Come in 5
Posted on July 07, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 5

โ€œZinnia, I already told Mom and Dad you didnโ€™t push me. They just need time to get to know you better. Please donโ€™t be mad at themโ€”or our brothers. This is all my fault for not explaining clearly,โ€ Betty said softly.

Something about her words made Howard uneasy, though he couldnโ€™t place why.

โ€œZinnia, I was just joking. This is your home. Where would you move?โ€ Maelis held Zinniaโ€™s hand, her voice anxious as she forced a gentle smile. She suddenly realized Zinnia hadnโ€™t called her โ€œMomโ€ even once since entering the hospital room.

โ€œI heard you talking about sending me away. Donโ€™t go through the trouble. This is never really my home anyway,โ€ Zinnia replied, glancing at Maelisโ€™ tender face before quickly looking away.

After Zinnia returned home, Maelis had shown moments of guilt. But guilt wasnโ€™t love. Even if some affection existed, it was too messyโ€”Maelis loved too many people. Zinnia needed none of it.

Watching Maelis hold Zinniaโ€™s hand, Betty bit her lip, her hands clenching under the covers.

โ€œZinnia, even Yosef said to let it go.โ€ Timothy crossed his arms, irritation flashing in his narrow eyes. โ€œBettyโ€™s not blaming you anymore and said it was a misunderstanding. Why make such a fuss about moving out?โ€

โ€œMake a fuss?โ€ Zinnia pulled her hand free from Maelis, frowning. โ€œWhat makes you think Iโ€™d bother with you? Who do you think you are to me?โ€

โ€œDo you all think Iโ€™m just causing trouble? Why wonโ€™t anyone listen to me?โ€ Zinnia looked around at Donald, Yosef, and Howard. All three looked at her with frustration, seemingly thinking she was being unreasonable.

Timothyโ€™s face hardened. โ€˜Is she saying Iโ€™m full of myself? And suggesting we donโ€™t deserve her throwing a tantrum?โ€™

Suddenly, anger surged through him. โ€˜When did she become so bold and sharp-tongued? Sheโ€™s not even trying to hide her attitude from us anymore. No wonder everyone in the family canโ€™t stand her.โ€™

โ€œZinnia, could you call me Mom? You havenโ€™t said it once since you got here,โ€ Maelis said, her voice cracking.

Zinnia used to whisper โ€œMomโ€ every time she got home, and Maelisโ€™d felt Zinnia carefully trying to connect. But now, that fragile bond seemed gone. A motherโ€™s instinct told Maelis: Zinnia was disappointed in her.

The Shaw men froze. Now that they considered it, they realized Zinnia hadnโ€™t greeted any of them since entering the hospital room.

โ€œLook, it was a misunderstanding. We shouldโ€™ve been more careful,โ€ Yosef said to Zinnia, his jaw clenching. โ€œIโ€™ll bump up your allowance for a month. Go buy whatever you want.โ€

His voice was calm but cold, devoid of any brotherly warmth. He just wanted to shut this down and stop the family drama.

โ€˜Seriously? Zinnia gets more money just for throwing a fit? And here I am, killing myself trying to sweet-talk Mom and Dad for just a fraction of that!โ€™

โ€œIโ€™m out of here,โ€ Zinnia said, scanning the hospital room. Her lips curled slightly when she caught Bettyโ€™s venomous glare.

โ€˜These people are totally clueless. How can they not see right through Bettyโ€™s game?โ€™ she thought bitterly, then turned and walked out without a second glance.

โ€œZinnia,โ€ Maelis called out, wanting to chase after her. But she stopped as she glanced back at Betty, who was still in the hospital bed and needed constant care. Zinnia was heading home anyway, and Maelis figured she could go find her later.

Howard frowned as he watched Zinnia walk away, feeling a knot of tension in his chest. โ€œIโ€™ll walk her out,โ€ he said.

โ€œYeah, Howard, go with Zinnia,โ€ Maelis said. โ€œTalk to her and try to cheer her up. Maybe take her shopping or grab something to help her feel better.โ€

โ€œZinniaโ€™s getting more and more out of control,โ€ Timothy sneered coldly.

Zinnia marched down the hallway with quick strides. Howard hurried after her, but every word he said only made her walk faster, nearly breaking into a run to get away from him.

Betty watched the two of them walking away together and felt a strange, bitter sting in her heart.

โ€œAlright, Timothy,โ€ Yosef said, sighing, giving his brother a helpless look. โ€œBetty said it was just a misunderstanding. We really treated Zinnia unfairly today.โ€

โ€œMisunderstanding? What about all the times sheโ€™s bullied Betty before? That couldnโ€™t be a misunderstanding,โ€ Timothy shot back.

But then he remembered Bettyโ€™s weird behavior earlier. He pressed his lips together and glanced down the corridorโ€”Zinnia was already gone.

Silence filled the ward. While todayโ€™s situation was debatable, there was no denying Zinnia had bullied Betty in the past.

Betty secretly relished their dislike for Zinnia. โ€œThat country bumpkin will never take my place in the Shaw family. She shouldโ€™ve stayed right where she came from, instead of trying to squeeze into a life that was never meant for her!โ€

โ€œZinnia, slow down. Are you racing to the grave?โ€ Howard grumbled as he rushed to catch up, surprised by her quick pace despite her short legs.

โ€œStop tailing me. Go be with your precious Betty,โ€ Zinnia snapped, annoyed. โ€˜Why canโ€™t this guy just leave me alone?โ€™

โ€œZinnia, are you jealous that we care more about Betty than you?โ€ Howard blocked her path in two strides, towering over her much smaller frame.

A teammate had once warned him, โ€œWhen youโ€™ve got two sisters, never talk about one in front of the other, or the other will be jealous.โ€ Now he felt Zinnia was acting exactly like the jealous sister his teammate had described.

At 5โ€™3", Zinnia looked tiny next to Howardโ€™s over 6-foot frame. He noticed two cowlicks on her head, looking quite cute. But he had heard others say people with double crowns had bad tempers. Howard thought there might be something to that, considering how moody Zinnia could be.

โ€œGet lost or Iโ€™ll punch you!โ€ Zinnia snapped, her usually soft voice sharp. She clenched her fists, trying to steady her dizzy body. She was burning up and just wanted to go home, grab her stuff, move out, and rest.

โ€œPunch me?โ€ Howard chuckled, using his palm to measure the funny height difference between her head and his chest. โ€œFeisty little thing, arenโ€™t you?โ€

โ€œGET LOST!โ€ Zinnia glared up at him, her eyes rimmed with red and her cheeks burning. The next moment, everything went dark.

โ€œZinnia!โ€


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