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 โ 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. โHe doesnโt seem very dependable,โ she thought.
Toby listened and let out a soft sigh. โHe used to be so proper, but now just look at him โ so nervous it gives me a headache. Acting all timid in front of his own daughter? Whereโs his fatherly dignity?โ
Zinnia and Yannis had been waiting nearby for close to half an hour when Toby finally showed up. As they walked over, Zinniaโs 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 Lydiaโs face was as calm and composed as ever, her expression giving nothing away.
โLydia,โ Zinnia called softly.
โDonโt worry. Itโs fine. We just had a chat,โ 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 didnโt know anything, and there was no point in meeting him. Lydia couldnโt help but think about what had happened to Bonnie.
She didnโt know how to deal with Benny. But she made one thing clear: she wouldnโt forgive him. After today, they would go their separate ways, and she wanted him to stay out of her life.
โI swear Iโll make it up to you both,โ Benny said firmly, his gaze resolute. He knew heโd failed Bonnie and Lydia. He didnโt even remember what he did to hurt them, but he was sure heโd set things right.
โNo need,โ Lydia said flatly.
Then Lydia turned to Zinnia and said, โZinnia, Iโll skip dinner. Momโs at home alone โ I should go check on her.โ
โLydia, Iโll walk you out,โ Benny blurted out, scurrying eagerly after her.
Benny couldnโt stop thinking giddily to himself, "I get to walk my daughter home. Yay!โ After all these years, heโd finally found her โ he could really walk his daughter home now.
Having wandered the streets for years, Benny wasnโt fazed by Lydiaโs cold shoulder or indifference โ it simply didnโt register.
โAs her father, of course I should be understanding,โ Benny thought. โAfter all these years of letting Lydia and Bonnie down, itโs no wonder my daughter resents me.
โBut I swear Iโll earn their forgiveness โ Iโll try my hardest, over and over if I have to. From now on, Iโll protect them both with everything Iโve got.โ
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.
โIโll have Toby drive you,โ Yannis said.
The three of them left the private room, leaving only Yannis and Zinnia behind now.
โYannis, letting Benny go with Lydia? Are you sure itโs okay?โ 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.
โDonโt worry, Benny would never hurt Lydia,โ Yannis reassured her.
The past was a mystery to everyone. Over the years, Benny had been searching for Lydia and her mother. Theyโd 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 wasnโt their place to step in.
But Yannis could tell Zinnia one thing for sure: Benny would never hurt Lydia. Heโd do anything to make up for the time lost.
The moment he found out he had a daughter and a wife, heโd asked Yannis for an advance on his salary, saying heโd use every cent to take care of them.
โHmmโฆโ Zinnia watched as Benny and Lydia walked away. There was something about the way Benny looked at Lydia โ so cautious, yet so eager to connect. They seemed to be getting along okay, at least not fighting.
Zinnia couldnโt help but compare it to her own experience when she first returned to the Shaw family. This felt like a much better start.
โYannis, what should we do now?โ Zinnia looked up at Yannis. โLydia and the others have all left โ itโs just us two.โ
โLetโs have something. The food here is amazing โ I bet youโll love it,โ Yannis said, pulling Zinnia to sit down at the table. With everyone else gone, it was just the two of them sharing a meal.
โOkay,โ Zinnia replied sweetly.
After dinner, Zinnia and Yannis headed home in the car. Zinnia absentmindedly twirled her seatbelt around her finger out of boredom. โYannis,โ she called softly.
โHmm?โ Yannis tilted his head, listening closely to her.
โNothing, just felt like calling you,โ Zinnia said, a little bored and wanting his attention.
โBored?โ Yannis asked, glancing over at her.
โJust a tiny bit,โ 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 โtiny bitโ was.
โHow about we chat for a bit?โ Yannis suggested gently.
โWhat should we talk about?โ Zinnia asked, genuinely at a loss.
Yannis savored the quiet, intimate space with just the two of them. With a playful smile, he teased, โLetโs talk about what kind of guy you like."
Zinniaโs cheeks flushed right away. She hadnโt expected the conversation to veer in this direction.
โWhy are we talking about me?โ she grumbled, trying to sound annoyed but unable to hide the hint of fluster in her voice. โWhy not about you? What kind of girl do you like?โ
โLetโs start with you,โ Yannis replied, his eyes twinkling. โThen Iโll share my preferences.โ
Zinnia fell silent.
Yannis turned to her with a teasing smile. โSo, Zinnia, what kind of guy do you like?โ
Zinnia fell silent, her mind suddenly blank. She had no idea what kind of guy she liked. She fumbled for an answer. โUhโฆ tall, I guess. Rich. Someone who treats me well. And, uh, really handsome.โ