The faint scent of mint lingered around her nose, making Zinniaโs eyes fill with tears. โYannisโฆโ she whispered.
โZinnia!โ Maelis gasped in pain, struggling to sit up. Seeing the bloody scratches on her arm, her anger flared, and her voice became shrill. Even though Yannis had thrown her aside, she only dared to scream hoarsely at Zinnia, blaming her for everything.
Maelisโs cutting words pierced Zinniaโs heart, constricting her chest. She clenched her teeth and swallowed the pain. She shoved Yannis aside, revealing her slender frame. Her clear eyes burned with fury. โYou hit me first; why shouldnโt I hit you back?โ
Zinnia stood tall, her delicate frame betraying no fear. Her gaze was cold and detached as she looked at Maelis, who lay on the ground, eyes full of hatred and resentment. A faint, mocking smile tugged at Zinniaโs lips. This woman, her so-called mother, truly hated her.
โMaelis, what are you doing?โ Howard and Timothy rushed over and helped her up.
Maelis didnโt respond. Her eyes were wild, filled with twisted hatred as she glared at Zinnia. โIโm your mother. Hitting you is my right. Who dares say otherwise?โ
โIs it your right, Mrs. Shaw? And then isnโt it also my right to bankrupt the Shaw family?โ Yannisโs eyes darkened menacingly, a cold, sharp smile playing on his lips.
โHow dare you!โ Maelisโs face twisted in fury, her lips trembling.
โMom, stop it,โ Timothy and Yosef said in unison.
Yannisโs gaze turned glacial. โWho says I wouldnโt dare?โ
โYouโฆโ Maelisโs voice caught in her throat, rage twisting her features. Her eyes burned red as she stared at Yannis. โSheโs my daughter! Do you have to step in?โ
A stream of curses welled up in her throat. She knew Yannis wasnโt bluffing. True to her bullying nature, Maelis targeted the weak and always backed down from the strong.
โDonโt kid yourself, Mrs. Shaw,โ Yvette snapped. โZinnia is my daughter. Just because you claim to be her mother, you think you can discipline her? You donโt have that right.โ
Yvette walked over, poised and radiant, every step brimming with power. She looked down at Maelis, crumpled in disgrace. One shone with composure, the other drowned in defeatโthe gap between them, stark and unforgiving.
Maelis sneered, โYour daughter? Did you give birth to her? Did you raise her? And yet you dare call her your daughter? Yvette, have you no shame at all?โ
Maelis stared at Yvette with a distorted and venomous look. Her pent-up rage boiled over, and her sharp eyes seemed capable of skinning Yvette alive. Any trace of her former elegance had vanished; she looked every inch a spiteful shrew.
Yvette retorted, โShameless? Not half as shameless as you. Acting like you ever raised Zinnia. The only one you raised is that ungrateful brat Betty, and now you keep hounding Zinnia like itโs your right.โ
Yvetteโs voice was ice-cold. โDonโt you ever dare use that so-called biological debt to control Zinnia. When she was born, your familyโs negligence almost cost her life. If anything, that alone has repaid whatever you think she owes you.โ
โWe, Zinnia, owe you nothing. Itโs not her fault she was switched at birth. Bettyโs mistakes werenโt directed by Zinnia. You canโt tell right from wrong and just make a mess. Are you even fit to be Zinniaโs mother?โ
Maelisโs face turned deathly pale. Her eyes were bloodshot with fury as she raised her hand to strike Yvette.
Jackson intercepted her hand. His handsome face was tinged with frost. โEnough, Maelis. Havenโt the Shaws endured enough because of you?โ
Maelis shivered. Her eyes were bloodshot with anger. She hissed at Jackson, โJackson, Iโm your aunt.โ
โMaelis, you donโt need to be my aunt anymore. Our family has done more than enough for you,โ Jackson said coldly.
Maelis, her voice quivering with rage, shouted, โYou bastard! Do you really think youโre in charge of the Lynn family now? Henry and Sofia are still here!โ
Maelis also resented Jackson deeply. She thought, โIf he hadnโt pulled his investments from the Shaw family, would we have fallen into such a dire, besieged state?โ
Henryโs aged, stern voice cut through the crowd. โSo what if Jackson heads the Lynn family? Maelis, youโre the outsider here.โ
Everyone turned to see Henry and Sofia arriving, their expressions stern. Yosef and Donald followed, both wearing solemn looks. They were at a business reception when someone rushed in to report a commotion in the back gardenโMaelis making a scene with Zinnia. Donald cursed inwardly, โWhat an idiot.โ
โZinnia, does it hurt? Let me put some ointment on you.โ Maisie rushed to her side, her heart aching at the sight of Zinniaโs red and swollen face.
Maelis, whose anger had been simmering, slapped Zinnia hard across the face. Immediately, Zinniaโs cheeks swelled, turning red and bruisedโa horrifying sight.
Maisie barely had time to unscrew the ointment cap before Yannis snatched it from her hands.
โZinnia, this might sting a bit. Try to bear it,โ Yannis said, his expression cold, his eyes frosted with suppressed emotion. He gently applied the ointment to her face.
As the cool ointment touched her burning cheek, Zinnia winced. She had never been hurt this badly.
Seeing Zinnia frown, Yannisโs lips tightened. His fury burned white-hot. He crouched beside her and softened his voice. โZinnia, let me call a doctor, okay?โ
He kept his tone gentle, remembering how sheโd been knocked to the ground.
โNo need,โ Zinnia murmured weakly, refusing to move. She couldnโt leaveโJackson and the others had already seen the swelling.
Yannis turned to Charlie. โCharlie, check her over. She just had a bad fall.โ
Charlieโs expression grew solemn. โZinnia, where are you injured?โ
Zinnia thought, โI fell on my bottom. Thereโs no way I can say that out loud.โ Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
โShe fell and landed on her butt. Iโm not sure if her coccyx is injured. Could you quickly give her a check? Later, Iโll take her for an X-ray,โ Yannis said, his voice thick with worry.
As she walked, Yannis noticed the pained look on her brow. Since she clearly didnโt want to move, he left her alone.
โZinnia, let me take a look,โ Charlie said, gently pressing on her tailbone. โDoes it hurt?โ
Zinnia replied shyly, โItโs not hurt here.โ
Yannis gently let down her hair to hide the swelling. As more people gathered, Zinnia stole a glance at him and bit her lip, burying her injured cheek deeper into her hair. She thought, โThis is so embarrassing.โ
โIโm sorry. I should have protected you,โ Yannis murmured. His eyes were filled with emotion, veins standing out on his hand as he gripped the ointment, unable to hold back his self-reproach.
โItโs not your fault,โ Zinnia murmured, her head bowed. โNone of this was your fault. You donโt need to apologize.โ
โMom, how could you hit her so hard?โ Timothy stared at Maelis, his eyes fixed on Zinniaโs badly swollen cheek. Sofia and the others arrived and heard his words.
โWhat the hell kind of mother are you? If youโve gone mad, go get yourself treated!โ Sofia, shaky and angry, was supported by Henry. Seeing Zinniaโs swollen face, she yelled at Maelis, trembling with rage.
In her youth, Sofia was a force to be reckoned with. However, her temper had mellowed with age. Even so, Maelisโs actions enraged herโthis daughter was truly unrepentant.