Come in 19
Posted on July 07, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 19

โ€œHere, Zinnia, let me handle that.โ€ Jackson placed the peeled crab meat on a plate and slid it over to Zinnia.

โ€œThanks,โ€ Zinnia said, relieved. She hated shelling crabs. She shot him a grateful glance and took the plate.

โ€œWatch it, Zinnia. Iโ€™ll have the chef make more when youโ€™re feeling better,โ€ Jackson warned, only giving her a small amount. He remembered the doctorโ€™s advice about her sensitivity to seafood.

โ€œOkay,โ€ Zinnia nodded.

โ€œSo Jacksonโ€™s turned into a caretaker now, huh?โ€ Raymond chuckled, watching them from across the table.

โ€œSheโ€™s his sister. Of course, heโ€™s looking out for her. Zinnia, just tell Jackson if you need anything,โ€ Sofia butted in before Jackson could reply.

In Sofiaโ€™s eyes, the Shaw kids were flakes. Only Howard had checked inโ€”Yosef and Timothy couldnโ€™t be bothered. Sofia always ignored Betty, thinking she was up to no good.

"Zinnia can always come to me,โ€ Jackson said. Since the Shaws wouldnโ€™t take care of Zinnia, his family sure as hell would.

Raymond picked up on the tension and decided not to push it.


After dinner, Henry and Sofia went for a walk while it was still light out.

โ€œWait up,โ€ Zinnia called to Jackson as he headed upstairs to his study.

โ€œNeed something?โ€ Jackson stopped. He was about to dive into a big international meeting, but when he heard Zinnia calling out to him, his whole mood changed. He figured he could deal with it laterโ€“right now, he wanted to give his full attention to Zinnia.

โ€œThis is for you,โ€ Zinnia said, biting her lip as she pulled an essence oil bottle from her dress. Her fingers fidgeted with the bottle, afraid he would toss it like garbage.

โ€œDid you make it?โ€ Jackson didnโ€™t care about the plain wrapping. He snatched it like it was gold.

โ€œItโ€™sโ€ฆ for sleepless nights. Put it on the night table,โ€ Zinnia said, shocked heโ€™d taken it without hesitation.

She remembered the last essence oil sheโ€™d made for Timothy. A week later, sheโ€™d found it in the trash. It stungโ€“not her pride, but the hours of making, now buried under banana peels and takeout boxes.

Now, seeing Jackson clutch the bottle like it was a treasure, a crack in her heart started to heal.

โ€œThanks, Zinnia. Iโ€™ll keep this every night,โ€ he smiled. โ€œWith your essence oil, Iโ€™ll sleep like a baby and make us a fortune. Weโ€™ll get you fancy dresses and shiny jewelry.โ€

Jackson noticed Zinniaโ€™s eyes flicker with unease. He pressed the bottle to his chest. It didnโ€™t matter if it workedโ€“it was the first gift sheโ€™d ever made him. That made it priceless.

His work was killing him. Jackson often crashed into bed after and had to wake up at dawn, relying on sleeping pills more than

โ€œI donโ€™t want those things,โ€ Zinnia said softly, watching him cherish it. She hadnโ€™t made it for rewardsโ€“heโ€™d just been kind, and she wanted to return the favor.

He brought her to the Lynn residence, found her doctors, decorated her room, and even shelled shrimp and crab. With nothing else to give, sheโ€™d made the essence oil to help him sleep.

Zinnia had braced for rejection, disdain, or his accepting it only to toss it later.

โ€œNonsense.โ€ Jackson shook his head, feigning seriousness. โ€œWhen I brought you home, I promised to take care of you. Iโ€™ll make sure you grow up healthy and happy.โ€


Zinnia rushed back to her room. The phone rang immediatelyโ€”an unknown number. She answered right away, afraid that it was from her master. She couldnโ€™t miss a call from him.

Even though she was mad heโ€™d left without a word, Zinnia missed him deeply. She wished heโ€™d come back soonโ€“wherever he was, that was her real home.

โ€œHey! Zinnia Shaw! How dare you block me?โ€ the voice snapped. โ€œWho said you could run off? You were supposed to rest at the hospital, but look how far youโ€™ve gone.โ€

It was Howard, who used his teammateโ€™s phone to call Zinnia. Heโ€™d tried telling their parents Zinnia was sick yesterday, but Betty suddenly complained of a headache. So, they ended up running tests on Betty instead.

By the time they got downstairs after the tests, Zinniaโ€™s room was empty. Lucy said sheโ€™d been discharged.

They rushed to get Betty out too, but the paperwork dragged on. By the time they got home, Zinnia was gone. Lucy said sheโ€™d left with Jackson.

It was almost noon when they got back. They figured Zinnia was safe with Jackson, so they ate lunch before heading to the Lynn residence.

But when they got there, Zinnia wasnโ€™t around. Sofia, Henry, and Jackson had chewed them outโ€“it was humiliating. They got kicked out fast. Maelis left in tears, heartbroken.

Back home, Howard couldnโ€™t shake the image of Zinniaโ€™s pale face. He had tried calling her, but her phone was off.

Since Jackson said she was sick, Howard figured she was too weak to answer. He tried again that night, but her phone was dead.

At practice today, he tried calling again but got no answer. He seethed, โ€œThat girlโ€™s got nerve ignoring calls.โ€

A teammate noticed his mood. โ€œMaybe she blocked you?โ€

Howard stared. Heโ€™d never heard of that. He borrowed his teammateโ€™s phone and dialed Zinniaโ€“it rang. Howardโ€™s face darkened. Sheโ€™d blocked him.

โ€œStop calling. Weโ€™re done.โ€ Zinniaโ€™s voice was icy when she recognized Howard. She hung up and blocked the number.

Last night, sheโ€™d blocked every Shaw. If they didnโ€™t want her, fineโ€“she didnโ€™t want them either.

The line went dead. Howardโ€™s face darkened. Sheโ€™d blocked him again.


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