Chapter 89
โShe threatened us,โ Zinnia told Maisie.
Zinnia didnโt take Bettyโs threat to heart. She thought, โIf she dares lay a hand on me again, I wonโt hold back. Iโve still got a stash of poison powder I havenโt even used yet. I wouldnโt mind testing it on her.โ
โHey, Mrs. Shaw, Betty just threatened Zinnia. She might go after Zinnia again. Better get ready to clear up the mess again,โ Maisie called out loudly to Maelis and the others who hadnโt gone far.
Yvette and Yannis just glanced at her, saying nothing and making no move to stop her.
In front of them, Yosef paused and turned to look at Betty beside him.
โYosef, do you really believe them? We grew up together. You know what kind of person I am. I just lost my temper todayโฆโ Betty pleaded, her voice tinged with grievance.
She had never imagined Zinnia would be so shameless as to actually say those things. Feeling the chill of Yosefโs gaze, she bit her lip and looked at him with a wounded gaze.
โBetty, donโt provoke Zinnia again,โ Yosef said firmly, looking into her eyes.
โIโve got work to attend to. Mom, the driver will take you home.โ With that, he strode off without looking back.
โMom, is Yosef mad at me?โ Betty asked, shrinking under his cold, piercing gaze that made her feel as if her thoughts were exposed. A chill ran through her as she leaned into Maelis, her voice trembling with feigned hurt and sadness.
Her face was pale, her eyes still red and swollen, and the slap mark on her cheek was still visible.
Maelis hugged Betty tighter. โOf course not. Yosef loves you. Heโs just swamped with work. If anyone messed up today, itโs Zinnia. It was outrageous of her to team up with a stranger to gang up on us. Sheโs completely clueless. I canโt even think of her as my daughter.โ
The more Maelis thought about it, the angrier she became. Her voice grew sharper at the mention of Zinnia.
โMom, how does Zinnia know Yannis?โ Betty asked.
Maelis frowned, โWho knows? Jackson is friends with Yannis. Maybe she met him through Jackson.โ
She sneered again, โI really donโt know what kind of friends Jacksonโs making these days. Yannis has no manners at all. No wonder he acts like he was raised without a mother.โ
When she heard it was Jackson, Betty gritted her teeth in fury. She tried to get close to him for years, but he never once introduced her to them. Yet, he brought Zinnia to meet them.
โMom, watch what you say.โ Hearing Maelisโ comment about Yannis, Betty warned, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby before frowning at Maelis.
โAlright, alright,โ Maelis muttered, realizing what sheโd just blurted out and quickly shutting her mouth.
Yannisโs mother was a taboo in high society. Anyone who brought her up never ended well.
โMom, Yannis isnโt like that. He was only acting that way because of Zinnia. Who wouldโve thought sheโd go to him instead of you? Maybe someone said something to turn him against us,โ Betty said slowly.
โWho else but Zinnia? That little snitch. I honestly donโt know how I ended up with a daughter like her,โ Maelis fumed, just the mention of Zinnia making her angrier.
Betty listened in silence, her eyes chilling. โZinnia is such a clingy nuisance,โ she thought.
Zinnia and the others had no idea what Maelis was saying, not that they would care even if they knew. The feud was now set in stone.
โHave you eaten yet? How about I take you out to eat?โ Yannis said, his eyes fixed on Zinnia even as he addressed them both.
โDonโt bother. We promised to treat our classmates since they helped us today,โ Maisie waved her hand.
โNo, thanks.โ Zinnia also shook her head.
โAlright then. Enjoy lunch with your classmates. Call me if you need anything.โ Yannis didnโt insist, simply taking out his phone.
Maisie felt her phone buzz, pulled it out, and her eyes went wide in shock.
โYannis, youโre the best. I love you,โ she exclaimed. โCome on, Zinnia. Letโs splurge on a fancy lunch today,โ Maisie beamed with joy as she saw the newly deposited 300 thousand dollars in her account.
โYouโre spoiling her,โ Yvette said, casting a helpless glance at Yannis.
โThey had a rough day today. Let them cheer up with some good food,โ Yannis replied, slipping his phone into his pocket. He ruffled Zinniaโs hair and added, โOrder whatever you like.โ
โThank you for everything today,โ Zinnia said softly, her clear eyes calm as she looked at them.
Yvette said with a warm smile, โThatโs what we should do. Weโre family now. Zinnia, if you donโt mind, let me be your godmother. From now on, you can call me Yvette. If you ever need anything, just call me, and come visit us often with Maisie. Hereโs my welcome gift.โ
With gentle affection, Yvette took Zinniaโs hand and slipped her pearl bracelet from her wrist onto Zinniaโs, before Zinnia could refuse. She smiled brightly, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Zinnia.
โZinnia, youโre my little sister now.โ Maisie watched gleefully while Yannis was speechless. โWhat kind of messed up family tree is this?โ he thought.
Yvetteโs words left Zinnia at a loss. Yvette seemed so sincere and spoke so gently that Zinnia found herself drawn to her.
Not knowing what to say, Zinnia looked up at Yannis. Whenever she felt uncertain, she instinctively sought someone she could rely on.
Yannisโs presence today had quietly carved out a place for him in her heart, not because he was Jacksonโs friend, but because she truly liked him for who he was.
โIf you like us, then go ahead and recognize her as your godmother. If you donโt, thatโs perfectly fine. Either way, Iโll always protect you. Just follow your heart,โ Yannis said, secretly pleased by how much she depended on him.
โSweetheart, are you really going to turn me down?โ Yvette pouted, shot her unhelpful nephew a glare, and then looked at Zinnia with puppy eyes. She tugged playfully at the hem of Zinniaโs dress and swayed it, acting all cute and pleading.
Zinnia hesitated. She glanced at Maisie, unsure if Maisie would be willing to share Yvette with her. After what happened with Betty, Zinnia felt a bit scared.
โZinnia, donโt you want to be my little sister?โ Maisie pouted, her eyes pleading. โCome on. Just say yes. Iโll protect you from now on. Am I really going to miss out on having a sister?โ Maisie wondered.
โWould you mind if I shared your mom with you?โ Zinnia murmured, biting her lip and lowering her head.
Maisie replied warmly, โZinnia, Iโm nothing like Betty. Iโve always been an only child, and having you with me would make me so happy. Iโve always wanted a sibling. My parents are wonderful. Youโll love them, I promise.โ
As soon as she finished, Zinnia instantly understood and wrapped her arm around her shoulder, affectionately nuzzling her cheek.
Maisie thought, โZinniaโs parents never treated her well, but my parents are so kind. I can share my parents with her. We can both be loved by my parents.โ
Maisie said earnestly, โZinnia, I truly want us to be family. Youโll have another set of parents, and Iโll get the most adorable little sister. How perfect is that?โ
Maisie bent down to meet Zinniaโs gaze, her smile bright and full of warmth.