Chapter 61
Zinnia didnโt dislike it because it tasted bad. What bothered her was knowing she didnโt even get to choose what she liked. Even the ingredients were limited. That alone made it feel bland, no matter how it actually tasted.
However, Zinnia found herself liking these pumpkin pies and decided she would definitely come back to this place more often.
There were only eight pieces of pumpkin pie in totalโfour on each plate. With five people at the table, everyone took one, leaving just three. Zinnia didnโt feel right taking more.
She thought maybe she would just order a couple more herself later.
โOf course, Zinnia. If you want more, Iโll ask Tessa to make extra ones for you,โ Ethan said without hesitation.
โReally? Thank you so much.โ Zinniaโs eyes lit up like a kitten getting a treat. She was so happy and couldnโt even hide it.
Seeing her radiant smile, Ethan blushed. โIโll go talk to Tessa right now,โ he said before darting off in a flash.
โYou can have them all. Weโre almost full,โ Brian said, sliding a plate of pumpkin pies toward Zinnia, making it clear she could have it all.
โExactly, Zinnia. Donโt feel embarrassed,โ Maisie added, then turned to Lydia. โLydia, letโs share these ones.โ
โAlright,โ Lydia agreed with a small nod.
Zinniaโs joy was overflowing, and everyone could see it.
โYouโre so kind to me.โ Zinnia hesitated, feeling a bit shy.
โItโs totally fine. Weโre good friends, so donโt feel bad about it. If you like it, go ahead and enjoy,โ Maisie said with a smile, playfully pinching Zinniaโs cheek.
They werenโt particularly fond of desserts themselves, so they didnโt mind letting Zinnia have her fill. If there were more available, Maisie would have ordered extra ones just for her.
โThank you,โ Zinnia said with a bright smile.
Her happiness was infectious, and they couldnโt help but smile along. It was touching how something as simple as a plate of pumpkin pies could light up her entire day.
They tried the last plate of pumpkin pies, making sure to save one for Ethan.
โThese are tasty,โ Maisie said, nodding in approval.
โYeah, theyโre delicious,โ Lydia agreed, savoring each bite.
Ethan soon returned, carrying a dish in his hands. โZinnia, I asked Tessa to make more for you once sheโs free.โ
โIโm glad you like it. Iโll bake you more pumpkin pies when youโre almost done eating. It tastes way better when itโs warm,โ Tessa said, following behind with a dish of steamed lobsters.
โThank you, Tessa,โ Zinnia said softly.
โNo need to thank me, dear. Iโm really glad you enjoyed it,โ Tessa said with a smile, her gaze softening as she looked at Zinniaโs cute face. โTake your time, and just call me if you need anything.โ
After setting down the lobsters, Tessa returned with four more dishes, filling the table with a feast before heading back to the kitchen.
It was a real feast. There were steamed lobsters, pork chops, baked potatoes, garlic beef, and even mushroom soup.
They had five people, and the portions were generousโmore than enough for everyone.
Brian said, โDonโt let looks fool you. It might not be plated like in those fancy restaurants, but the taste is totally on point. Especially these prawnsโtheyโre amazing. You guys gotta try them!โ
Ethan picked up a piece of steamed lobster with his fork. The tender meat was coated in sauce, and the smell alone was mouthwatering.
He said, โThis lobster is really good, but watch out for shell bits. They left some in on purpose to keep it traditional.โ
โIf everyone says itโs good, then it must be worth trying,โ Maisie said, picking up a piece of steamed lobster to taste.
The moment she took a bite, she was surprised. โZinnia, you have to try this. It looks spicy, but itโs mostly just packed with flavor,โ Maisie said to Zinnia excitedly.
โOkay,โ Zinnia replied, finishing the last bite of her pumpkin pie. However, she didnโt reach for the lobster. Instead, she quietly helped herself with other dishes, her gaze repeatedly drifting toward the lobster, though she hesitated to pick any up.
โIt should be fine now,โ Lydia said softly, carefully removing the lobster shells before placing the meat on Zinniaโs plate.
The others glanced over curiously.
โI got a lobster shell stuck in my throat once, so I donโt eat lobster anymore,โ Zinnia explained, feeling embarrassed as she looked at the piece of lobster on her plate.
Zinnia loved eating lobsters, but she never learned how to deal with shells.
When she lived in the village with Master, he would often cook lobsters for her just because she liked it. He always made sure to remove all the shells before serving them to her.
Once, at a neighborโs house, Zinnia tried eating lobsters. Despite her careful efforts, she still ended up with a piece of shell stuck in her throat.
The feeling of the shells in her throat was awful. Zinnia was six at the time, and she was so scared that her eyes were filled with tears. She cried all the way home to find Master, convinced she was going to choke to death.
Master removed the shell for her, but from that day on, Zinnia became too scared to eat lobsters on her own. The fear of choking lingered.
Whenever they had lobsters after that, Master would meticulously remove all the shells for her. Now that he was gone, Zinnia had lost her appetite for lobsters altogether.
She was afraid of choking again, knowing there would be no one to help her this time.
Jinston wasnโt her home, and she had no one she could truly rely on. The Shaw family didnโt care about her, and she didnโt want to trouble the Lynn family either.
A child without anyone to protect her learned to avoid risks on her own.
โItโs okay, Zinnia. The lobster has been prepared very well, so there shouldnโt be any problems, but still, just be careful while you eat,โ Maisie said.
No one thought Zinnia was being overly dramatic because they understood that everyone had things they were not good at.
โDonโt worry, Iโll handle the lobsters for her,โ Lydia said softly, her voice calm yet clear.
Although quiet and reserved by nature, Lydia was undeniably thoughtful.
โThank you, Lydia.โ Zinnia felt a bittersweet warmth spreading through her chest. She never expected someone she had just met to care for her like this.
Zinnia always thought she wasnโt smart or good at socializing. She wasnโt much of a talker and often found it hard to connect with others. Most people likely found her quiet and dull.
At the Shaw residence, the thing they said to her the most was, โZinnia, whatโs wrong with you? Canโt you speak? Are you mute or something?โ
Betty, on the other hand, was lively and knew how to say all the right things to please others. The Shaw family adored her. Meanwhile, Zinniaโs quiet demeanor and slow reactions made her an easy target for manipulation.
By the time she caught on, they had already decided what kind of person she was and wouldnโt believe a word she said.
The Shaw family didnโt like her. At first, Zinnia hadnโt even noticed Bettyโs hostility or her attempts to kick her out of the family. Zinnia was slow to pick up on such things.
It wasnโt until the Shaw family kept blaming her for everything, with their growing disappointment and even Howard showing signs of disgust, that Zinnia realized that Betty had been harboring a lot of hostility toward her.
From that point on, she kept her guard up around Betty, recognizing the traps laid for her and choosing to distance herself.
As for the Shaw family, when her efforts to earn their trust proved futile, Zinnia gradually stopped caring about their opinions.
She would never waste her time on people who treated her badly.