Chapter 210
Today, a madam hosted a luncheon for several elite socialites. The room buzzed with lively chatter, but the conversation died down as soon as a particular remark was made.
โWell, now that you mention it, it really does sound familiar. I remember my husbandโs sister-in-law had a baby that was switched at birth by someone unknown. It wasnโt until a few years ago that the truth came out.โ
โIt turns out it was her husband who did it.โ
โHe kept telling her to be extra kind to the child who wasnโt hers, so she treasured that child like the apple of her eye.โ
โBut one day, she found out sheโd been raising her husbandโs illegitimate daughter while her own child was suffering in someone elseโs home. His sister-in-law was furious.โ
โShe brought her real child back, took back the company, and kicked out her husband and his daughter. Sheโs been making amends to her real child ever since. Honestly, whatโs happening with the Shawn family really reminds me of my sister-in-lawโs story.โ
โWell, in our elite circles, little secrets happen all the timeโthings like this are commonplace. If thatโs really the case, it suddenly all makes sense.โ
โIf Maelis ever found out about this, sheโd totally lose it. Nobody could possibly accept raising her husbandโs illegitimate daughter.โ
Someone sighed, and an awkward silence fell over the room. The ladies exchanged uneasy glances. โSurely that canโt be true, right?โ
โLetโs not tell them about this,โ Zinnia said to Isaac and Maisie.
โWe thought itโd be best to let Grandma enjoy her birthday first. Weโll tell her about Maelis after todayโs celebration,โ Isaac said. It was Sofiaโs birthday, and none of them wanted Maelisโs situation to ruin her special day.
โOf course,โ Zinnia replied.
As they entered, the cheerful voices of Sofia and Yvette drifted out, and a smile lit up Zinniaโs face.
โZinniaโs here!โ Yvette was the first to spot her.
โZinnia, my baby girl.โ Hearing Zinniaโs arrival, Sofiaโs face lit up. She turned around, her kind features radiating warmth.
Zinnia hurried in, beaming. โHappy birthday, Grandma!โ
โI am so happy to see you, Zinnia,โ Sofia said, taking Zinniaโs hand, her loving eyes brimming with unreserved affection.
Isaac, trailing behind, teased, โGrandma, every time Zinniaโs around, you donโt even see us anymore.โ
โYouโve been with me all day. Why canโt I spoil my sweet Zinnia for a while?โ Sofia said, giving Isaac a playful glare.
โMom, Dad, Grandpa,โ Zinnia greeted everyone warmly.
Sofia kept her birthday gathering smallโjust inviting Raymondโs family, the Lynns, and Yannis. All told, it was just one table of guests. Jacksonโs parents, stationed at an overseas embassy, only came back for Christmas and rarely returned otherwise. For Sofiaโs birthday, the couple had arranged for someone to deliver their gifts well in advance.
Chapter 210
With a smile, Zinnia said, โItโs nothing fancy, just a painting.โ
Zinniaโs gift for Sofia was a masterpiece by a renowned artist, valued at around $1.5 million at auction. She had acquired it at an auction with her Master when a buyer who couldnโt afford her medicine exchanged the painting for it. Knowing Sofiaโs birthday was coming up, Zinnia called Chandler several days ago and asked him to retrieve the painting from the storage room of her Masterโs house and send it to her.
Henry and Raymond were playing chess on the coffee table, their faces flushed as they argued heatedly about fishing. Aaron sat nearby, watching their game and hoping to learn a thing or two.
Jackson and Yannis were still tied up with work, and Charlie had surgery, so heโd be late. Isaac and Maisie arrived first, and when Zinnia showed up, the three of them ended up playing Go Fish.
Zinnia wasnโt very good at itโeven though Isaac and Maisie went easy on her, she kept losing, and soon her face was covered with sticky notes as a playful punishment.
โZinnia, remember the rules,โ Isaac explained as they played.
โGot it,โ Zinnia nodded attentively. But when the round ended, she had lost again.
โZinnia, how come you lost again? Youโre really having a bad run of luck today,โ Isaac said as he and Maisie leaned in to check Zinniaโs remaining cards. They shrugged. Theyโd been deliberately playing to help her win, but Zinnia was so unlucky.
Maisie scratched her head. โIsnโt there supposed to be beginnerโs luck? How come Zinniaโs always so unlucky?โ she joked, grabbing another sticky note. โCome on, let me stick another one on you.โ
Zinnia obediently leaned her head forward, letting Maisie stick another note on her. Even though she kept losing, she couldnโt help but smile. โIโve never played this game before, but itโs actually pretty fun,โ she thought, genuinely enjoying herself.
โHere, Zinnia, let me stick one on you,โ Isaac said, grabbing a sticky note and sticking it on Zinniaโs cheek. By now, her face was covered in sticky notes, some of them barely hanging on and fluttering with her every move.
Watching the three of them with amused smiles, Sofia and Yvette teased, โCome on, you two, give Zinnia a break.โ
โNo need, Grandma, Mom,โ Zinnia said, waving her hand. โIt wonโt be fun if they let me win.โ
When Jackson and Yannis arrived together, they saw Zinnia in the private room with sticky notes covering her faceโsome fluttering comically in the breeze from the doorwayโa sight that made it impossible not to chuckle.
โHi, Jackson, Yannis.โ Sofia beamed, her smile widening as she and Yvette looked up from their conversation.
The three card players looked up, the sticky notes on their foreheads fluttering upward. Zinnia blinked in surprise and quickly reached up to press down the notes dancing atop her head, looking adorably flustered.
Isaac, Maisie, and Zinnia all greeted Yannis and Jackson.
Yannisโs gaze landed on Zinnia, his eyes brimming with amusement. When Zinnia caught him smiling, she shot him a playful glare. She knew he was mocking her, and his smile was getting more obvious.
โHappy birthday, Sofia. May you enjoy everlasting health like the evergreen pines,โ Yannis said with a warm smile as he entered the private room.
โThank you.โ Sofiaโs face lit up with delight at his sweet words.
โGrandma, Charlie will be here soon,โ Jackson added.
โI see,โ Sofia said.
Yannis and Jackson walked over to the small sofa where the three card players were sitting. Yannis looked down at Zinnia, her face plastered with sticky notes, his lips twitching as he struggled to suppress a smile. โWhat are you guys playing?โ he asked.
โGo Fish,โ Zinnia replied slowly, clearly noticing Yannis laughing at her but choosing to ignore it.
โYou lost, right?โ Yannis said with a teasing grin. โLet me win it back for you.โ
Chapter 210