Lydia sat quietly at her desk, listening with a composed expression as she casually turned a page in her book. Only after Zinnia and Maisie finished chatting did Lydia look at Zinnia and say, “Class is about to start. Have you finished your homework?”

“No! Lydia, help me!” Zinnia whined, pulling out her homework and scooting her stool closer to Lydia.

A sweet, milky fragrance filled Lydia’s senses as she looked down at Zinnia. The corners of her lips curved up ever so slightly.

That afternoon after school, Maisie said to Zinnia, “Let me walk you home first, then I’ll head back to my place.”

Maisie was uneasy about letting Zinnia go home alone. She decided to walk Zinnia back first before heading home herself. She thought, ‘If the Shaw family tried to cause trouble again, they’d probably think twice with me around.’

“No need, Maisie. It’s only a ten-minute walk. Nothing’s going to happen,” Zinnia said as they walked out together.

As Zinnia and Maisie stepped out, Isaac came down the stairs and said, “Zinnia, I’ll walk you home.” After the Shaw family incident, Sofia had insisted that Isaac personally escort Zinnia home that afternoon.

Maisie called out, “Isaac.”

Isaac nodded at her and said, “Let me walk Zinnia home. The Jenkins residence is farther from here, and I don’t want you to get home too late.”

“Then let’s take turns. You walk her home today, and I’ll do it tomorrow,” Maisie suggested, glancing between Isaac and Zinnia.

Both Isaac and Maisie were uneasy about Zinnia going home alone. Their distrust of the Shaw family ran deep, especially after the recent turmoil. They felt that, given Maelis’s volatile nature, she would likely come to harass Zinnia again.

“Alright,” Isaac agreed without objection.

Zinnia found herself being thoroughly taken care of. She tried to protest, saying, “Isaac, Maisie, it’s close. Don’t worry about me.”

Isaac affectionately ruffled Zinnia’s hair and said, “Zinnia, we’d feel better walking you home. It’s just a few minutes anyway, and I live right across from you, barely ten minutes away.”

Isaac stood outside as he watched Zinnia enter the residential complex. He reminded her gently, “Zinnia, call me if anything happens.”

Isaac thought, ‘This place has top-notch security. Once inside the residential complex, it will be safe. The Shaw family couldn’t possibly get in without a resident’s permission!’

“Okay, Isaac. Be careful on your way back,” Zinnia replied sweetly from just inside the gate.

After watching Zinnia leave, Isaac approached the security booth and told the guards, “If you see anyone from the Shaw family near the complex, notify me immediately. Don’t let them get close to Zinnia. If they try to force their way in, don’t hesitate, just kick them out.”

Chapter 130

Zinnia replied: [Okay.] She knew Yannis had only just returned from abroad, and he was swamped with work. There was no way he could come home every day to cook for her.

Zinnia opened the door and froze. The place looked completely transformed. She felt a bit doubtful that she might have come to the wrong place.

She took a step back and checked the floor and the room number to make sure she hadn’t gone to the wrong floor.

Zinnia stood by the door and took in the completely transformed living room. She found the decor both familiar and unfamiliar. It looked like the place Jackson had arranged for her, yet not quite the same.

The once black-and-white space now had beige floors covered with an intricately patterned rug. The stark white sofa, once so cold and austere, had been replaced with a cozy, warm yellow one.

White floral curtains now adorned the floor-to-ceiling windows, their sheer fabric fluttering gently in the breeze from the garden.

Overhead, the formerly austere ceiling light had been swapped for a sparkling crystal chandelier, its dazzling prisms casting rainbow reflections across the room and filling the space with a vibrant glow.

As Zinnia stepped inside, she realized the transformation wasn’t limited to the living room; even the dining area looked completely different.

Gone was the simple black-and-white bar counter, with its mixology set and shelves packed with imported liquors, most of which Zinnia couldn’t even name.

Back when she lived with the Shaws, Donald had been quite the connoisseur. He’d even installed a special display case for his collection of pricey liquors. Yet even to her untrained eye, Zinnia could tell the selection at Yannis’s place seemed more premium than Donald’s.

But now all those bottles had been put away, replaced by a few small bouquets of sky-blue flowers in vases.

Some of the display cases held roly-poly dolls—just the kind of cute decorations any girl would adore. The long rectangular dining table was gone, replaced by a cozy round one.

Zinnia headed toward her room. She was surprised to find that the once plain black door had been transformed into a creamy white one, now adorned with two Mickey Mouse plushies.

Even the doorknob was wrapped in a soft, fuzzy cover, so it wouldn’t feel cold to the touch.

Seeing how dramatically the living room and dining area had changed, Zinnia thought, ‘If even these spaces look like this now, I can’t begin to imagine what my room will look like. What on earth is Yannis planning to do with it?’

Zinnia gripped the doorknob and gently pushed the door open. As the room came into view, she let out a quiet sigh of relief. She thought, ‘At least it’s not a sea of pink.’

Her gaze fell upon a beige princess-style bed, topped with a soft, milky yellow duvet that looked so plush she wanted to dive onto it and roll around.

The wide windows offered a stunning view of the endless blue sky, and by the window sat a cozy little sofa, perfect for taking it all in.

The room was fully furnished with a vanity table, a desk, and a sofa. Each piece was exquisitely crafted and adorned with delicate bouquets.

At a glance, it was obvious that this was a young girl’s sanctuary, where even the air was filled with a sweet, comforting fragrance.

There wasn’t a trace of the previous coldness. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I’d wandered back into Jackson’s place. Only stark properties given way to a warm, creamy beige.

Now, though, it radiated warmth and comfort, filled with unmistakable signs of being truly lived in.