Chapter 23

“Mom, we screwed up. Let us fix this.” Maelis winced, remembering Zinnia’s chilling attitude. It haunted her.

Maelis was regretful, thinking, ‘No matter what Zinnia did, she is still my kid. Shouldn’t I cut her some slack? We’d just reunited, why even consider sending her away? With patience, everything will be fine.

‘Sure, Zinnia bullied Betty, but Betty is sweet. If Zinnia apologized, Betty would forgive her. We will all live happily. So why did I agree to kick her out?’

Regret consumed Maelis. She’d erred. For two days, she lay sleepless, fearing her harsh words had broken Zinnia’s heart and severed their bond.

When sleep finally came, she’d startle awake from nightmares of Zinnia’s rejection. Anxiety and fear gnawed at her.

“Ask her, not me,” Sofia snapped.

“Zinnia, come home. Let’s fix this,” Maelis pleaded, eyes desperate.

“Grandma, I don’t have to stay.” Zinnia avoided Maelis’s gaze, turning to Sofia. Her voice quivered, fragile as butterfly wings. Add pressure, they’d tear—each rip a knife to the heart. The wound was permanent.

Zinnia figured Sofia didn’t want her anymore, so she’d called the Shaws to pick her up. But it was unnecessary. They didn’t want her. She’d leave. No more being tossed like an old soccer ball.

She hated this feeling.

“Zinnia, this is always your home.” Sofia gripped Zinnia’s hands tightly. “Stay as long as you like. If you don’t want to go back, you don’t have to. This old woman can still tend to her precious sunflower.”

Zinnia bit her lip. “Hm.”

But Sofia felt Zinnia’s mood sour. The two-day closeness was gone, replaced by the formal distance of her first arrival at the Lynn residence.

“Get out!” Sofia waved them away. “We’ll raise Zinnia fine. If you can’t handle two daughters, we’ll take one. She’ll have everything here.”

Sofia regretted letting Maelis visit. Maelis just said she wanted to check on Zinnia, not take her. No one would feel anything but crushed hearing their parents talk about dumping them.

“Zinnia, you’re not coming home?” Howard’s face fell. They’d driven all this way—why’d she refuse? Even if she was mad, enough was enough.

“Come home, Zinnia.” Maelis clutched her chest, feeling like her heart was being wrung. Her own kid pushed her away. It was worse than any knife.

“That’s not my home,” Zinnia said finally. “Not here. Her home was in Tareston, where her master and she lived.

“I messed up.” Maelis’s eyes welled. “Last time, I blamed you without knowing. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” Her voice cracked.

Zinnia turned away and didn’t want them anymore. Maelis gripped her blouse, bitter regret choking her.

“I forgive you. Stop crying,” Zinnia frowned at Maelis’s red eyes. “You not caring isn’t your fault. But it’s not mine either. Just… pretend you never found me.” She didn’t know why Maelis cried her eyes out.

“Zinnia…” Maelis’s voice broke.

“Don’t look at me like that, I didn’t do anything. You rejected me first. I told you—if you didn’t want me, don’t bring me back.

“If you ever don’t want me again, just say so, I’ll leave.” Zinnia tilted her head, feeling confused. They were the ones sending her away. If anyone should cry, it was her.

From day one, Zinnia’d been clear: if they got tired of her, tell her. She’d go. Knew better than to expect endless patience. Even families had limits. Only her master ever gave her that.

But her master left her later. Zinnia blinked, hiding the hurt.

Howard caught the flicker of sadness in Zinnia’s eyes. It stung him. He wondered, ‘What’s she sad about? We came to take her home. She’s the one refusing. So why that look?’

“Zinnia, you’re not coming back?” Howard’s jaw tightened. “We’ll stop the Betty drama. Just apologize when we get home. Act right, and we won’t send you away.”

“I’m not saying sorry for something I didn’t do. If you want the truth, go find it yourself instead of believing every gossip you hear.” Zinnia stared Howard down. She wasn’t about to apologize for Betty’s shady tricks. If they couldn’t see through Betty, tough luck.

“You!” Howard’s guilt melted away, replaced by anger. He wasn’t sure if it was because she’d called him out or because she refused to come home.

“Cut it out! Why should Zinnia apologize for something she didn’t do? Use your brain and check if Betty’s stories hold water before you point fingers. Just because you messed up this time doesn’t mean you were right before.

“You’ll regret this. Zinnia’s staying here with me—we’ll take care of her.” Sofia had heard enough. “Get out. Now.”