Chapter 28
From behind, the clerk couldnโt help but gawk and thought, โWhoa, this is like straight out of those romance novels. The whole family drama thing is real. But it looks like this family isnโt exactly getting along right now.โ
โHey, Jackson,โ Timothy said. He hadnโt expected to bump into Jackson and Zinnia and looked over at Zinnia.
She seemed different somehowโhappier. She was actually smiling, which was rare. Back at the house, sheโd always seemed so withdrawn, and he could count the times heโd seen her smile on one hand.
This smile was different, though. It was genuine and warm, like she was truly enjoying herself. She was wearing a pretty dress, looking like a little girl whoโd finally found her place in the world. It was a far cry from the quiet, shadowy figure she used to be.
Betty caught Timothyโs eyes lingering on Zinnia and pursed her lips. She hadnโt expected Zinnia to still command attention like that.
Zinniaโs smile vanished the moment she saw them. Her face went blank and cold again.
She pulled the orange juice away from her lips, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the cup. Jackson had bought it for her, and she didnโt want to drink it in front of them. She was afraid sheโd feel sick and waste his kindness.
โHmm.โ Jackson noticed the change in her and responded with a cool nod. But he stepped a little closer to Zinnia, almost like he was shielding her.
โJackson, Zinnia, glad to see you guys.โ Bettyโs smile faltered. She hadnโt expected him to be so cold. Her usually composed expression wavered, revealing a hint of hurt.
โBetty, weโre not real family. Letโs keep it that way. And you can drop the act with Zinnia. Sheโs got nothing to do with you,โ Jackson said.
He had no patience for her false niceties. Having seen all sorts of people in the business world, he could easily see through her little games. She was clearly trying to ingratiate herself with his family.
But the Lynn family didnโt trust anyone so calculating. If she could scheme against her own relatives, who knew what she might do to them in the future?
The Lynn brothers had never liked Betty, not even as kids. There was something off about herโshe never seemed to have the warmth youโd expect from a young girl in the family.
They only interacted with her because of Maelis, but now that she was out of the picture, Jackson felt a strange sense of relief. With Zinnia back, it was clear: it wasnโt that they didnโt want a little girl around, they just didnโt like Betty.
โJackson, I didnโt mean anything by it.โ Bettyโs voice trembled. She was furious inside, but she forced herself to look even more sorrowful.
Timothyโs brow furrowed. He hadnโt expected Jackson to be so harsh with Betty. He recalled how Zinnia had smiled warmly at Jackson when theyโd first walked in. The two had chatted quietly, with Jackson even ruffling her hair.
But now, facing them, Zinnia hadnโt smiled once, hadnโt even said hello. He thought, โItโs just plain rude. Sheโs only been away from home for two days, and already seems even more disrespectful.โ
He thought this was all Zinniaโs fault and tried to expose her. โHey, Jackson, Bettyโs also family. Could you please be fair? I get it. Did Zinnia say something bad about her? Jackson, donโt-โ
He didnโt get to finish. Jackson cut him off coldly, โTimothy, youโre the one who should be fair. Zinnia hasnโt said anything. Stop making everything her fault.โ
โThe Shaw family are always quick to blame. I canโt even imagine how Zinnia has endured all this mistreatment from them,โ he thought, his determination to keep Zinnia away from the Shaw family only growing stronger.
โJackson, Iโm fine. Please donโt fight with Timothy because of me. Zinnia doesnโt like me, and thatโs okay. I mean, I did take her place,โ Betty said, gently tugging at Timothyโs hand.
She didnโt want the Shaw family to fall out with the Lynn family. The Shaw family was influential in town, but the Lynn Family was even more so, and they were close with the Perkins family. Jackson was even a close friend of the Perkins heir.
Despite her words, she didnโt deny what heโd said. Deep down, she thought Zinnia must have said something bad about her to Jackson.
A wave of resentment washed over Betty as she thought, โOtherwise, Jackson wouldnโt have treated me badly. Heโs never spoken to me like this because of Zinnia. Why does Zinnia have to take everything from me?โ
Zinnia glanced over at Betty flatly, catching a flicker of disgust in her eyes. Bettyโs dislike was becoming more obviousโshe was genuinely annoyed, and she wasnโt even trying to hide it anymore.
From the first day Zinnia had returned, sheโd felt Bettyโs disgust. And during the two months at the Shaw residence, it had only gotten worse.
But Zinnia didnโt care. Sheโd never thought of the Shaw residence as home. Sheโd only come back because her master had asked her to. Otherwise, sheโd have stayed in Tareston, where she was perfectly happy.
Her master hadnโt said she had to stay, though. Zinnia had never planned to linger here. Once her master returned, sheโd be gone.
So, as long as Zinnia wasnโt actually hurt, Bettyโs hostility, or the attempts to flaunt the Shaw familyโs affection or turn them against her, just didnโt bother her.
If the Shaw family really cared, theyโd look beyond hearsay and their own biases. But they never bothered to seek the truth. They chose to believe Betty because she was the child they raised, the one they couldnโt imagine doing anything wrong.
As for Zinniaโshe was just a blood relation, not someone theyโd nurtured. Compared to Betty, Zinnia was an afterthought. Whenever trouble came, their first concern was always for Betty, fearing she might get hurt.
For example, when Zinnia first came back. They told her to stay hidden in her room while they โpreparedโ Betty for her arrival.
Zinnia wasnโt always quick on the uptake, but once she saw through a situation, she was razor-sharp.
When Betty tried to provoke her, Zinnia didnโt bite. She just gave back what she got. If they didnโt care about her, she wasnโt about to waste her feelings on them. As long as she kept herself safe, sheโd be fine.
Now, it was clear sheโd made the right choice. Between her and Betty, theyโd always pick Betty.