Chapter 22
Betty forced a smile. โItโs okay, Mom. Iโll go help.โ She knew Sofia wanted her gone, but she didnโt dare upset her. Sofia clearly didnโt like her. She gave Zinnia one last glareโit was all her faultโand let Benedict lead her out. Now, just four people were left in the living room.
โGrandma, whyโd you send Betty away?โ Howard asked after Benedict and Betty left. He saw Sofiaโs plan but didnโt want a fight since he knew Sofia was not in a good mood.
They were at the Lynn residence. Here, Sofia called the shots.
โHoward! Is this how you talk to Zinnia at home?โ Sofiaโs face darkened. She flat-out ignored his question.
โGrandmaโฆโ Howardโs voice fizzled. He fumbled for words.
โI donโt care how you treat Betty, but Zinniaโs your sister. Same womb, same blood. You shout at her, belittle her? Is that how siblings act? Do you treat her like this always?โ Sofiaโs voice rose.
โโฆโ Howardโs lips moved, but silence followed.
โAnd your brothers? Do they treat her like this too?โ Sofiaโs eyesโusually softโblazed with disappointment.
Howardโs mind raced. He wanted to lie, but Sofiaโs steady gaze pinned him.
โFine. Do you even know how your sons treat Zinnia?โ Sofiaโs anger flared. She glanced at Maelis, who was sitting mute nearby.
โMomโฆ I donโt,โ Maelis admitted. Her boys were always โbusy,โ and rarely home. Visits revolved around Betty. Sheโd barely seen them interact with Zinnia.
Her gaze sharpened on Howard. โIs this how you always talk to her?โ
Howard couldnโt meet Maelisโs eyes or Sofiaโs.
โHave you all lost your minds? Zinniaโs your familyโyour daughter, your sister! How?โ Sofiaโs fury boiled.
She fumed at Maelisโ ignorance and Howardโs avoidance. She had planned to mediate, but now she would like to kick them out. Zinnia had every reason to stay away from them.
โMom, calm down. Weโll handle it,โ Maelis rushed to soothe Sofia.
โGrandmaโฆโ Howardโs voice cracked with worry.
โDonโt stress, Grandma. Itโs okay,โ Zinnia patted Sofiaโs back.
โIdiots. Howโd I raise such clueless kids? My fault. But Iโve got your back,โ Sofia gripped Zinniaโs hand. She made up her mindโZinnia would stay with her forever.
Maelis and Howard winced under the scolding. They didnโt think theyโd done anything wrong.
โIโm fine, Grandma. Donโt fret.โ Zinniaโs chest warmed. In Jinston, no one had defended her like this.
โIโm not mad, sweetheart. I gotta stay strong, whoโll protect you otherwise?โ Sofia stroked Zinniaโs hand, breathing slower.
Sofia couldnโt let her health slipโZinnia needed her. Maelis was clueless; Sofiaโs grandkids were worse. They werenโt snapping out of it anytime soon. Sofia had to stay tough for Zinnia, whoโd been through enough.
โMom! Zinniaโs my kid. You think Iโd hurt her?โ Maelisโs voice wobbled. Sofia made their house sound like a horror show.
โNot you, but that Betty youโre blind to!โ Sofia snapped, riled up. โThat girlโs got more tricks than a street hustler.โ
โMom, this isnโt about Betty. She apologized.โ Maelis defended Betty instantly.
โIf not her fault, whyโd you try shipping Zinnia off? Maelis, Zinniaโs your kid. You carried her for nine months. Your mess-up caused this; she suffered because of you.โ
โNow that weโve got her back, love your daughterโZinnia!โ Sofia was done with Maelisโs stubbornness. It was frustrating.
โGrandma, donโt stress,โ Zinnia said, genuinely worried. Honestly, she barely cared about the Shaws anymore. Sofia mattered more.
โIโm good, kid. This old henโs still got fight,โ Sofia patted Zinniaโs hand. โToday, Iโm schooling your thick-headed mom.โ
Since childhood, Maelis was doted on by her parents, gliding through life effortlessly. She wed Donald, who kept indulging her. Even in middle age, shielded from lifeโs woes, she still struggled to tell right from wrong.
Betty was trouble. With her around, Maelis and the others stood no chance with Zinnia.
โMomโฆโ Maelis hesitated. She wanted to say Betty wasnโt the issue, but Sofiaโs glare shut her up.
She dared not argue; Sofiaโs health was too fragile. Seeing Zinnia tend to Sofia with care, Maelis noticed a strange changeโthe attentive Zinnia bore no resemblance to her former aloof self.
โGrandma, we get it. Weโre sorry. Letโs take Zinnia home,โ Howard said. Zinnia just shrugged. Her indifference hit him hard.