Chapter 208
The holiday flew by, and before she knew it, Zinnia was down to her last day off. Apart from occasionally visiting Lydia to check on Bonnie's condition, she rarely went out during the day. Perhaps something about what happened with Nathan affected her—Zinnia, who’d never cared much about her grades before, suddenly started working hard. She even asked Yannis to help her find a tutor.
It wasn’t until Sofia’s seventy-second birthday that Zinnia finally stopped studying. The Lynn family reserved a restaurant to celebrate, and Zinnia was heading out to join them for dinner.
As Zinnia stepped out of the residential area, Yannis called, “Zinnia, do you want me to come get you?”
“No need, Yannis. The restaurant isn’t far—I’ll just grab a ride,” Zinnia said, booking a car on her phone.
“Alright then, be safe on the way. Call me when you arrive and I’ll have someone meet you,” Yannis said. He was still at the office, swamped with work, and would be heading over later.
“Okay,” Zinnia hung up as her ride pulled up. She got in, knowing Yannis would be arriving soon.
Sofia kept her birthday celebration low-key. At her age, she preferred not to make a big fuss, so the Lynn family gathered for a lively, cozy meal. Since Zinnia had been staying with Yannis lately, Sofia invited him as well.
The car ride took about twenty minutes. Zinnia arrived at the restaurant, where Jackson had reserved a private dining area on the top floor. As she stepped out of the car, she heard a familiar voice.
“My mom’s up there. What gives you the right to stop me?” Maelis’s furious voice rang through the lobby.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we haven’t received authorization for your access,” the receptionist replied politely but firmly. “I’m afraid you cannot go upstairs.”
Spotting Maelis, Zinnia paused. She felt unlucky to run into her again. Zinnia was carrying Sofia’s carefully prepared gift.
“Zinnia, have you arrived? I’ll send someone down to meet you,” Jackson’s voice came through the phone.
“Well, I’m here, Jackson,” Zinnia replied softly. Ever since Maelis slapped her while she was wearing headphones, she’d stopped wearing them. She was about to hang up when—
“Zinnia!” Maelis’s shrill voice pierced through, just as the call ended, reaching Jackson’s ears. His heart skipped a beat. Having just left the office, he immediately called Isaac, who was already at the restaurant.
Though Maelis’s shrill voice cut through the air, Zinnia remained composed, her brows merely furrowed. She studied Maelis; though they’d only been apart for a few days, Maelis seemed to have aged a decade.
Gone was her usual graceful elegance; her hair, once meticulously styled, now hung in a careless ponytail. Her face was pallid, but her eyes burned with unmistakable hatred—a venomous glare that seemed ready to devour Zinnia whole. Perhaps the consequences of that last slap still haunted Maelis. This time, she dug her nails into her palms, forcing down her hatred, suppressing the urge to slap Zinnia.
In stark contrast to Maelis’s haggard appearance, Zinnia exuded an ethereal grace. She wore an off-white sheath dress with embroidery, her hair smoothly braided and coiled at the back. Since the holiday, the temperature had dropped, so she wore a cream-colored shawl, cradling a long wooden box. Her eyes were clear and luminous, her demeanor soft and gentle, highlighting her beauty.
Chapter 209
The dress was a gift from Yvette. As a true enthusiast, whenever she placed a new order, she’d have the tailor make one for Zinnia and Maisie as well.
Living with Yannis had done wonders for Zinnia—her complexion glowed with health, making her radiantly beautiful. The contrast was undeniable compared to how drab and invisible she'd once been to the Shaw family.
Maelis never imagined Zinnia would blossom into such a dazzling figure. She’d always known Zinnia was pretty, but she’d barely paid her any attention—until now, when Zinnia was cherished by so many.
“Take me upstairs,” Maelis commanded, her face twisted in humiliation as she glared at Zinnia. Seething with rage, she couldn’t believe the Lynns had cut her off so ruthlessly—severing all ties and withdrawing their financial support without a second thought.
The Shaw family was instantly plunged into chaos. Then Yannis struck, and even the overseas MZ Group inexplicably targeted them. Other families quickly piled on, kicking them while they were down.
The Shaw family teetered on the brink of bankruptcy. Without the Lynn family’s support, they finally understood true hardship. Their fortunes were in freefall.
Few elite families would acknowledge them, let alone offer assistance. They considered it a mercy if people didn’t scorn them outright.
Yosef seemed to have aged years overnight—unable to handle the company pressure. He spent his days drowning himself in alcohol.
As for her husband, all his former tenderness had vanished; he lashed out at her every time he came home from work, like a stranger consumed by rage.
What shocked Maelis most was that after their last visit to the Bacon family, he’d even slapped her. She was utterly stunned, unable to believe how much her world had changed.
Ever since the Shaw family’s downfall, she’d been disowned by the Lynns. Instead of comfort, she found only scorn, blame, and angry rebukes—forced to grovel before Henry and the others for forgiveness.
From the moment disaster struck, Donald hadn’t spared her a single kind glance. All the beauty in her life felt like a dream—one that shattered the moment Zinnia walked away.
All three of her sons had turned away from her. Howard grew distant because of Zinnia, Timothy because of his marriage, and Yosef drowned himself in alcohol, too preoccupied to care.
Even Betty, once so attentive, was always out these days—her caring nature vanished. When Maelis tried to talk to her, hoping for comfort, Betty grew impatient, her eyes cold and unfamiliar.
Problems kept piling up—the relentless blows left Maelis overwhelmed. She lacked the time or energy to care for herself.
In her mind, it was all the Lynn family and Zinnia’s fault. She’d considered apologizing to the Lynns, but couldn’t even reach their front gate—everyone, especially Henry, refused to see her.
After learning Sofia’s birthday party was here, she came to ask—did they really have to be so heartless? She thought, ‘I only gave Zinnia one little slap; she wasn’t seriously hurt.’ She didn’t understand their harsh treatment. Zinnia slapped her back, anyway.
But when she arrived, she couldn’t get upstairs. She’d made a scene at the reception desk—until she spotted Zinnia. She saw her chance, ‘Maybe she could ask Zinnia to get upstairs.’
Zinnia shot her a cold look and said, “On what grounds? You’ve got some nerve, Mrs. Shaw.”