Chapter 21

Noises drifted upstairs. Zinnia peeked down and froze—Maelis, Betty, and Howard were there. Without a word, she turned and headed straight to her room, refusing to talk.

“Zinnia, you’re up!” Betty called when she spotted Zinnia on the landing. The living room fell silent.

“Zinnia!” Maelis said, pausing mid-chat with Sofia. She looked up, excited. “Zinnia!” She jumped up, voice trembling.

It’d been two days. Maelis wanted to know if Zinnia was feeling okay. Maelis’s mind raced—how was she sleeping? Was her room cozy enough?

Zinnia froze halfway down the stairs. She stared at Maelis’s eager face, expression blank, and said nothing.

“Zinnia,” Sofia sighed, seeing Zinnia’s icy glare. The rift was real—Maelis had pushed Zinnia away, and mending it wouldn’t be easy.

Sofia glanced at Betty, sitting calmly beside Maelis. Her face was unreadable.

Noticing Sofia’s look, Betty smiled politely, as perfect as ever. Zinnia looked away. Zinnia couldn’t match Betty’s guile. Even with her practiced swings, Betty was too sly. But Maelis was clueless, always siding with Betty.

Sofia didn’t want to imagine the fallout if Maelis ever saw the truth and Zinnia cut her off completely. She wanted to warn Maelis, but Maelis’s mixed signals—praising Zinnia yet sticking with Betty—gave her a headache.

“Zinnia! Mom’s calling. Get down here,” Howard suddenly shouted, standing up.

“Howard!” Sofia frowned. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

“Grandma…” Howard trailed off.

Zinnia came downstairs. “Grandma,” she said flatly, eyes cold as she scanned the others, then ignored them entirely.

“Come sit by me, Zinnia,” Sofia said, tapping the cushion next to her.

Zinnia sat right down. She only came downstairs because Sofia called her.

“Zinnia…” Maelis watched Zinnia walk by without a look. She felt her throat tighten. They hadn’t talked much since that day.

“Did you sleep okay?” Sofia asked, holding Zinnia’s hand and avoiding Maelis’s sad eyes.

“Yeah,” Zinnia said, her voice soft—way different from how she talked to the Shaws.

“Good sleep’s important. I just want you to eat, rest, and be happy,” Sofia said, her eyes all loving.

Nearby, Betty’s hands balled into fists, staring at Zinnia’s fancy new dress. ‘Why?’ she thought bitterly. ‘After all these years trying to impress that old lady, she still ignores me. Told me to stay away from here! If it weren’t for Mom, I wouldn’t even see her. Why does she dote on Zinnia after just a few meetings?’ Betty felt extremely jealous.

She couldn’t get why Sofia hated her for a decade. She’d always been quiet and polite at the Lynn residence, unlike the other kids.

“That old biddy never had a nice thing to say to me, no matter how much I hustled. Whether I was being all polite or trying to show I really cared. Before Zinnia got back, she’d at least give me the time of day. But now? She acts like I’m not even in the room, like I’m her mortal enemy or something," Betty complained inwardly.

Betty had tried for years to please Sofia, but not a single kind look. She’d thought Sofia preferred boys. But now, seeing how Sofia adored Zinnia, Betty knew that gender didn’t matter. Sofia indeed adored and cherished Zinnia.

Betty could barely visit the Lynn residence, let alone stay. While Zinnia got to live there, cosseted by Sofia’s love.

Betty’s smile was slipping. She seethed, thinking, ‘Why? Just because we’re not blood? I’ve called her "Grandma" for twelve years. Ever since Zinnia showed up, she has been stealing what should be mine. No way am I letting my guard down around her.’

“How’s it at Grandma’s, Zinnia? Do you miss home?” Maelis’s voice trembled. “About before… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you. I should’ve trusted you. Will you forgive me?”

Maelis stood outside, frozen, watching Sofia chat with Zinnia. Her heart hurt. She gently took Zinnia’s hand and said softly, “Sweetheart?” Her voice cracked, like thin ice breaking.

Zinnia frowned at the soft, warm hand holding hers. It made her uneasy. She pulled away and moved her hand off Sofia’s lap.

“Zinnia?” Maelis felt like her heart was being eaten by emptiness. Her own daughter wouldn’t even hold her hand. She’d really hurt Zinnia.

Betty forced herself to apologize. “Zinnia, we messed up before, but we get it now. We were wrong. Please don’t be mad. Let’s go home. Mom, Dad, and your brothers all miss you. This is my fault, not theirs. I’ll keep saying sorry. Just don’t blame them, okay?”

Betty’s smile froze as she saw Maelis reach for Zinnia.

“Zinnia,” Howard said, frowning. “Mom and Betty already said sorry. What more do you want? That talk about sending you away was a joke. We never meant it. Don’t be so silly.”

Shooting a glance at Betty, Sofia frowned deeply. She got Betty’s implication—she had implied that Zinnia was stubborn. “Betty, Jackson sent new flowers to the garden. Go pick some for your mom. She likes them.”

“We can do the flowers later, Mom,” Maelis said urgently. “We’re talking to Zinnia now.”

“Benedict, take Betty to pick flowers,” Sofia said, ignoring Maelis.

“Betty, please,” Benedict said with a polite smile, motioning for her to follow.