Chapter 72

“Linda, hurry up! Get the chef to make Yosef some soup—it’ll warm his stomach,” Maelis called out, her voice uncharacteristically sharp.

“Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Shaw, I’m afraid there’s no soup left,” Linda said hesitantly, stepping forward with an apologetic look.

“What do you mean there’s no soup? Don’t you know Yosef needs it regularly for his health?” Marlis’s tone sharpened, a clear display of her mounting frustration. It felt as though everything was conspiring against her.

“Mrs. Shaw, the ingredients for the soup were always provided by Ms. Zinnia Shaw. She knew Mr. Yosef Shaw had stomach issues, so she would prepare the ingredients for us to make the soup,” Linda explained, her head slightly bowed.

It wasn’t as if Yosef had always had soup to drink; it only became a regular thing after Zinnia started providing the ingredients. Now that she’s been driven away, there’s no one to prepare them anymore.

They didn’t appreciate Zinnia when she was here, but now that she’d gone, everyone seemed to want something from her.

“Zinnia provided it?” The group was completely taken aback by this revelation.

“My soup was prepared by Zinnia?” Yosef’s voice carried a note of disbelief, his expression stunned. He hadn’t expected the soup he relied on to be her doing.

His stomach had always been sensitive, making it hard for him to eat certain foods. With frequent social engagements and occasional drinking, his stomach often felt uncomfortable, leaving him restless at night.

But at some point, the house started serving soup that soothed his stomach and left him feeling refreshed. Yosef had grown quite fond of it.

Every time he returned home, Linda would bring him a bowl of soup. After drinking it, he could finally get a good night’s sleep.

The next day, he’d feel energized for work, and the soup even seemed to have some nourishing effects. He never imagined it was Zinnia who had been behind it all.

“Yes, it was Ms. Zinnia Shaw. She always seemed so happy watching Mr. Yosef Shaw enjoy the soup,” Linda replied softly, her gaze lowered.

“Then why isn’t she sending it now? Couldn’t she have prepared extra portions for her brother?” Maelis blurted out, clearly surprised by Zinnia’s actions. Her expression turned awkward as she realized what she’d said.

“Yosef works hard for the family, ensuring we all live well. Why wouldn’t she prepare more for him?” Macks continued, her tone growing increasingly self-righteous.

After all, Yosef worked tirelessly for the family, even earning the money for her allowance. It was only natural for Zinnia to treat him well.

Linda was speechless, knowing they drove Zinnia away.

“There were no extra portions. Every time, Ms. Zinnia Shaw personally brought the ingredients to us,” Linda stated honestly.

Timothy had just walked through the door when he overheard Linda in the living room, and it made him pause. So, even Yosef’s health soup had been provided by Zinnia.

“Why can’t any of you remember these things? Now look, Zinnia’s gone, and what is Yosef supposed to drink? Honestly, this is just ridiculous,” Melis snapped, her irritation evident.

Linda kept her head down, not daring to respond. When the family was venting, it wasn’t her place to chime in. Besides, no one would’ve thought they’d manage to drive Zinnia away in just two months.

“Alright, Mom. Linda, please ask the chef to make me a bowl of soup,” Yosef said, his tone calm but firm.

“Yes, sir,” Linda replied before quietly leaving the room.

Howard stood off to the side, feeling a strange sense of discomfort. He’d wondered if Zinnia had even prepared calming soup for Timothy, but...

Yosef eventually finished his soup and returned to his room. After spending some time working in the study, he had felt his stomach unsettled earlier.

He lay in bed for what felt like forever, unable to fall asleep. Reaching for his phone on the nightstand, he unlocked it and opened Zinnia’s Whitton profile.

The chat history between the two siblings was completely empty, save for the automated system message from when they first added each other. They hadn’t exchanged a single word.

Yosef hesitated for a moment, then started typing. After some thought, he sent a message: [Zinnia, where do you get the ingredients for your health soup? Could you make another batch for me? I’m willing to pay!]

He hit send, but a red exclamation mark appeared: You are not her friend. Yosef froze, staring at the screen in disbelief. She had blocked him.

Zinnia had no idea what was going on with the Shaw family. Her days were simple and peaceful—attending classes, finishing homework, and heading home. Soon, she received the news that a new place had been found for her.

Jackson worked quickly. Within two days, he had secured a house that was perfect for Zinnia. “Zinnia, let’s go check out the new place,” he said warmly.

That weekend, Jackson took Zinnia to see the house.

“Zinnia, this place has great security, all the facilities you’d need, and it’s super close to school—just a five-minute walk. You can even sleep in a little longer in the mornings,” Jackson explained as they strolled through the neighborhood.

The house was located in one of Jinston’s most exclusive neighborhoods, where wealth, status, and power were prerequisites for residency.

Despite being in the bustling city center, the area was surprisingly quiet and serene, with the school conveniently situated right across the street.

The property was a spacious 300–square–meter flat with a garden. Bright and airy, the interior had already been decorated in a cozy off–white palette thanks to Jackson’s arrangements.

“Jackson, isn’t this place way too big for just me?” Zinnia asked, her voice filled with surprise.

“Not at all. You deserve the very best, Zinnia,” Jackson replied with a firm yet affectionate nod.

“If you ever need anything, just reach out to the person upstairs. Yannis lives right above you,” Jackson said as he guided her through the house, gesturing toward the ceiling.

Their floor was the 18th, while Yannis resided on the 19th.

“Yannis,” Zinnia murmured, her mind instantly conjuring the image of that laid back yet strikingly beautiful man.

“Yes, Yannis is just upstairs. If anything comes up, don’t hesitate to find him. I’ve already spoken to him about it,” Jackson assured her.

“Though Yannis is currently away on a business trip, you won’t be able to meet him for now,” he added.

“Alright,” Zinnia nodded in understanding.

“Zinnia, I know you love growing herbs, so I didn’t plant any flowers in the garden. Instead, I had herbs flown in and planted just for you,” Jackson said, his voice filled with care. Each section is labeled with what’s planted. Take a look later, and if there’s anything missing let me know—I’ll have it added for you," he continued as he lead Zinnia out of the living room to the garden.

He had specifically hired a designer to create a dedicated herb growing area tailored to Zinnia’s needs.

Even the soil had been replaced and specially treated, as the original garden soil wasn’t suitable for cultivating herbs.

Next to the herb garden was a charming pavilion, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the view. At sunset, the area offered a breathtaking display of colors.

“Thank you, Jackson,” Zinnia said sincerely.

Though Jackson described the garden’s setup in a few simple words, Zinnia couldn’t help but marvel at how much effort Jackson must’ve put into this. Replacing the soil alone was a huge task, let alone planting fragile herbs.

“Why thank me? You’re my little sister,” Jackson said with a smile, his dark eyes softening as he gently touched her head.