Chapter 105
Zinnia gave Yannis a puzzled look, wondering why he was covering her ears.
But with that gesture, the world around Zinnia seemed to fade, and his words became barely audible. Her gaze was drawn to Yannisโs lips instead. She couldnโt make out any of the words. She could only see him talking animatedly.
Faced with Yannisโs relentless accusations, Howard felt completely choked up, as if his throat had turned to stone. He just couldnโt get a single word out.
Yannis glared at Howard and said, โIf you canโt even take care of people properly, then just mind your own business. Donโt use your self-righteous attempts at making amends to trouble others, just because you canโt live with your own guilt over what youโve done. Your so-called apologies areโฆโ
โYouโre only trying to ease your own conscience, never once considering if your actions are just a nuisance to Zinnia."
โRight now, itโs nothing but a fleeting sense of guilt. Youโve never truly accepted her. Only when one sister got hurt did you suddenly remember you had another."
โIf Betty hadnโt gotten into trouble, would you have even noticed Zinnia? If you really want to make amends, clear your mind first and think it through before you come back."
โDonโt dump your guilt on her and make her feel even worse."
โYou think a few half-hearted apologies can heal a heart thatโs been wronged over and over?"
โNot a shred of sincerity. Are you serious?"
โYou canโt even clean up your own mess, yet you want to drag someone else into it. How dare you,โ Yannis said.
Yannis hadnโt known exactly what Zinnia had endured in the Shaw family, but todayโs investigation ignited an inexplicable rage within him. No wonder Jackson was so furious and refused to ever send Zinnia back there.
In the end, Zinnia never found out exactly what Yannis had said. All she saw was Howardโs face turning deathly pale as he staggered away.
โHe looked completely shattered,โ Zinnia thought to herself.
โYannis, can you let go now?โ Zinnia tapped lightly on the back of his hand.
Only then did Yannis realize his hand was still covering her ears, his palm growing strangely warm. He quickly withdrew his hand, hiding it behind his back, his fingers unconsciously rubbing together.
โThis girl is delicate in every wayโher skin unbelievably soft,โ he thought, flustered. โEven now, I can still feel that silken sensation lingering in my palm. Is it just the heat, or am I actually sweating?โ
The Shaw familyโs actions were truly infuriating, so Yannis ended up saying more than he intended.
โWhat did you say to him? He looked completely shattered,โ Zinnia said. After all, sheโd been raised by her Master since she was little. He took care of everything for her, from washing her face to brushing her hair and dressing her. She was curious about what Yannis had said to Howard. โHe was going on and onโmustโve used all kinds of fancy words,โ she thought. Too bad my ears were covered. I couldnโt even learn from it!
โIโm a good student who loves to learn,โ Zinnia thought to herself.
โDonโt pick up all that weird slang from Maisie,โ Yannis teased. โWhatโs with saying someoneโs โshattered!โ That just means heโs hurt emotionally."
Hearing her choice of words, Yannis immediately knew sheโd picked it up from Maisie. Zinnia only ever uses a handful of phrasesโsomething like โshatteredโ definitely isnโt one of hers.
โNope,โ Zinnia mumbled, her eyes darting away, unable to meet his gaze.
โYou look guilty. Come on, letโs go home for dinner,โ Yannis said with a chuckle, gently patting Zinniaโs head as he took her backpack. They walked toward the residential area together.
Heโd been so busy lately that by the time he got home, Zinnia was already asleep. It had been ages since theyโd shared a meal.
โI can just order takeout myself,โ Zinnia said as Yannis led her into the elevator to the 19th floor. Sheโd already learned how to order food delivery. Maybe sheโd even treat herself to a cup of orange juice.
โTakeout isnโt healthy. Youโre still a child."
โShe must not have been properly nourished as a child. Otherwise, how could she be light enough for me to lift with just one hand?โ Yannis thought to himself.
โIโm not going to get any taller,โ Zinnia mumbled, tilting her head up to compare their heights. He must be close to 6 feet 3 inches. She sighed inwardly, โCompared to him, I wouldnโt ever be that tall.โ Honestly, it was already a miracle sheโd grown this much, only thanks to a whole mountain of healthy food Master gave her. She was nearly stillborn. If it werenโt for Masterโs medical skills, she wouldnโt even be here.
Yannis retorted with a grin, โWho says? With proper care, youโll still grow taller. Youโre so tiny now, anyone could just pick you up and walk off with you. Walk next to me and people might think youโre my kid.โ
Zinnia retorted playfully, โYouโre not that much older than me. You couldnโt possibly be my father.โ Thereโs only a six-year gap between them. When he was six, he was still in elementary school. There was absolutely no way he could have fathered Zinnia.
โJackson entrusted you to me, and if he comes back and sees youโve lost weight, heโs definitely going to give me a hard time."
โYou canโt cook, so Iโll find you a good delivery place. Just order whatever you want each day and theyโll bring it to you,โ Yannis said, gently patting her head. Heโd already checked with Jackson. Zinnia didnโt want a housekeeper around and wasnโt comfortable with strangers at home. Yannis didnโt like having unfamiliar people in his place either. But lately, heโd been so busy that he couldnโt promise to come back and cook for her every day. Arranging a delivery service would at least make sure she ate something healthy. That tiny frame of hers was already too thin. If she kept eating junk food, sheโd only get skinnier.
โThis is the time when her studies are most demanding. I can cut corners on other things, but never on her health,โ he thought.
โTakeoutโs really convenient,โ Zinnia said, not wanting to trouble him. โAnd itโs more budget-friendly too."
โItโs just as convenient for them to deliver meals to you. Come on, letโs go to my place first,โ Yannis said. The elevator had arrived, and he waited for Zinnia to step out before following her.
Yannis didnโt rush to open the door. Instead, he tapped twice on the digital lock and said, โZinnia, come here and register your fingerprint scanner.โ
Zinnia had thought he was just making small talk before, but now she realized he was completely serious about it.
After some consideration, Zinnia said seriously, โNo need.โ She really didnโt think sheโd ever have a reason to visit his place.
Yannis put on a wounded look and said, โZinnia, youโre breaking my heart saying that. Donโt you see me as family? Iโve always treated you as my own little sister.โ He let out a dramatic sigh. โIโm all alone in this worldโif anything ever happens to me, thereโll be no one to help me."
Yannisโs voice softened, his long, beautiful lashes lowering to cast a shadow over his eyelids. Zinnia thought, โHe suddenly looks so down.โ
Zinnia hadnโt expected Yannis to suddenly look so wounded. Every time sheโd seen him before, he was always smilingโeven yesterday when he was angry, he never showed the slightest hint of vulnerability. But now, he was pouting pitifully, saying he was all alone in the world, and a tiny pang of guilt stirred in Zinniaโs heart.