie clutched the doll tighter to her chest and whispered between sobs.
Zinnia pressed her lips together, and her heart ached as she watched Bonnie. Zinnia thought, ‘Even after she lost her mind, her instinct to protect her child remains unbroken.‘
AD
