Chapter 251

Benny, who had been hiding nervously behind Toby, heard that his daughter had arrived. He pinched the hem of his shirt, mustered his courage, and stepped out from behind Toby with his head down, speaking in a rush.

Toby had earlier reminded him of the importance of making a good impression and the need to speak boldly when the time came. Benny took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts and project confidence as he faced his daughter for the first time.

They said he had failed Maelis and her mother, and Benny was consumed by guilt. He remembered nothing from the first dozen years of his life; ever since his memory began, he had been drifting and begging on the streets.

Lydia nodded at Toby, and then shifted her gaze to Benny across from her.

He looked to be in his early forties, clearly having made an effort for the occasion – dressed in a neatly pressed gray suit and standing around six feet tall.

His features hinted at the good looks he must have had in his youth, though a scar ran from the corner of his eye to his cheekbone.

His hands fidgeted nervously at his sides, unsure where to put them, until they finally settled on tugging at his shirt hem.

Lydia fell silent. ‘He doesn’t seem very dependable,’ she thought.

Toby listened and let out a soft sigh. ‘He used to be so proper, but now just look at him – so nervous it gives me a headache. Acting all timid in front of his own daughter? Where’s his fatherly dignity?’

Zinnia and Yannis had been waiting nearby for close to half an hour when Toby finally showed up. As they walked over, Zinnia’s eyes flitted between Lydia and Benny, settling mostly on Lydia.

She was trying to gauge what Lydia was thinking, worried that she might have been hurt in some way. But Lydia’s face was as calm and composed as ever, her expression giving nothing away.

“Lydia,” Zinnia called softly.

“Don’t worry. It’s fine. We just had a chat,” Lydia replied, her voice softening just a bit as she looked at Zinnia. But when she mentioned Benny, her tone turned cool again.

Benny was at a loss. He didn’t know anything, and there was no point in meeting him. Lydia couldn’t help but think about what had happened to Bonnie.

She didn’t know how to deal with Benny. But she made one thing clear: she wouldn’t forgive him. After today, they would go their separate ways, and she wanted him to stay out of her life.

“I swear I’ll make it up to you both,” Benny said firmly, his gaze resolute. He knew he’d failed Bonnie and Lydia. He didn’t even remember what he did to hurt them, but he was sure he’d set things right.

“No need,” Lydia said flatly.

Then Lydia turned to Zinnia and said, “Zinnia, I’ll skip dinner. Mom’s at home alone – I should go check on her.”

“Lydia, I’ll walk you out,” Benny blurted out, scurrying eagerly after her.

Benny couldn’t stop thinking giddily to himself, "I get to walk my daughter home. Yay!” After all these years, he’d finally found her – he could really walk his daughter home now.

Having wandered the streets for years, Benny wasn’t fazed by Lydia’s cold shoulder or indifference – it simply didn’t register.

‘As her father, of course I should be understanding,’ Benny thought. ‘After all these years of letting Lydia and Bonnie down, it’s no wonder my daughter resents me.

‘But I swear I’ll earn their forgiveness – I’ll try my hardest, over and over if I have to. From now on, I’ll protect them both with everything I’ve got.’

When Benny learned how much his daughter and wife had suffered because of him, his heart ached. He despised his past self for the pain he had caused them.

After losing his memory and being saved by Yannis, he had developed a kinder, gentler nature. Now, he was determined to make amends to his daughter and wife, no matter what it took.

“I’ll have Toby drive you,” Yannis said.

The three of them left the private room, leaving only Yannis and Zinnia behind now.

“Yannis, letting Benny go with Lydia? Are you sure it’s okay?” Zinnia frowned, her eyes filled with worry. Having been hurt by the Shaw family herself, she instinctively worried whenever she saw someone in a similar situation.

“Don’t worry, Benny would never hurt Lydia,” Yannis reassured her.

The past was a mystery to everyone. Over the years, Benny had been searching for Lydia and her mother. They’d just been the ones to bring them together.

What happened next, whether they forgave Benny or not, was up to Lydia and her mother. It wasn’t their place to step in.

But Yannis could tell Zinnia one thing for sure: Benny would never hurt Lydia. He’d do anything to make up for the time lost.

The moment he found out he had a daughter and a wife, he’d asked Yannis for an advance on his salary, saying he’d use every cent to take care of them.

“Hmm…” Zinnia watched as Benny and Lydia walked away. There was something about the way Benny looked at Lydia – so cautious, yet so eager to connect. They seemed to be getting along okay, at least not fighting.

Zinnia couldn’t help but compare it to her own experience when she first returned to the Shaw family. This felt like a much better start.

“Yannis, what should we do now?” Zinnia looked up at Yannis. “Lydia and the others have all left – it’s just us two.”

“Let’s have something. The food here is amazing – I bet you’ll love it,” Yannis said, pulling Zinnia to sit down at the table. With everyone else gone, it was just the two of them sharing a meal.

“Okay,” Zinnia replied sweetly.

After dinner, Zinnia and Yannis headed home in the car. Zinnia absentmindedly twirled her seatbelt around her finger out of boredom. “Yannis,” she called softly.

“Hmm?” Yannis tilted his head, listening closely to her.

“Nothing, just felt like calling you,” Zinnia said, a little bored and wanting his attention.

“Bored?” Yannis asked, glancing over at her.

“Just a tiny bit,” Zinnia replied, immediately stopping her fidgeting with the seatbelt now that someone was talking to her. She held up her pinky finger, demonstrating just how small that “tiny bit” was.

“How about we chat for a bit?” Yannis suggested gently.

“What should we talk about?” Zinnia asked, genuinely at a loss.

Yannis savored the quiet, intimate space with just the two of them. With a playful smile, he teased, “Let’s talk about what kind of guy you like."

Zinnia’s cheeks flushed right away. She hadn’t expected the conversation to veer in this direction.

“Why are we talking about me?” she grumbled, trying to sound annoyed but unable to hide the hint of fluster in her voice. “Why not about you? What kind of girl do you like?”

“Let’s start with you,” Yannis replied, his eyes twinkling. “Then I’ll share my preferences.”

Zinnia fell silent.

Yannis turned to her with a teasing smile. “So, Zinnia, what kind of guy do you like?”

Zinnia fell silent, her mind suddenly blank. She had no idea what kind of guy she liked. She fumbled for an answer. “Uh… tall, I guess. Rich. Someone who treats me well. And, uh, really handsome.”