Chapter 193
โYannis, I got it. No dating, I promise. Can we have dinner now?โ Zinnia said flatly, her expression blank. Sheโd endured Yannisโs half-hour lecture on the dangers of dating. She marveled at how convincingly heโd warned against romance, despite zero personal experience. He listed every dating disaster: ruined grades, swindled money, heartbroken sobs. He even shared a horrific story: a woman trapped in a nightmare marriage, starved by her husband, foraging for wild plants while perpetually pregnant and trailing screaming children. Later, her body became a commodityโkidneys harvested, organs ripped out. Her corpse was wrapped in a mat and tossed to wolves.
Zinnia shuddered. She had to admit, Yannisโs warnings had left quite an impressionโnot that sheโd ever considered dating before, but after his terrifying tale, she was genuinely spooked. Just the thought of dating gave her a splitting headache. โNo dating, absolutely not! If I date, Iโll lose my kidneys,โ she warned herself.
โZinnia, Iโm not banning dating,โ Yannis said. He glanced at her determined eyes. In Maisieโs words, she looked relaxed a little. โOkay, no dating,โ Zinnia vowed. He continued, โYouโre still young and could easily get tricked. What if someone really swept you away?โ It seemed sheโd really taken his words to heart. Relieved she wasnโt annoyed, Yannis cleared his throat and added, โIf someoneโฆbring him to me. If heโs decent, I wonโt stop you. But right now, your top priority is your studies. In college, youโll have great options. Letโs just forget about thoseโฆnool punks,โ he said, thinking, โHaving a girl in the family reallyโฆโ
Raising a girl was nothing like raising a boy. People worried about every little thing, always fearing some guy might lead her astray. Jackson entrusted Zinnia to him. โIf she really runs off with someone, Jackson will skin me alive. For my own safety, Iโd better keep a close eye on her,โ he thought.
โOkay,โ Zinnia replied obediently.
โAlright, letโs go,โ Yannis said warmly. โI made buffalo wings and BBQ ribs.โ
โYou made two meat dishes today!โ Zinniaโs eyes lit up with delight.
Yannis teased, โAnyone hearing you would think I starve you.โ If it werenโt for her doctorโs orders, heโd make her a whole feast.
โCome on, letโs go eat,โ Zinnia bounced up from the bed. โRibs get tough and dried out if they sit too long.โ
Outside the window, the last light of sunset filtered in after Yannisโs earlier talking had made the actual sun dip below the horizon.
โBe careful. If you fall, Iโm not catching you,โ Yannis called out with mock sternness as he quickly strode over to her bed.
โWhere are my slippers?โ Zinnia asked, looking down and not seeing them.
Yannis had carried her straight in without changing her shoes. โWait here. Iโll get them,โ he said, turning to leave. โDonโt step on the floor barefoot.โ Zinnia had been about to step down, but he caught her intention. Though her bedroom was carpeted, the living area wasnโt. With Zinniaโs frail health, walking barefoot on those chilly tiles might make her sick.
Yannis was back in seconds with her slippers. Seeing Zinnia sitting patiently on the edge of the bed, he placed them at her feet. โAlright then, Your Highness,โ he said with amusement, โyour slippers await.โ
Chapter 193
The playful tone tickled her ears, making them feel warm. โYannis, you actually keep up with the trends now?โ she exclaimed, sliding her feet into her slippers and looking at him in surprise.
โIโm not some fossilized boomer,โ Yannis said wryly. Ever since sheโd spouted some internet slang that left him completely baffled, heโd made his assistant compile a list of trending online terms; no way was he letting her pull some cryptic Gen-Z vanishing act without him catching on.
โGet yourself sorted,โ he said, heading for the door. โIโll go dish up the ribs.โ
Zinnia was still in the dress sheโd worn to the party, and it was a little wrinkled. โAlright,โ she replied.
Yannis turned and walked out of the room. He had only meant to check if Zinnia was awake, never expecting to end up staying so long.
After a full afternoonโs nap, Zinnia found herself completely refreshed. Maelis slapped her, and she slapped backโthat settled most of her anger. Not fighting back would have eaten her alive. That slap only landed because she was totally caught off guard. If Maelis had faced Zinnia head-on and had a real fight, Zinnia mightโve given her some credit. But ambushes? Stalking? Cowardice suited her.
Zinnia sighed. Maybe she and the Shaw family were just fundamentally incompatible. Sheโd disliked them from the start. Even if they lived under the same roof for a while, some things just werenโt meant to be. And she swore that, if Maelis tried to hit her again, she wouldnโt hold back.
The next day, Zinnia went to school. The moment Zinnia stepped into the classroom, Lydia rushed over, dragged her to her seat. Her eyes locked onto Zinniaโs face, a cold fury burning in them. โHow dare Maelis hit you?โ Lydia seethed.
Looking into Lydiaโs worried eyes, Zinnia said softly, โLydia, Iโm fine.โ
Lydia remained silent, her fingers gently tracing Zinniaโs cheek. Even after their video call last night confirmed the swelling had subsided, Lydia couldnโt rest easy until she saw it with her own eyes. The skin was smooth and normal now, but the memory of yesterdayโs slap made rage burn inside her.
โItโs healed and doesnโt hurt at all. Donโt worry,โ Zinnia said.
โZinnia, Iโm really sorry about yesterday,โ Ethan turned around from the front row, his voice thick with guilt.
Zinnia blinked in confusion. โHuh?โ
โIf we hadnโt invited the Shaw family, you wouldnโt have had to go through all that.โ
โItโs okay,โ she said. โMaelis has held a grudge against me for a long time. Even if she hadnโt hit me this time, sheโd have jumped at the chance later.โ
The incident occurred at the Bacon residence, so they sent apology gifts immediately. However, it was actually the Shaw family who should have made amends. A major celebration marred by such a scene; the hosts were understandably upset. But Zinnia was a benefactor to the Bacon family. Not only had she given a generous gift to the Bacon familyโs youngest great-grandson, but sheโd also helped Ethan before. So when this happened, the Bacon family felt deeply embarrassed and immediately sent her apology gifts.
โZinnia, are you really okay?โ Ethan asked cautiously, his eyes scanning her cheek.
No one had expected Maelis to go that crazy. It shocked everyone. Families might feud privately, but no one brought dirty laundry like that into such a formal and important occasion. Maelisโs behavior was beyond stupid.
โIโm fine now, really,โ Zinnia nodded reassuringly. By yesterday afternoon, most of the swelling and redness had faded. And sheโd applied some special ointment last night. Today, she was completely fine.