Chapter 276

“So, Yannis, James really loves you. Don’t blame yourself, okay?” Zinnia felt the wetness dripping onto her hand, like a burn from fire. Her fingers trembled, and her heart squeezed tight.

She wrapped her arm around Yannis’s shoulder, holding him close and patting his back gently.

Yannis didn’t speak. He just leaned against her, his dark eyes damp and hollow.

Zinnia knew he needed time to accept and heal.

She lowered her eyes, looking at his red-rimmed eyes. Strangely, she felt little sympathy. Instead, she thought he looked gorgeous when he cried.

His misty eyes made him seem pitiful, like the little white rabbit she’d raised as a kid. When it lost a fight with other bunnies, it would come to her with red eyes, seeking comfort. Zinnia would hug it, kiss it, and coo at it.

She blinked, her fingers unconsciously brushing his eyelid. It was scalding hot, maybe swollen from the tears.

Her tentative touch made Yannis’s long lashes flutter, still dotted with glistening tears.

He looked up at her, confused. ‘What is she up to now? Staring at my eyes again?’

“Yannis, you look so gorgeous when you cry,” Zinnia said earnestly.

Sure enough, a pretty face made even crying look stunning.

His chest tightened, the ache stifled by her words.

“Can I… take a photo?” Zinnia reached for her phone.

Yannis grabbed her hand, his face darkening with irritation. He thought, ‘She is always pulling these crazy stunts. Who would compliment someone on their crying and then try to take a photo?’

“No photos. If you do, I’m ignoring you,” he said.

“Yannis, you’re so childish, threatening me like a grade-schooler,” Zinnia sighed, giving up.

Yannis really looked gorgeous when he cried.

“No photos, and don’t tell anyone about tonight…” Yannis’s eyes were as dark as ink, endless. In the silence, his pupils held only her reflection.

“Alright…” Zinnia met his gaze, their eyes locking. After a long pause, she glanced at the person in the hospital bed, unsure how to respond.

She bit her lip, looking at the pillow dampened by tears.

She hadn’t said anything. James had heard on his own.

He was too exhausted to wake up, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t hear.

“Tired? Do you want to take a nap?” Yannis lifted his head from her shoulder, eyeing her sleepy face.

She’d been up all night. She must be exhausted.

“Yeah… Layla’s asleep,” Zinnia said. She was definitely tired, but Layla was probably sleeping now. She didn’t want to disturb Layla.

“Should I get another room for you?” Yannis asked. The suite had three rooms: Layla and Zinnia’s, Devin’s, and Victor’s.

“No,” Zinnia said. She didn’t want to be alone.

“Then lean on me and rest?” Yannis suggested. Zinnia wouldn’t go to another room or disturb Layla.

“Will you… still cry?” If he did, she’d stay awake to keep him company.

“Just sleep. No more talking,” Yannis said. Her words had a way of draining all his emotions.

He pulled her close, letting her rest in his arms. Then he draped a blanket over her.

It was almost 3 a.m. After a long night, Zinnia was dead tired, yawning nonstop.

Leaning on Yannis, she fell asleep peacefully.

Her soft breaths tickled his chest. Yannis looked down, tracing her features with his eyes. The sadness in his gaze gradually melted into tenderness, so soft it could make anyone drown.

He bowed his head, pressing his forehead to hers. Their warm breaths tangled for a moment. He thought, ‘Zinnia, hurry up and grow up…’

“What a jerk! You snuck Zinnia out in the middle of the night?” In a daze, Zinnia heard a surprised voice.

“Be quiet…” Yannis frowned at Layla, then looked down at the girl in his arms. Her eyes fluttered open, bleary.

“It’s okay. Go back to sleep,” he said, patting her back gently. Thinking it was a dream, Zinnia closed her eyes again.

“Watch Dad. I’ll carry her in,” Yannis whispered, lifting Zinnia and heading to Layla’s room.

He took off Zinnia’s shoes and carefully tucked her under the covers.

After only an hour on Yannis’s shoulder, Zinnia was still exhausted.

The moment she hit the soft mattress, she rolled over, wrapped in the blanket, and fell back to sleep.

Once he was sure she was settled, Yannis closed the door and returned.

“Why was Zinnia outside?” Layla eyed Yannis suspiciously.

Layla thought, ‘Zinnia is still young. He wouldn’t do something creepy, right?’

Before returning to the Perkins Manor, Layla had pulled a seven-day nonstop shift abroad. She’d just gotten back when James fell ill, so she’d slept deeply and hadn’t known Zinnia had sneaked out.

It was only a little past 5 a.m. now. Layla had come out to check on James.

“She was worried about me. So she came to check on me,” Yannis said, turning to the bar for a glass of water.

“Really? Are you sure you didn’t sneak her out, like when you were a kid?” Layla followed, pushing a glass toward him.

He cared so much for Zinnia. They were inseparable, and he took her everywhere. He might actually do that.

Yannis had a history. As a kid, he loved Samoyeds. When his mom wouldn’t let him bring the puppy to his room, he’d sneaked into the kennel at night and carried it in.

“Even I wouldn’t stoop that low. Zinnia came out to keep me company,” Yannis said, pouring her a glass of warm water and meeting her suspicious stare.

Zinnia was worried about him and stayed by his side.

“Yannis, have you ever heard the saying, ‘You should raise your own wife’? That’s exactly you,” Layla said, sipping the water and eyeing her silent brother.

Yannis’s brows twitched, but he didn’t respond.

“Do you think you can hide it from me?” Layla teased.

Yannis had always been reserved, but once he fell for someone, his favoritism showed, blatantly, though he might not realize it.

He totally spoiled Zinnia. He drove her to school, picked her up, cooked meals on time, bought her dresses on business trips, made fake snow, and got her balloons and flowers.

He gave her everything, way beyond what he should do for his friend’s little sister.