As the minutes ticked by, midnight was just around the corner.

“Master, Jackson, come quick! Let’s light the big fireworks together,” Zinnia waved excitedly at the two men in the distance. They strode over without hesitation.

“Jackson, you light this one,” Zinnia called out, pointing at the big firework on the left.

Zinnia turned to Nathan and said cheerfully, “Master, you light this one.” Then she stepped aside, giving up her spot for him. “I’ll take this one?” she declared with enthusiasm.

“And you,” Zinnia nudged Yannis playfully toward the spot beside her, “this one’s yours.”

They had prepared four large fireworks in total. The three men let Zinnia take charge, standing wherever she told them to.

“Scared? If you are, I can light it for you,” Nathan said, his eyes soft as he looked at the person beside him.

“Not scared at all. I want to light it myself,” Zinnia declared, shaking her head vigorously.

From their rooftop vantage point, they could see a giant LED screen not far away, displaying a countdown. On it, the numbers ticked down.

Their eyes locked onto the glowing display. As the final number hit zero, they lit their fireworks in unison. Streaks of fire shot skyward, exploding into a dazzling spectacle of light.

The four of them stood beneath the fireworks. “Merry Christmas!” From their rooftop perch, they could faintly hear the thunderous cheers rising from below.

“Merry Christmas!” Zinnia leaned on the railing with both hands and couldn’t help but shout.

“Merry Christmas, Sweetie Zinnia.” Three distinct voices rang in her ears at once.

Zinnia glanced from one to another, a little overwhelmed by all the attention. “Merry Christmas!” Her eyes crinkled into joyful crescents.

“Light mine!” Zinnia urged, her voice full of excitement. She bent down and grabbed sparklers in both hands. Nathan lit the one in her left hand, while Yannis lit the one in her right. Twin bursts of flame erupted almost simultaneously.

The sparklers were only about three feet long, held close as she stood bathed in their glow. “New Year’s here!” Zinnia’s eyes curved into joyful crescent moons.

Before she knew it, half a year had passed. Zinnia used to think life was unbearably hard, but at that moment she found it full of joy. Everyone she loved and cared about was right here with her.

Zinnia held her sparkler high, tilting her head back as brilliant fireworks blossomed across the night sky. Their dazzling glow reflected in her beautiful eyes, making it impossible to tell which was more breathtaking.

Yannis gazed at her radiant face, his features softening into a warm smile, utterly captivated by her joy.

“The new year is here. Zinnia, I hope you’ll be healthy and happy all year long,” Nathan said, pulling a box from his coat pocket.

“Thank you, Master. I wish you a healthy and happy new year too,” Zinnia replied with a bright smile, accepting the box. Then, still smiling, she reached into her down jacket and fished out a white box of her own.

Every year without fail, Nathan would prepare gifts for Zinnia. She grew up without parents, but he made sure she never lacked anything other children had. In fact, whatever other kids received, he’d give her even more, sometimes twice as much.

Zinnia would also prepare gifts for him. They might have been parentless since childhood, but in each other they found family, proving that home isn’t always defined by blood ties.

“Thank you, Zinnia,” Nathan said warmly as he took the gift and tucked it into his bag.

“Yannis, this is for you.” Zinnia rummaged through her bag again, found a pale blue box, and pressed it into the hands of Yannis, who had been waiting for her intently.

To his surprise, a small box was suddenly in his palm. Yannis hadn’t expected to receive anything himself.

“Jackson, this is yours.” Zinnia then walked over to Jackson.

Each of the three men received a gift from Zinnia, and their faces lit up with delight. They were absolutely overjoyed. “Thank you, Sweetie,” Jackson said, grinning from ear to ear.

Yannis carefully tucked the precious box into his pocket, then produced his own gift. He’d brought something for her too. In an instant, Zinnia found herself holding three presents.

“Here, take these. The keys to the equestrian club in the suburbs,” Jackson said, handing a set of keys to Nathan.

Nathan wrinkled his nose. “I don’t want it. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“You’re my little brother,” Jackson insisted, shoving the keys into his hand. To him, Nathan would always be a kid.

Nathan fell silent. “You’re only six months older than me.” In truth, Jackson was merely six months his senior.

“Still, I’m older. That makes you my little brother,” Jackson insisted. In his eyes, Nathan was just another little brother, no different from Isaac and Charlie or the other Lynn siblings.

If the Moores hadn’t moved abroad and Nathan hadn’t spent all those years hiding, Jackson would have brought him back to the Lynn family as soon as tragedy struck, instead of letting him struggle alone for revenge.

“Here’s yours, Yannis.” Jackson fished out a set of car keys and handed them over. “It’s the latest model,” he added with a grin.

Yannis flashed a mischievous smile. “Guess I won’t say no, Jackson,” he said, taking the keys without hesitation.

Jackson truly embodied the role of a protective big brother, responsible and always treating everyone under his wing with utmost care.

“Merry Christmas, Nathan.” Yannis produced another gift, a rectangular box. They’d made sure to prepare gifts for both Nathan and Zinnia.

“Yannis, why are you acting like Jackson? I don’t need any more gifts,” Nathan said with a sigh of resignation. He had just accepted a big gift when Yannis handed him a smaller one, leaving him thoroughly exasperated.

“It’s just for good luck,” Yannis insisted, pressing the box firmly into his hand.

“Alright, it’s getting late,” Nathan said. “Let’s head back.”

“Wait! Master, Jackson, Yannis, let’s take a group photo together.” Zinnia pulled out her phone, her eyes shining brightly with excitement as she looked at them expectantly.

“Sure,” Yannis agreed without hesitation.

Nathan nodded, his voice laced with a smile. “Okay.”

Jackson grinned and readily assented, “Whatever our Zinnia says goes.”

“Come on, everyone. Quick, gather round,” Zinnia called out, waving them over with excitement.

“It’s still before midnight, the perfect time for a photo,” she added. Above them, brilliant fireworks illuminated the night, turning the darkness aglow.

The three men readily gathered around her. Zinnia took the center spot, flanked by Nathan on her right and Yannis on her left, with Jackson standing just behind her. As the final second before midnight ticked away, the camera captured their radiant smiles, forever frozen in the glow of the fireworks.