Chapter 277

Zinnia woke up to daylight.

Luckily, it was the weekend, and she didn’t have to go to school. Otherwise, she’d be dead on her feet.

She pushed open her room door and stepped out, only to find the hospital room deathly quiet.

Zinnia’s appearance drew everyone’s 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 they’d been discussing before.

“Zinnia,” 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. “Hey, no need to run off. Don’t be scared. You’re the hero of our family right now.”

“Huh?” Zinnia blinked in utter confusion.

‘I just took a nap. What the heck happened while I was asleep?’ 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.

“What’s happening?” Zinnia asked hesitantly as she and Yannis took seats by the hospital bed.

‘Why am I even here, mixed up in their family affairs?’ she thought.

“Zinnia, is there anything you desire? Just name it. If you want the stars in the sky, I will have Yannis fetch them for you,” James smiled warmly at Zinnia, who sat there a bit stiffly.

“Your promise? Why am I the one who has to do it?” 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.

“I’m getting on in years. I might not be around much longer,” James said. “The doctor says I shouldn’t stress myself out. Can’t you do me a favor and show Zinnia our gratitude?”

James snorted.

“Gratitude?” Zinnia still didn’t get it.

After tossing and turning half the night, her mind was still foggy. She just couldn’t connect the dots.

“Yes, the misunderstanding between them has finally been cleared up,” Victor exclaimed excitedly.

Yannis shot back, “Who told you?”

James lifted his chin. “Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?”

“Sir, don’t hold your head up so high. The doctor said you’ve just woken up, so no sudden movements."

“Isn’t it great now that you’ve talked things out? You’re even finishing each other’s sentences.”

Victor watched nervously, his heart racing with concern as he observed James’s movements.

Zinnia thought, finally catching on, ‘So that’s it. James and Yannis must have talked things out.’

They exchanged a glance at Victor’s dramatic tone and then turned away in unison.

“Yannis, would you like to celebrate your birthday at the Perkins Manor?” James asked.

“You’re lying here in a hospital bed and still thinking about my birthday?” Yannis asked, sounding surprised.

Honestly, it was not Yannis’s fault to banter with James. Here James was, stuck in a hospital bed, yet still fussing over his son’s 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.

“All I need is some rest. It’s not like I can’t move. I don’t care. You have to come back to the Perkins Manor for your birthday,” James retorted stubbornly.

He was just resting, not bedridden.

“Yannis, it’s been two years since you celebrated your birthday at home. Dad just wants to have you back this time,” Devin said.

Watching the stubborn father-son duo with amusement, he voiced James’s unspoken wish.

Yannis hadn’t 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 couldn’t help but act like a mischievous old man.

After all, he knew Yannis would never truly disregard him.

James said, “With my health like this, who knows how many more birthdays I can celebrate with you? I insist we celebrate at the Perkins Manor… Unless…”

James paused, noticing Yannis’s silence and suddenly feeling self-conscious about his demanding tone.

“Fine, let’s do it at the Perkins Manor,” Yannis conceded.

James smiled, “Let’s do it at the Perkins Manor. It hasn’t seen this much excitement in ages…”

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, “Zinnia, you’ll come too.”

“Oh, okay,” Zinnia replied instinctively.

“It’s settled then. We’ll celebrate at the Perkins Manor,” said James.

“Alright, Layla and I will clear our schedules and help out in person. We’ll make sure to decorate properly. It’s been ages since Yannis last celebrated his birthday at home,” Devin said, a faint smile curling his lips.

James grinned and said, “Make it more festive.”

“I remember Yannis loved balloons when he was little,” Victor said with a smile. “We’ll definitely put up loads of balloons.”

Layla grinned, “We still need to order a cake. Should we go for something elaborate or just keep it simple? Actually, never mind. We’ll decide with the pastry chef.”

Devin asked, “Yannis, which friends should we contact? We should let them know in advance.”

Not once did anyone ask Yannis what he wanted.

Zinnia sat up straight, hands resting on her knees, and listened as everyone chatted about Yannis’s birthday plans. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, but she couldn’t 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 couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong.

Yannis said, “Didn’t sleep well? We’ll head home soon so you can catch some sleep.”

Yannis, the actual birthday boy, was completely ignored as everyone bickered back and forth. Their nonstop chatter was giving him a splitting headache.

‘Why did I ever agree to this birthday thing?’ 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 didn’t fall asleep until past 3 a.m., and now it was barely nine.

As soon as she finished her words, Layla said, “Zinnia, what kind of decorations do you like? I’ll show you some ideas later. You can pick your favorites.”

“Yeah,” Zinnia sighed. “I tossed and turned all night, drifting in and out of sleep. Honestly, it felt like I hadn’t slept a wink.”

Layla held her phone right in front of Zinnia, clearly excited as she started scrolling through options, eager to brainstorm decoration ideas together.

“Wait, you’re asking me to pick what I like? But isn’t it Yannis’s birthday?” Zinnia asked, utterly bewildered.

“Oh please, there’s no point asking Yannis. He’ll just say whatever like always. Zinnia, let’s just pick what you like. Whatever you choose, he’s bound to love it.” Layla couldn’t help sounding dismissive whenever Yannis was mentioned.

Having grown up with everything he wanted, Yannis rarely desired anything specific.

Birthdays didn’t 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.

“I don’t think that’s right…” Zinnia believed birthdays should be about the celebrant’s preferences.

Having experienced a disappointing birthday herself, she felt this day belonged to Yannis and should reflect his tastes.

She just couldn’t understand why Layla bypassed Yannis and asked her instead.

“Whatever you like, Yannis will love too. Right, Yannis?” Layla smiled as she turned to him.

Everyone looked at Yannis with a smile.

“Yes,” Yannis said.