Chapter 277
Zinnia woke up to daylight.
Luckily, it was the weekend, and she didnโt have to go to school. Otherwise, sheโd be dead on her feet.
She pushed open her room door and stepped out, only to find the hospital room deathly quiet.
Zinniaโs appearance drew everyoneโs gaze toward her.
Several pairs of eyes locked onto her, snapping her half-asleep mind into full alertness.
Instinctively, she took a step back, pressing herself against the door, ready to slip back into her room.
With James now awake, the room fell into an unnerving silence. Zinnia had no idea what theyโd been discussing before.
โZinnia,โ James called softly, his voice gentle yet still rough from his recent illness.
Yannis stood up and walked over to her with a reassuring smile. โHey, no need to run off. Donโt be scared. Youโre the hero of our family right now.โ
โHuh?โ Zinnia blinked in utter confusion.
โI just took a nap. What the heck happened while I was asleep?โ she wondered.
Zinnia glanced around in bewilderment. Victor was beaming at her. Layla flashed her an enthusiastic thumbs-up, and even Devin, who was usually so stoic, wore a faint smile.
Zinnia had absolutely no idea what was going on. She was completely lost.
โWhatโs happening?โ Zinnia asked hesitantly as she and Yannis took seats by the hospital bed.
โWhy am I even here, mixed up in their family affairs?โ she thought.
โZinnia, is there anything you desire? Just name it. If you want the stars in the sky, I will have Yannis fetch them for you,โ James smiled warmly at Zinnia, who sat there a bit stiffly.
โYour promise? Why am I the one who has to do it?โ Yannis shot James an annoyed glare.
James eavesdropped on their conversation in the middle of the night, and now James was trying to pawn him off as a reward.
โIโm getting on in years. I might not be around much longer,โ James said. โThe doctor says I shouldnโt stress myself out. Canโt you do me a favor and show Zinnia our gratitude?โ
James snorted.
โGratitude?โ Zinnia still didnโt get it.
After tossing and turning half the night, her mind was still foggy. She just couldnโt connect the dots.
โYes, the misunderstanding between them has finally been cleared up,โ Victor exclaimed excitedly.
Yannis shot back, โWho told you?โ
James lifted his chin. โMisunderstanding? What misunderstanding?โ
โSir, donโt hold your head up so high. The doctor said youโve just woken up, so no sudden movements."
โIsnโt it great now that youโve talked things out? Youโre even finishing each otherโs sentences.โ
Victor watched nervously, his heart racing with concern as he observed Jamesโs movements.
Zinnia thought, finally catching on, โSo thatโs it. James and Yannis must have talked things out.โ
They exchanged a glance at Victorโs dramatic tone and then turned away in unison.
โYannis, would you like to celebrate your birthday at the Perkins Manor?โ James asked.
โYouโre lying here in a hospital bed and still thinking about my birthday?โ Yannis asked, sounding surprised.
Honestly, it was not Yannisโs fault to banter with James. Here James was, stuck in a hospital bed, yet still fussing over his sonโs birthday.
The doctor said his condition required at least six months of complete rest and recuperation.
Birthday celebrations at home always turned the place upside down.
โAll I need is some rest. Itโs not like I canโt move. I donโt care. You have to come back to the Perkins Manor for your birthday,โ James retorted stubbornly.
He was just resting, not bedridden.
โYannis, itโs been two years since you celebrated your birthday at home. Dad just wants to have you back this time,โ Devin said.
Watching the stubborn father-son duo with amusement, he voiced Jamesโs unspoken wish.
Yannis hadnโt celebrated his birthday at home since he went abroad at the age of 21. After two years away, he only returned six months ago.
Now that his son was finally back, James longed for Yannis to celebrate his birthday at home.
With the air cleared between them, James could no longer keep up his stern fatherly facade and couldnโt help but act like a mischievous old man.
After all, he knew Yannis would never truly disregard him.
James said, โWith my health like this, who knows how many more birthdays I can celebrate with you? I insist we celebrate at the Perkins Manorโฆ Unlessโฆโ
James paused, noticing Yannisโs silence and suddenly feeling self-conscious about his demanding tone.
โFine, letโs do it at the Perkins Manor,โ Yannis conceded.
James smiled, โLetโs do it at the Perkins Manor. It hasnโt seen this much excitement in agesโฆโ
As soon as Yannis agreed, James broke into a broad smile. Then he turned to Zinnia with a twinkle in his eye and said warmly, โZinnia, youโll come too.โ
โOh, okay,โ Zinnia replied instinctively.
โItโs settled then. Weโll celebrate at the Perkins Manor,โ said James.
โAlright, Layla and I will clear our schedules and help out in person. Weโll make sure to decorate properly. Itโs been ages since Yannis last celebrated his birthday at home,โ Devin said, a faint smile curling his lips.
James grinned and said, โMake it more festive.โ
โI remember Yannis loved balloons when he was little,โ Victor said with a smile. โWeโll definitely put up loads of balloons.โ
Layla grinned, โWe still need to order a cake. Should we go for something elaborate or just keep it simple? Actually, never mind. Weโll decide with the pastry chef.โ
Devin asked, โYannis, which friends should we contact? We should let them know in advance.โ
Not once did anyone ask Yannis what he wanted.
Zinnia sat up straight, hands resting on her knees, and listened as everyone chatted about Yannisโs birthday plans. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, but she couldnโt help yawning quietly, feeling even more out of place in the lively conversation.
Zinnia and Yannis sat by the hospital bed, while Devin and the others stood in a circle behind them.
James lay on the bed.
Something just felt off, but Zinnia couldnโt quite pinpoint what was wrong.
Yannis said, โDidnโt sleep well? Weโll head home soon so you can catch some sleep.โ
Yannis, the actual birthday boy, was completely ignored as everyone bickered back and forth. Their nonstop chatter was giving him a splitting headache.
โWhy did I ever agree to this birthday thing?โ he thought ruefully.
Yannis saw her stifle a yawn and lower her gaze, revealing the dark circles under her eyes.
She rarely stayed up late. Last night, she didnโt fall asleep until past 3 a.m., and now it was barely nine.
As soon as she finished her words, Layla said, โZinnia, what kind of decorations do you like? Iโll show you some ideas later. You can pick your favorites.โ
โYeah,โ Zinnia sighed. โI tossed and turned all night, drifting in and out of sleep. Honestly, it felt like I hadnโt slept a wink.โ
Layla held her phone right in front of Zinnia, clearly excited as she started scrolling through options, eager to brainstorm decoration ideas together.
โWait, youโre asking me to pick what I like? But isnโt it Yannisโs birthday?โ Zinnia asked, utterly bewildered.
โOh please, thereโs no point asking Yannis. Heโll just say whatever like always. Zinnia, letโs just pick what you like. Whatever you choose, heโs bound to love it.โ Layla couldnโt help sounding dismissive whenever Yannis was mentioned.
Having grown up with everything he wanted, Yannis rarely desired anything specific.
Birthdays didnโt matter to him, but Layla and the others never tired of making a fuss. After all, Yannis only turned a year older once, and they were determined to make it perfect.
โI donโt think thatโs rightโฆโ Zinnia believed birthdays should be about the celebrantโs preferences.
Having experienced a disappointing birthday herself, she felt this day belonged to Yannis and should reflect his tastes.
She just couldnโt understand why Layla bypassed Yannis and asked her instead.
โWhatever you like, Yannis will love too. Right, Yannis?โ Layla smiled as she turned to him.
Everyone looked at Yannis with a smile.
โYes,โ Yannis said.