Come in 89
Posted on July 07, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 89

โ€œShe threatened us,โ€ Zinnia told Maisie.

Zinnia didnโ€™t take Bettyโ€™s threat to heart. She thought, โ€˜If she dares lay a hand on me again, I wonโ€™t hold back. Iโ€™ve still got a stash of poison powder I havenโ€™t even used yet. I wouldnโ€™t mind testing it on her.โ€™

โ€œHey, 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 hadnโ€™t 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.

โ€œYosef, do you really believe them? We grew up together. You know what kind of person I am. I just lost my temper todayโ€ฆโ€ 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 Yosefโ€™s gaze, she bit her lip and looked at him with a wounded gaze.

โ€œBetty, donโ€™t provoke Zinnia again,โ€ Yosef said firmly, looking into her eyes.

โ€œIโ€™ve got work to attend to. Mom, the driver will take you home.โ€ With that, he strode off without looking back.

โ€œMom, 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. โ€œOf course not. Yosef loves you. Heโ€™s just swamped with work. If anyone messed up today, itโ€™s Zinnia. It was outrageous of her to team up with a stranger to gang up on us. Sheโ€™s completely clueless. I canโ€™t 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.

โ€œMom, how does Zinnia know Yannis?โ€ Betty asked.

Maelis frowned, โ€œWho knows? Jackson is friends with Yannis. Maybe she met him through Jackson.โ€

She sneered again, โ€œI really donโ€™t know what kind of friends Jacksonโ€™s 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.

โ€œMom, 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.

โ€œAlright, alright,โ€ Maelis muttered, realizing what sheโ€™d just blurted out and quickly shutting her mouth.

Yannisโ€™s mother was a taboo in high society. Anyone who brought her up never ended well.

โ€œMom, Yannis isnโ€™t like that. He was only acting that way because of Zinnia. Who wouldโ€™ve thought sheโ€™d go to him instead of you? Maybe someone said something to turn him against us,โ€ Betty said slowly.

โ€œWho else but Zinnia? That little snitch. I honestly donโ€™t 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. โ€˜Zinnia 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.

โ€œHave 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.

โ€œDonโ€™t bother. We promised to treat our classmates since they helped us today,โ€ Maisie waved her hand.

โ€œNo, thanks.โ€ Zinnia also shook her head.

โ€œAlright then. Enjoy lunch with your classmates. Call me if you need anything.โ€ Yannis didnโ€™t insist, simply taking out his phone.

Maisie felt her phone buzz, pulled it out, and her eyes went wide in shock.

โ€œYannis, youโ€™re the best. I love you,โ€ she exclaimed. โ€œCome on, Zinnia. Letโ€™s splurge on a fancy lunch today,โ€ Maisie beamed with joy as she saw the newly deposited 300 thousand dollars in her account.

โ€œYouโ€™re spoiling her,โ€ Yvette said, casting a helpless glance at Yannis.

โ€œThey had a rough day today. Let them cheer up with some good food,โ€ Yannis replied, slipping his phone into his pocket. He ruffled Zinniaโ€™s hair and added, โ€œOrder whatever you like.โ€

โ€œThank you for everything today,โ€ Zinnia said softly, her clear eyes calm as she looked at them.

Yvette said with a warm smile, โ€œThatโ€™s what we should do. Weโ€™re family now. Zinnia, if you donโ€™t 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. Hereโ€™s my welcome gift.โ€

With gentle affection, Yvette took Zinniaโ€™s hand and slipped her pearl bracelet from her wrist onto Zinniaโ€™s, before Zinnia could refuse. She smiled brightly, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Zinnia.

โ€œZinnia, youโ€™re my little sister now.โ€ Maisie watched gleefully while Yannis was speechless. โ€˜What kind of messed up family tree is this?โ€™ he thought.

Yvetteโ€™s 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.

Yannisโ€™s presence today had quietly carved out a place for him in her heart, not because he was Jacksonโ€™s friend, but because she truly liked him for who he was.

โ€œIf you like us, then go ahead and recognize her as your godmother. If you donโ€™t, thatโ€™s perfectly fine. Either way, Iโ€™ll always protect you. Just follow your heart,โ€ Yannis said, secretly pleased by how much she depended on him.

โ€œSweetheart, 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 Zinniaโ€™s 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.

โ€œZinnia, donโ€™t you want to be my little sister?โ€ Maisie pouted, her eyes pleading. โ€œCome on. Just say yes. Iโ€™ll protect you from now on. Am I really going to miss out on having a sister?โ€ Maisie wondered.

โ€œWould you mind if I shared your mom with you?โ€ Zinnia murmured, biting her lip and lowering her head.

Maisie replied warmly, โ€œZinnia, Iโ€™m nothing like Betty. Iโ€™ve always been an only child, and having you with me would make me so happy. Iโ€™ve always wanted a sibling. My parents are wonderful. Youโ€™ll 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, โ€˜Zinniaโ€™s 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, โ€œZinnia, I truly want us to be family. Youโ€™ll have another set of parents, and Iโ€™ll get the most adorable little sister. How perfect is that?โ€

Maisie bent down to meet Zinniaโ€™s gaze, her smile bright and full of warmth.


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