Chapter 181

Zinnia looked up as the Lynn family arrived. Isaac jogged to her, smiling happily. "Zinnia, Grandpa and Grandma are here, too," he said, his smile widening. Isaac then turned to see Henry and Sofia approaching, with Jackson and Charlie walking on either side. Zinnia and Maisie followed Isaac as they went to greet them. Zinnia offered a warm smile.

After the paperwork was finalized and Zinnia officially became part of the family, they decided she should address Henry and Sofia as Maisie did.

"Maisie, Zinnia, you've both become even more beautiful since I last saw you," Henry said warmly.

Maisie giggled. "Grandpa, you're still as handsome as ever!"

Henry chuckled. "You're such a flatterer."

Jackson, in a well-fitting gray suit that accentuated his physique, said, "Zinnia, you look lovely today." His hair was combed back, revealing his handsome features and calm demeanor. His usually sharp eyes softened when he looked at Zinnia, a gentle smile gracing his lips. He was typically reserved in public, but with his little sister, he was a caring older brother.

"Jackson, you look really handsome today," Zinnia replied with a sweet smile.

Isaac blurted out, "Zinnia, am I not handsome? Why do you only notice Jackson? I'm right here!"

"Isaac, you're really good-looking too," Zinnia said kindly, smiling warmly.

For the baby shower, Isaac wore a blue suit. He looked confident and lively, his handsome face and energetic demeanor making him stand out. Every member of the Lynn family was special, always the center of attention. Even Zinnia, a recent addition to the family, was radiant.

Jackson said softly, a hint of sadness in his eyes, "Zinnia has really grown up." He saw her newfound confidence; her smiles were brighter and more frequent. She was no longer the shy girl he first met—once withdrawn and guarded, barely speaking or smiling. Now, she was lively and happy, her confident smile genuine. This transformation, he realized, began after she started living with Yannis. A wave of guilt washed over him. 'I've failed as her brother,' he thought.

"Jackson, what's wrong?" Zinnia asked, noticing his subdued demeanor and sad eyes.

Jackson composed himself. "It's nothing," he said, his voice deep and warm. "After lunch, can you wait for me so we can leave together?"

Zinnia nodded.

Charlie, concern evident in his kind eyes, asked Maisie, "Is your shoulder better?"

"It's all healed, Charlie," Maisie said happily, blushing. "The ointment you gave me worked wonders. I got better so quickly." To Maisie, the shoulder injury was a distant memory. The group chatted and laughed, a picture of familial happiness.

The party guests observed the scene, casting annoyed glances at the Shaws, who looked uncomfortable. The guests’ unspoken thoughts echoed: 'The Shaws, who built their fortune on the Lynns' success, can never compare to them.' The Lynns exuded love and joy, a stark contrast to the Shaws' apparent inability to discern right from wrong.

The guests whispered amongst themselves:

"The Shaws are disappointing. The Lynns immediately greeted Zinnia—unlike the Shaws, who act as if they don't even notice her. Honestly, they're not as good as the Lynns."

"The Lynns are all here, but the Shaws didn't even try to say hello. Honestly, the Shaws are ungrateful."

"The Lynns have stopped helping the Shaws. Now that the Shaws managed to get into this party, they're busy making deals and getting clients, ignoring the Lynns entirely."

"What did the Shaws do to fall out with the Lynns?"

Some guests sneered, clearly disapproving of the Shaws' behavior. After the Lynns withdrew their support, other investors followed suit. Then came shocking news: the Shaws attempted to steal confidential data from the Perkins Group, but Yannis caught them red-handed. This news sent shockwaves through the market, causing the Shaw Group's stock to plummet. People didn't realize the Shaws weren't choosing to ignore the Lynns; the Lynns were actively distancing themselves. Recently, when Maelis discovered Jackson had withdrawn the Lynn family's investment from the Shaw Group, she confronted him.

Maelis faced Jackson, her voice trembling with anger. "Why, Jackson? What are you trying to do? Are you really going this far just because of Zinnia? Do I even matter as your aunt anymore?"

Jackson sneered coldly. "Maelis, if you weren't my aunt, pulling the investment would be the least of the Shaw family's problems." He thought, 'After how they hurt Zinnia without a care, I see no reason to continue helping them.'

Furious, Maelis berated Jackson, calling him heartless and ungrateful, blaming Zinnia for her misfortune. Her outburst upset Sofia, and Henry declared, "The Lynns won't help the Shaws anymore." The Lynns had already done more than enough for Maelis; they owed her nothing.

For some time, the Lynns and the Shaws had been estranged. The Shaws watched Zinnia bask in the Lynns' affection, appearing to be the most important person there. Jealousy, regret, and bitterness simmered within them. They couldn't help but think, 'Who would have guessed she'd thrive after leaving our family?'

Maelis looked tired, but her anger toward Zinnia was palpable. Donald, who overheard the gossip, clenched his jaw in pain. He thought, 'Nothing angered me more than people claiming I built my fortune on the Lynns. After all these years, those rumors finally subsided, even if some knew the truth. And now, because of Zinnia, they're back!'

He continued his internal monologue: 'I never should have taken that little troublemaker back. She's a curse. Because of her, everything I worked for is ruined—my company's reputation, and Betty's.' 'Betty hasn't been herself lately. Since she was held captive for a few days, she barely speaks and is so thin she's almost unrecognizable.' 'Maelis is a total idiot. I told her to smooth things over with the Lynns, but she burned all bridges instead!' 'Yosef took over the company a few years ago, but his business acumen is nowhere near Jackson's. The business world is fiercely competitive, and since the Lynns withdrew their support, everyone is ready to attack my company.' 'After trying to secure an invitation for the Shaws and rushing to finalize deals before the Lynns arrived, the moment they entered, they looked down on us with sneers and scorn.' 'We used to be the center of attention everywhere, but now we're just a joke.'