Chapter 88

“Right. It’s our Zinnia who disowned the biased family.” Yannis flashed a teasing grin, withdrew his hand, and deliberately sidled up next to Zinnia, as if hiding behind her.

Wette was speechless. She thought, ‘So I’ve been overthinking.’

“Such blatant favoritism,” Yannis said to Maelis with mock seriousness.

Yosef closed his eyes. He had given up all hope of restraining Yannis, because he knew once one provoked Yannis, there was no easy way to shake him off.

Yannis continued, “Mrs. Shaw, I know you play favorites, but I have to ask, are you sure Zinnia is really your daughter?

“Maybe you brought home the wrong kid. I mean, what kind of parent shows this much favoritism to one daughter and treats the other so badly?

“You treat your own flesh and blood like she’s your enemy. Seriously, who would do this to their daughter? Am I right, Aunt Yvette?”

Yannis curled his lips and turned to Yvette as he said the last sentence.

“If Zinnia were my daughter, I’d spoil her and cherish her.” Yvette nodded emphatically.

Yvette’s beautiful eyes fixed on Zinnia with anticipation. “Sweetheart, why don’t you come home with me? My place is just missing a sweetie like you.”

“If Zinnia were my little sister, I’d always protect her, and I’d be so happy and wake up laughing in my dreams,” Maisie said with a big smile.

She let out a couple of soft chuckles at the end, as if just imagining Zinnia as her sister was the best thing ever.

Yannis said, “See, Mrs. Shaw? That’s how one should treat her daughter.

“Your family plays favorites and can’t even raise your child properly. You end up with a greedy, ungrateful child with a scheming mind, who always exploits others, never learns from her mistakes, and steps on others to get ahead.

“Honestly, Mrs. Shaw, how did you manage to raise someone so utterly repulsive?”

Yannis shot a disdainful glance at the daydreaming mother-daughter pair and thought, ‘What nonsense are they fantasizing about now?’ After that, his face suddenly darkened as he turned to Maelis and the others.

Yannis shook his head as he spoke, and his expression radiated undisguised contempt.

Maelis and Yosef felt embarrassed and were desperate to retort, but the sight of Yannis’s smug, defiant face left them tongue-tied.

They had heard that Yannis never showed mercy when he scolded others. Whether the other party was his senior or his peer, if Yannis was in a bad mood, he would spare no one.

Even Yvette gave him a disdainful look.

Betty’s heart was on the verge of breaking under his harsh words, and her eyes were rimmed with red. She thought, ‘How could he say such cruel things about me?’

“Cat got your tongue? Am I being too aggressive, Mrs. Shaw? Why aren’t you scolding me now?” Yannis taunted.

After going on for a while without a single response from the three mute “statues” across from him, Yannis found it rather dull. He thought, ‘Such weak opponents.’

“Here you are,” a soft voice whispered in his ear.

Yannis lowered his head and found Zinnia holding out a glass of water for him.

Yannis looked at her, confused. He wondered, ‘What’s this girl up to? Does she want me to stop scolding?’

“Scolding is exhausting. Don’t strain your voice,” Zinnia whispered softly.

She didn’t know how to curse. After hearing Yannis rant for so long today, she thought to herself, ‘So this is how I can talk to the Shaw family. I’ve learned something new.’

Of course, Zinnia had feelings about the way Maelis and the others treated her, but words failed her.

Zinnia’s master hadn’t taught her to argue. Back in the small town, everyone was kind and indulgent towards her. It wasn’t until she came to Jinston and saw the Shaw family’s attitude that she realized how good an environment her master had created for her.

It wasn’t that evil people didn’t exist. It was just that her master had simply always shielded her and kept all the bad influences at bay.

Seeing Yannis set such a good example today gave her a little thrill.

She learned that if the Shaw family ever harassed her again, she could finally give them a piece of her mind.

“Thanks, Zinnia.” Yannis was momentarily taken aback by her words. Once he realized what she meant, he smiled and took the glass from her.

Across from them, Maelis watched Zinnia’s actions. Maelis’s eyes were blazing with fury. She cursed in her heart, ‘That ungrateful wretch.’

Maelis seethed inside after being scolded by a junior like Yannis. She wanted to snap back, but she knew that would only make him more relentless, so she had to swallow her anger.

She fumed inwardly, ‘How can one be so utterly ill-bred? No wonder he lost his mother. If she were alive to see what a disgrace he had become, the shame would kill her.’

Yosef took a deep breath and said, “Mr. Perkins, we were in the wrong this time. You’ve said what you needed to say and given us a thorough scolding. Can we put this behind us now?”

What happened today completely blindsided Yosef. He never thought things would blow up like this.

Now he finally saw for himself the demon that everyone claimed not to mess with.

Yosef and Yannis belonged to different social circles. Yosef interacted more with Jackson, but with Yannis, there was virtually no connection.

Judging from the situation, Yannis didn’t bother giving the Shaw family any face for Jackson’s sake. Clearly, the Shaw family simply wasn’t strong enough yet.

Yosef closed his eyes and suppressed the surging urge to become stronger that churned in his chest.

“Betty, apologize right now,” Yosef snapped at Betty, whose eyes were brimming with tears.

Yosef thought, ‘This can’t be dragged out any longer.’

Betty was drowning in sorrow when Yosef’s sharp tone made her flinch. She could tell he was genuinely furious.

But what cut even deeper was the mocking gaze Yannis shot her.

Yosef said, “Hurry up.”

Betty gnawed at her lip, and her gaze swept over the haughty group across from her before finally settling on Maisie. Betty muttered reluctantly, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t forget Zinnia.” Maisie crossed her arms and tilted her chin toward Zinnia.

Betty’s gaze shifted to Zinnia and lingered for several seconds on the tall man beside Zinnia before she couldn’t bear his mocking stare any longer.

Betty squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m… sorry.” The words were forced out between clenched teeth, each syllable dripping with suppressed hatred.

Betty thought, ‘I can’t let him think any worse of me. Zinnia, just you wait. Between us, it’s a battle to the end; it’s either you or me!’

Maisie and Yvette looked at Betty’s frustrated expression. Betty looked as if she were being dragged to her own execution. The more they looked at her, the more she seemed like an ill omen, so they didn’t press her any further.

They also guessed Betty must have hated them to the core inside.

“Apologize.” Hugo shot a glance at Anne.

Anne said, “Sorry, Zinnia. Sorry, Maisie.”

Anne was quick to apologize, but when she glanced at Betty’s sullen expression beside her, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Lia stepped forward and said, “Well, since everything is settled, thank you all for coming here today. I know it’s been a hassle. Let’s call it a day, everyone.”

Her voice was tinged with exhaustion. She thought, ‘Who would have thought a simple apology could drag on for almost two hours?’

Betty was dragged out by Maelis without so much as a glance at Zinnia.

Yosef trailed behind them. His gaze was complex as he looked at Zinnia standing beside Yannis.

However, Zinnia didn’t spare him a glance, so whatever words Yosef wanted to say were choked back in his throat.

“Zinnia, this isn’t over,” Betty said through clenched teeth. Her gaze locked on Zinnia as they brushed past each other. The words were a barely audible whisper meant for her ears alone.

Amid the clamor of everyone heading downstairs, Maisie couldn’t make out what was being said.

She leaned in and asked Zinnia, “What did Betty say to you?”