Chapter 157
Soon it would be the weekend. Maisie approached Zinnia and said, โZinnia, thereโs a street party the day after tomorrow. Want to go have fun?โ They had all made plans to hang out. โSure,โ Zinnia replied, packing her schoolbag and leaving the classroom with them.
After school, Zinnia saw Jackson. โJackson!โ she called, running towards him. Jackson smiled warmly as he approached her.
โJackson, what are you doing here?โ Zinnia asked. She hadnโt seen him in two days. After his message about handling things, sheโd heard nothing.
โNow that your exams are over, letโs get you something tasty to eat,โ Jackson said, taking her backpack and leading her to his car. Maisie wasnโt coming; she was returning to the Spence residence.
โJackson, howโs the investigation into Donald going?โ Zinnia asked as they drove, she in the passenger seat.
โIโm still looking into it. Once I have all the proof, Iโll send him where he belongs,โ Jackson said.
Jackson wasnโt lighthearted about this. Over the past two days, he'd had people secretly gathering proof of Donald's infidelityโthe more they found, the more disturbing the evidence became. Donald and his mistress had been sneaking around for years. If Maelis ever found out, it would be a shock. The Lynn family would never accept Donald after this.
Jackson reflected, โDonald was a seemingly clean-cut young man. Maelis met him while doing charity work in a small town. Who knows what charm or deception he used to win her over?โ After Maelis returned home, she sponsored Donald's college education. They fell in love, and the Lynn family, unconcerned with wealth or status, married them after graduation.
After the wedding, Donald treated Maelis well enough to satisfy her parents, who even helped him start his business. But Donald proved ungrateful. Donaldโs first love was his high school sweetheart from the small town. Theyโd even set a wedding date, but right after Maelis left, Donald abruptly called off the engagement.
Jackson continued his internal monologue: โWe thought their relationship was over, but a few years later, their affair resumed. Donald kept her as his mistress, supporting her financially. Betty, the daughter of Donaldโs mistress, was, by a strange twist of fate, switched at birth with Zinnia.โ But two girls switched at birth on the same day? Thatโs no accident. Jackson didnโt believe in coincidences.
Investigating Donald and his mistress was easy, but Jackson was delaying confrontation. His real goal was to uncover how Zinnia had been switched at birth. If either was involved, Jackson would ensure they paid. The Lynn family wouldn't let Donald get away with it either.
One thing puzzled Jackson: Zinnia was clearly Donald's daughter. He wondered, โWhy did Donald hate her, yet go out of his way to spoil Betty, his mistressโs daughter by another man?โ โIf he dislikes daughters, then Betty, not even his own child, is also a girl. Yet he spoils her and treats Zinnia so badly. Itโs truly strange,โ Jackson thought.
He couldn't help but wonder, โIf Donald dislikes Maelisโs children and prefers his mistressโs, why doesnโt he show that same dislike towards Zinniaโs brothers? Why is Zinnia the only one he hates?โ
Chapter 157
Donald was the type of man who would do anything to benefit himself. Seeing how much the Lynn family cared for Zinnia, he could at least have pretended to be a caring father to ingratiate himself. But he didn't even bother. Sofia mentioned that when she and Henry first visited Zinnia after her return to the family, Donald's dislike was already evident.
โSomething feels wrong,โ Jackson thought. But the DNA test between Zinnia and Maelis confirmed itโZinnia was Maelisโs daughter.
โZinnia, what do you think of Donald?โ Jackson asked. He wouldnโt tolerate betrayal; Donald wouldnโt get off easily.
Jackson thought, โI wonder if Zinnia still has feelings for Donald as her father. If so, I need to think carefully about how to handle him.โ
โI donโt like him,โ Zinnia said plainly. Sheโd never liked him, not from the start. There was no affection or attachment, and she couldnโt explain why.
โAlright, then I know what to do,โ Jackson said firmly. Zinniaโs feelings mattered; he could deal with Donald without holding back. Since she felt no love for Donald, he could proceed without hesitation. Once he uncovered the truth, Donald would be removed from their lives.
After dinner, as Jackson drove Zinnia back to Cloud Harbor, he asked, โZinnia, why donโt you stay with us for the weekend?โ
โJackson, Maisie wants me to spend the weekend with her,โ Zinnia said. She didnโt want to meet Maelis.
โAlright, Iโll arrange for Grandma to join us for dinner,โ Jackson said understandingly, not pushing her. โOkay,โ Zinnia agreed. Despite disliking Maelis, Sofia had always been kind to her, and she'd enjoy dinner with her.
โZinnia, if youโre going back to the Jenkins residence, tell Yannis, or heโll worry,โ Jackson said.
โOkay, I will,โ Zinnia answered.
As soon as Jackson parked, Yannis was waiting.
โYannis, youโre back!โ Zinnia exclaimed happily, running towards him.
While Jackson unloaded Zinniaโs gifts, he saw her rush to Yannis. With a teasing grin, Jackson called out, โWorried I wouldnโt bring Zinnia back, so you had to come over?โ
Before, Zinnia would wait like this to greet him when he came home from work. Jackson felt a pang of nostalgia. โLooks like you arenโt a workaholic anymore. You pick her up on time every day,โ he said.
Jackson thought, โNow I even have to tell Yannis before taking Zinnia out to eat. And Yannis sent me a long list of foods she canโt have, all meticulously planned.โ