Chapter 56

Howard added, "Maelis, you need to convince Jackson to take down that post. If it stays up, the fallout for Betty will be too much. Jackson and his crew crossed the line this time. How could they let Isaac pull off something like this?"

"They’re completely ignoring our family’s reputation. It’s like they’re inviting everyone to laugh at us. And Zinnia, don’t even get me started. She didn’t step in, didn’t clear anything up, just stood by and let people say whatever they wanted about Betty. It’s ridiculous!"

Donald’s tone was full of frustration. He complained inside, "If Zinnia had stepped in to stop Isaac and then posted online that it was all a misunderstanding, maybe even said she and Betty were close, Betty wouldn’t be caught in this storm of gossip!"

The more Donald thought about Zinnia’s lack of action, the more his irritation toward her grew.

"Donald, I want to bring Zinnia home tomorrow," Maelis said softly.

Donald frowned and said, "Zinnia threw a tantrum and ran off. We didn’t even scold her for being immature, and now you want to bring her home? That’s absurd. If you keep indulging her like this, you’ll only spoil her more."

"If she wants to stay at Lynn residence, let her stay there. Bringing her back will just lead to more fights with Betty, turning the house into chaos."

Maelis’s brows furrowed slightly as she listened to Donald mention Betty over and over.

Donald continued, "Betty is sweet, obedient, and sensible. Right now, with Zinnia back in the picture, Betty’s feeling insecure. We need to focus on Betty. This whole mess happened because Betty was so scared we might abandon her that she made a mistake."

"As for Zinnia, let her stay with the Lynn family for now. Betty is going through a tough time and needs your attention. Zinnia can wait. Sofia and Henry won’t neglect her."

Maelis felt a pang of unease. Donald’s words sounded so wrong, yet she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. She looked up at him, noticing the weariness etched on his face. But his eyes were laser-focused on one thing: Betty.

Zinnia was dropped off at school the next morning by Charles.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, Maisie darted over and threw herself into Zinnia’s arms. She shouted, "Zinnia, darling!"

Before Zinnia could say anything, a lazy, teasing voice chimed in, "Careful, you’re gonna squish her."

Maisie let out a startled yelp as Yannis grabbed her by the back of her neck, pulling her away from Zinnia.

That day, Zinnia wore a pink dress with a small white bunny embroidered on the chest, paired with leather boots. Her hair was styled into two fluffy side braids, each adorned with pearl hairpins.

Bright and lively, she looked like a tender pink flower. With her white backpack slung over her shoulders and her hands clutching the straps, she stood there quietly, a picture of innocence and charm.

"Fancy seeing you again, Zinnia," Yannis greeted. His leisurely gaze landed on Zinnia. His long, narrow eyes curved slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Yannis," Zinnia greeted, surprised to see him. Her eyes instinctively drifted to the area under his eyes.

She observed and thought, "His skin looks much better now, without the bluish tint from before. It seems he has been sleeping well these past few days. He looks even more stunning now." Zinnia had always appreciated beautiful people.

Yannis was breathtaking. His hair fell casually over his forehead, framing a face as fair as jade. His sharp features and languidly curved eyes gave the impression of a smile, though no real warmth could be found within them.

His lips were thin and exquisitely shaped. Dressed in a simple black shirt and casual trousers, with a blazer draped over one arm and a subtle watch on his pale wrist, he exuded effortless elegance and nobility.

Zinnia thought, He looks like someone who lives surrounded by treasures.

Sensing her curious gaze, Yannis smiled and said, "Thanks for the herbal pouch, Zinnia. I’ve been sleeping wonderfully these past few days."

Yannis had indeed slept well in the past two days. His spirit, which was visible to the naked eye, had recovered.

Now, when he closed his eyes, the haunting scenes of blood were replaced by a faint herbal fragrance and the image of Zinnia sternly instructing him with a serious expression.

Zinnia nodded and said, "Glad to hear you got some rest. Just try not to overthink things at night."

Listening to their conversation, Maisie’s eyes widened in disbelief. She thought, "Wait, Yannis can sleep? Does it mean he won’t end up collapsing from exhaustion at a young age? This is amazing!"

"I have to tell Grandpa when I get home. He’ll be thrilled!" Then Maisie sidled up to Zinnia again, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

She said, "What are you guys talking about, Zinnia? A herbal pouch? Did you give Yannis a gift? What about me? Can I get one too?"

Yannis glanced at Maisie, who was practically draped over Zinnia like a lifeless doll. He said, "Can’t you stand straight? Should I grab you a wheelchair? Is this how our family teaches manners, clinging to people like that in public?"

His tone was sharp and cutting, a stark contrast to the warmth he had shown Zinnia moments ago.

Maisie couldn’t help but feel a chill run down her spine. She rubbed her arms and shot Yannis a pouty glare. She complained inside, "Yannis isn’t usually one for rules, so what’s wrong with me sticking close to Zinnia?"

Just then, Charles finished a phone call and stepped out of the car. He called out, "Yannis."

Yannis’s expression softened as he nodded in acknowledgment. He asked, "When did you get back?"

Maisie’s eyes lit up at the sight of Charles. Her cheeks flushed as she called out excitedly, "Charlie!" She thought, "Did he see me clinging to Zinnia earlier? If he did, I’ll never live it down."

Charles replied to Yannis, "Just got back yesterday." Then he turned to Maisie with a gentle smile. He said, "Maisie, I came back in a hurry and didn’t bring you a gift this time. I’ll make it up to you next time, I promise.”

The Lynn family and the Spence family were close neighbors. When Maisie was younger and her parents were away, Raymond often brought her along to Lynn residence to play while he visited for chess games.

Isaac was just too rambunctious; Maisie couldn’t play well with him. Instead, Maisie preferred the quiet and calm Charlie.

Back then, while Charlie sat by the window reading, Maisie would drag a chair over to sit beside him and work on her homework. Whenever she struggled with a problem, Charlie would patiently guide her through it, his tone always gentle and reassuring.