It was often said that the youngest of the family was always the most doted on, and in Yannisโs case, that couldnโt be more true.
When Yannis was little, he was super picky and delicate. People doubted heโd even survive. Even Grace got so frustrated that she almost gave up. But James never lost his patience. If Yannis refused one meal, James would just have another made.
Late at night, James would quietly slip into the nursery, gently cradle Yannis in his arms, and whisper, โHold on, my boy. If you pull through, Iโll give you anything you desire.โ
Victor had told Zinnia all this.
โZinnia, donโt you think heโs getting old? He still acts like heโs young, always trying to protect me from tough stuff.โ
โHis health isnโt great, but he insists on seeing me, even though he knows itโll upset him. Heโs never been good at showing his feelingsโฆโ Yannis gazed quietly at James lying in the hospital bed, then spoke in a measured tone.
Yannis had never been told that James had suffered a heart injury. He never knew James had taken a bullet for him.
After he was rescued, Yannis remained unconscious for a week before finally waking up to find everyone keeping vigil by his side.
The only one missing was James. They went a full two weeks without seeing each other.
It wasnโt until they found Yannis lying awake night after night that the truth struck them.
Yannis lay awake night after night, worrying James sick. After he gave Yannis a good scolding, the tension between them finally began to ease.
From then on, it seemed James had finally found a way to reconnect with Yannis. Their relationship became nothing but constant scolding.
James could never bring himself to beat Yannis up. He just couldnโt bear to lay a hand on Yannis.
Sometimes, Yannis thought it wasnโt so bad when James scolded him. He just took it.
He thought he didnโt protect Grace well enough and he deserved James yelling at him.
He thought maybe this way James might feel a bit better. At least James wouldnโt have to bottle up his anger.
James was still angry after yelling at him, but at least at that moment, it gave him some relief.
But when Yannis was younger and didnโt know any better, he secretly resented James and would always talk back to James.
Over time, they had settled into this contentious dynamic.
Especially when it came to Grace, it was a complete taboo between them. Just mentioning her would set them both off.
They both blamed themselves, yet had never properly talked it out. Neither was willing to broach the subject.
Zinnia said softly, โYannis, I just thinkโฆ maybe you and James could really talk things out. You care about him, and he cares about you too.โ
Zinnia grew up without a father, so she never really knew what a fatherโdaughter relationship was like. Even after she later recognized Aaron as her father, it seemed that fathers treated their daughters and sons differently.
Plus, the relationship between Yannis and James was far from simple. There was so much unresolved baggage between them that it couldnโt just be brushed aside.
But Jamesโs health was so fragile. If something unexpected happened, it would be too late for regrets.
Earlier in the room, Layla had shared with Zinnia many stories about Yannis and James.
โDid Layla send you to persuade me?โ Yannis glanced sideways at her, his deep, dark eyes fixed on her fair, delicate face.
Perhaps it was her first time acting as a mediator, and she wasnโt very good at it. She carefully weighed her words, doing her best to choose the gentlest way to persuade him.
Zinnia thought to herself, โI know heโs sharp, but did he really have to expose me so quickly?โ
She said, โNot exactly. I just think maybe there are still some misunderstandings between you and James. Look, James isnโt getting any younger, and youโve both been deliberately avoiding arguments all these years.
โSince neither of you wants to fight anymore, why donโt we just lay all the cards on the table and talk things out clearly?
โYannis, I donโt know what happened between you and James, but at least James truly loves you. Heโs a real father, unlike meโฆโ
Zinnia didnโt know what had happened between them, but as an outsider, she could tell that James, as a father, deeply loved Yannis.
Unlike her, she never had a father, and Maelis never loved her.
If it werenโt for Nathan, sheโd have died in some forgotten corner long ago.
Yannis said softly, โZinnia, youโre absolutely worthy of love. Countless people will come to cherish youโฆโ
Yannis couldnโt stand it when Zinnia dredged up her own painful past just to comfort him.
Yannisโs eyes softened with concern. Zinnia lowered her head and nodded.
Zinnia wasnโt one to dwell on the past. Once something was over, she let it go. She never looked back.
Because every time she looked back, it felt like reopening an old wound.
Zinnia absolutely hated that.
She preferred to look ahead, refusing to let the past hold her back.
She said, โYannis, I really think you two need to talk things out.
โDidnโt you always tell me? If something needs to be said, just say it. Donโt keep things bottled up? So how come, when itโs your turn, youโre the one who clams up?
โYou both care so much about each other, and neither of youโฆโ Yannis was perceptive.
wants to hurt the otherโฆโ
Layla had indeed urged Zinnia to persuade him, hoping she could help ease the tension between him and James.
Yannis cared deeply for Zinnia, just as James cared deeply for Yannis.
In terms of emotional priority, Zinnia came first for Yannis, and Yannis came first for James.
That was why Layla thought of asking Zinnia to help mediate.
When it came to matters between Yannis and James, other family members felt it wasnโt their place to intervene. Yet, outsiders certainly had no business to interfere.
But Zinnia was different. She occupied that perfect middle ground.
Yannis listened to her, and James treated her like family with extra fondness.
Zinnia wasnโt much of a persuader herself. Most of the time with Yannis, it was always him teaching her how to handle things and solve problems.
Now, Zinnia could only try to apply the methods Yannis had taught her, hoping she might finally be able to help him in return.
Zinnia hoped with all her heart that Yannis wouldnโt let the past chain him down year after year.
Just like his sleepless nights, Yannis had been tormented for over a decade.
Yannis said, โZinnia, youโre right. I was thinking about this all wrong. When my dad wakes up, Iโll have a proper talk with him.โ
Yannis fell silent as he met her earnest gaze. Her eyes were filled with concern.
Yannis thought to himself, โYeah, I was the one who taught her and asked her not to hide anything important, or sheโll regret it when itโs too late.
โBut when it happens to me, why do I get so stuck in my own head?โ
Yannis had always thought he and James still had plenty of time. Little did he know, time waits for no one. It was mercilessly cruel.
Seventeen years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Yannis thought to himself, โIf we hadnโt caught Dadโs condition in time tonight, the regret would have been unbearable.
โAfter seventeen years, itโs time for us to talk things out.โ
Ever since Yannis saw James lying in that hospital bed, he couldnโt help wondering if they had both been wrong all these years.
Maybe it was time for them to talk things out.
Yet her words sent the tilting scales in Yannisโs heart crashing down.
Yannis lowered his gaze and said, โDo you want to know what really happened that year?โ