Chapter 61

Zinnia didn’t dislike it because it tasted bad. What bothered her was knowing she didn’t 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 total—four on each plate. With five people at the table, everyone took one, leaving just three. Zinnia didn’t feel right taking more.

She thought maybe she would just order a couple more herself later.

“Of course, Zinnia. If you want more, I’ll ask Tessa to make extra ones for you,” Ethan said without hesitation.

“Really? Thank you so much.” Zinnia’s eyes lit up like a kitten getting a treat. She was so happy and couldn’t even hide it.

Seeing her radiant smile, Ethan blushed. “I’ll go talk to Tessa right now,” he said before darting off in a flash.

“You can have them all. We’re almost full,” Brian said, sliding a plate of pumpkin pies toward Zinnia, making it clear she could have it all.

“Exactly, Zinnia. Don’t feel embarrassed,” Maisie added, then turned to Lydia. “Lydia, let’s share these ones.”

“Alright,” Lydia agreed with a small nod.

Zinnia’s joy was overflowing, and everyone could see it.

“You’re so kind to me.” Zinnia hesitated, feeling a bit shy.

“It’s totally fine. We’re good friends, so don’t feel bad about it. If you like it, go ahead and enjoy,” Maisie said with a smile, playfully pinching Zinnia’s cheek.

They weren’t particularly fond of desserts themselves, so they didn’t mind letting Zinnia have her fill. If there were more available, Maisie would have ordered extra ones just for her.

“Thank you,” Zinnia said with a bright smile.

Her happiness was infectious, and they couldn’t 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.

“These are tasty,” Maisie said, nodding in approval.

“Yeah, they’re delicious,” Lydia agreed, savoring each bite.

Ethan soon returned, carrying a dish in his hands. “Zinnia, I asked Tessa to make more for you once she’s free.”

“I’m glad you like it. I’ll bake you more pumpkin pies when you’re almost done eating. It tastes way better when it’s warm,” Tessa said, following behind with a dish of steamed lobsters.

“Thank you, Tessa,” Zinnia said softly.

“No need to thank me, dear. I’m really glad you enjoyed it,” Tessa said with a smile, her gaze softening as she looked at Zinnia’s cute face. “Take your time, and just call me if you need anything.”

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 generous–more than enough for everyone.

Brian said, “Don’t let looks fool you. It might not be plated like in those fancy restaurants, but the taste is totally on point. Especially these prawns—they’re amazing. You guys gotta try them!”

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, “This lobster is really good, but watch out for shell bits. They left some in on purpose to keep it traditional.”

“If everyone says it’s good, then it must be worth trying,” Maisie said, picking up a piece of steamed lobster to taste.

The moment she took a bite, she was surprised. “Zinnia, you have to try this. It looks spicy, but it’s mostly just packed with flavor,” Maisie said to Zinnia excitedly.

“Okay,” Zinnia replied, finishing the last bite of her pumpkin pie. However, she didn’t 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.

“It should be fine now,” Lydia said softly, carefully removing the lobster shells before placing the meat on Zinnia’s plate.

The others glanced over curiously.

“I got a lobster shell stuck in my throat once, so I don’t eat lobster anymore,” 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 neighbor’s 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 wasn’t her home, and she had no one she could truly rely on. The Shaw family didn’t care about her, and she didn’t want to trouble the Lynn family either.

A child without anyone to protect her learned to avoid risks on her own.

“It’s okay, Zinnia. The lobster has been prepared very well, so there shouldn’t be any problems, but still, just be careful while you eat,” Maisie said.

No one thought Zinnia was being overly dramatic because they understood that everyone had things they were not good at.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle the lobsters for her,” Lydia said softly, her voice calm yet clear.

Although quiet and reserved by nature, Lydia was undeniably thoughtful.

“Thank you, Lydia.” 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 wasn’t smart or good at socializing. She wasn’t 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, “Zinnia, what’s wrong with you? Can’t you speak? Are you mute or something?”

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, Zinnia’s 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 wouldn’t believe a word she said.

The Shaw family didn’t like her. At first, Zinnia hadn’t even noticed Betty’s hostility or her attempts to kick her out of the family. Zinnia was slow to pick up on such things.

It wasn’t 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.