Chapter 213

“Thanks for helping me last time,” Zinnia said.

She remembered when Maelis hit her at the Bacon mansion, and after she fell to the ground, it was Adrian who helped her up. Later, when Maelis tried to hit her again, Adrian stood in front to protect her.

Zinnia wanted to thank Adrian back then, but he had left without her noticing, and she couldn’t find him.

“You’re welcome,” Adrian smiled. Seeing her glance behind him, he said softly, “Zinnia, you should go eat now. See you next time.”

“Okay.” Zinnia was thinking about Sofia and the others.

Adrian stayed behind and watched her walk away. During this time, he had looked into Zinnia’s past.

Zinnia was seventeen years old, born on July 28th. Because she had been switched at birth, she grew up in a small town, cared for all these years by her master.

In May, the Shaw family took her back. Later, when she wanted to leave the Shaw residence because things weren’t going well, Jackson brought her to the Lynn residence. After that, several things happened one after another. Now she lived with Yannis in Cloud Harbor.

A thoughtful look flashed through Adrian’s eyes. He planned to go back and question Galen about when exactly he was tricked. He vaguely remembered it happened eighteen years ago, but no one knew the exact time or month.

Seeing Zinnia brought Adrian a strange kind of joy. Human feelings were a strange thing–sometimes people felt an unexplained liking for someone they met for the first time.

Everyone ate together in a lively, cheerful mood.

“Zinnia, remember I’ll always have your back,” Sofia said. “If anyone ever treats you badly, just tell me. My home is always your home.”

After dinner, night had already fallen outside, and the city lights were glowing. The group walked downstairs, Sofia holding Zinnia’s hand tightly.

It was a good day, and Sofia had drunk nearly half a glass of red wine. After drinking, she couldn’t help but be a little talkative, her words full of care and tenderness for Zinnia.

Because Zinnia had suffered so much, Sofia felt sorry for her.

“Okay, Sofia,” Zinnia smiled and agreed.

They took the elevator down. Just as they reached the lobby, a sharp voice cut through the air. “Let me in.”

Everyone turned toward the sound. Maelis was stumbling in high heels, trying to rush into the lobby.

But the security guards stopped her. She had caused trouble once already that afternoon. Now she stood at the door, glaring at Sofia and the others with angry eyes.

No one expected Maelis to still be here. It was almost eight o’clock at night.

Maelis wasn’t allowed inside. Since autumn had come, the weather was getting colder day by day. She wore only a pink dress with bare arms, shivering slightly.

Her hair was messy from the wind, and her eyes were bloodshot, though it wasn’t clear if it was from the wind or the cold.

Her face looked worn out–the fullness and glow she once had was gone, her cheeks sunken, and she had lost a lot of weight, making her seem years older all at once. For a moment, Sofia almost didn’t recognize Maelis.

Once backed by the Lynn family, Maelis had everything. Now she had nothing. Instead of looking like someone in her twenties, she looked more like she was in her thirties or forties.

Now, in just over half a month, Maelis looked completely worn down.

Before, she always dressed carefully wherever she went. Now, maybe from stress, she didn’t care to dress up anymore.

Except for Jackson and Zinnia, everyone else was surprised to see Maelis.

“That’s my mom. Let me in! Look, there she is,” Maelis shouted angrily at the guards blocking her. Her voice was sharp and harsh, nothing like the gentle tone she used before.

Her gaze was full of resentment, as if the whole world had wronged her.

Even though Maelis was already a very lucky person–raised spoiled and pampered by the Lynn family, with Henry and Sofia giving her anything she wanted–she was never satisfied.

Noticing that Sofia and the others were watching her, Maelis’s voice grew even sharper. She pushed the security guard in front of her, her expression fierce and full of disdain.

“Mr. Lynn, this lady has been making a fuss, insisting on seeing you,” the waiter said, walking over to Jackson and the others to explain.

Jackson’s expression turned cold. He didn’t want Sofia and Zinnia to have contact with Maelis.

Actually, Donald and Yosef had both come to see Jackson in the past few days, but were stopped by security. Now it seemed they gave up and sent Maelis instead.

Jackson didn’t make the decision himself; he looked at Sofia. “Grandma…”

“Let her in. I need to clear things up with her and cut everything off for good,” Sofia said, her emotions complicated as she looked at Maelis.

“Please help us find a quiet private room,” Jackson said to the waiter.

“Okay, please follow me,” the waiter said, leading them around the corner.

“Zinnia, if you don’t want to see Maelis, you can go home with Yannis first,” Jackson said gently, glancing at Zinnia.

Judging by Maelis’s state, talking to her wouldn’t be easy. And if Maelis kept hurting Sofia again and again, Jackson wouldn’t let her or her family off easily.

Sofia had things she really needed to discuss with Maelis.

After all, Sofia had raised Maelis for decades–she couldn’t have no feelings for her. Seeing Maelis so worn out probably made Sofia a bit sad.

Yvette and the others had to leave earlier after dinner because of some business.

Yannis and Zinnia lived at Cloud Harbor, which was close–just a twenty–minute drive–so they weren’t in a rush to leave.

Seeing Maelis there, Jackson worried she might hurt Zinnia again, so he wanted Zinnia and Yannis to leave first.

“That’s right. Zinnia, you should go home first,” Sofia said. “I’ll be leaving soon too.”

Thinking about Maelis’s hatred toward Zinnia, Sofia worried Maelis would say something mean when she saw her.

Actually, Maelis had been coming to the Lynn residence a lot recently, or calling them, but Sofia and Henry hadn’t seen her or answered.

Maelis had really hurt Sofia and Henry’s hearts. These days they had steeled themselves not to respond.

Zinnia glanced at Maelis outside, then back at Sofia and the others, and didn’t refuse.

Maelis hated Zinnia. If Zinnia and Sofia saw her together, Maelis’s emotions would only get crazier.

Jackson helped Sofia, and the group turned and headed to the nearby private room. Zinnia and Yannis walked toward the exit.

Maelis saw Zinnia and Yannis leave and glared fiercely at their backs.

“Are you worried?” Yannis asked, noticing Zinnia kept looking back as they walked.

“Yes,” Zinnia admitted. She was worried Maelis might upset Sofia.

“Then we won’t leave,” Yannis said, grabbing her hand and turning back into the lobby.