Come in 9
Posted on July 07, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 9

Jacksonโ€™s black Mercedes waited outside, engine purringโ€”heโ€™d gotten there quicker than sheโ€™d expected.

Once inside, he glanced at Zinnia in the passenger seat. His thoughts wandered to her upbringing in that poor, remote townโ€”where the fanciest ride was an electric scooter. Without thinking, he asked, โ€œNeed help with that seatbelt?โ€

But his worry was overblown. Sure, sheโ€™d grown up isolated, but sheโ€™d been with the Shaws long enough to know how a seatbelt worked. Still, he couldnโ€™t help treating her like some helpless kid.

The way he talked to her like she was five made Zinnia bite back an eye roll. She jammed the buckle in herself.

Jackson caught the faintest hint of annoyance from her.

โ€œAlright, letโ€™s go,โ€ he said, firing up the engine. The Mercedes rolled smooth as silk out of the gates.

Outside, the trees blurred past. Exhaustion hit Zinnia hardโ€”she yawned, curling into the seat as sleep took her. The meds had left her drained and achy. Rest couldnโ€™t come soon enough.

At the hospital, sheโ€™d been thinking about leaving the Shaw family. Meanwhile, her body ached, and her mind wouldnโ€™t settle, making sleep impossible.

Jackson looked at the small girl curled up in the seat, his heart softening a little. She could be tough sometimes, but now she looked so fragile that it made him want to protect her.

Heโ€™d never met Zinnia before. When the Shaws got her back, he was overseas handling company business.

His grandparents had dragged him back home for Zinniaโ€™s birthday, insisting he couldnโ€™t miss it. But when he arrived at the Shaw residence with them, Zinnia was nowhere to be found.

Betty said Zinnia was probably upset about not having her own party.

Jackson had frowned at the time. โ€œThe Shaws have plenty of money. Whatโ€™s so hard about throwing two parties? This is Zinniaโ€™s first birthday with them, her actual birthday. Doesnโ€™t she deserve her own celebration? Bettyโ€™s had sixteen birthday parties. Zinnia canโ€™t even get one? The poor girlโ€™s never had a proper birthday before. Making them share is just cruel,โ€ he had thought angrily.

To make matters worse, no one had even announced Zinniaโ€™s existence. Everyone at the party still thought it was all for Betty.

When Sofia found out, she went to Maelis and suggested throwing two separate parties.

But Maelis rejected the suggestion, insisting one party sufficed since both girls were born on the same day. The previous celebration had been Zinniaโ€™s, yet Betty hadnโ€™t objected, so she saw no need for Zinnia to take issue either.

At the time, Sofia stood stunned by Maelisโ€™s casual attitude. Her repeated questions about Zinniaโ€™s whereabouts met only shrugs from Maelis and the others.

Sofia had come specifically for Zinnia. Between the girlโ€™s mysterious absence and Maelisโ€™s insensitive remarks, she finally grabbed Henryโ€™s arm and left in frustration. They hadnโ€™t traveled all this way to watch Betty command everyoneโ€™s attention.

Jackson departed with them, which explained why he knew nothing about the subsequent pool incident involving both girls.

The Lynns didnโ€™t learn the full story until morning. The moment Sofia heard, she sent Jackson to the Shaw residence. Now, seeing Zinniaโ€™s condition, Jackson knew with cold certaintyโ€”if he hadnโ€™t stepped in, Zinnia would have disappeared for good.

When he saw Zinnia dragging her suitcase toward the exit, every instinct screamed that if he didnโ€™t stop her right then, theyโ€™d lose her forever.

Noticing Zinniaโ€™s flushed complexion, Jackson remembered Lucyโ€™s warning about a fever. His hand against her forehead confirmed itโ€”she was running dangerously hot.

Heโ€™d mistaken her flushed cheeks for anger rather than recognizing the severe fever beneath.

Jackson cranked up the AC, threw a blanket over her, then hit the gas while calling Charlie Lynn, his younger brother.

Charlie was Zinniaโ€™s cousin and a doctorโ€”his coming to check on her was only right.

Jackson already considered Zinnia part of the Lynn family. If the Shaws wouldnโ€™t appreciate her, his family would. And he wouldnโ€™t tolerate anyone mistreating her again.


Sofia and Henry were anxiously waiting outside the Lynn residence when Jackson arrived with Zinnia. Seeing how pale she looked in his arms, they immediately asked, โ€œWhat happened? Why is she so pale?โ€

Zinnia stayed unconscious as Jackson carried her inside, her breathing hot and labored. Henry and Sofia felt terrible seeing how pale and weak she looked.

โ€œSheโ€™s running a fever,โ€ Jackson explained. โ€œGrandpa, Grandma, is Charlie back yet?โ€

โ€œTake her upstairs,โ€ said Charlie, who was already in the living room.

Noticing Jacksonโ€™s concern, he glanced at the feverish girl and pointed to the second floor.

Jackson carried her upstairs with Charlie following. The worried grandparents trailed behind.

โ€œ102ยฐF,โ€ Charlie announced after checking with the thermometer, his usual calm replaced by concern. โ€œSheโ€™s had medication too recently for another dose. Weโ€™ll need to cool her physically.โ€

As Charlie applied a cooling patch, Jackson gently wiped Zinniaโ€™s neck and arms with a damp towel, hoping to reduce her fever quickly.

Sofia carefully spooned water into Zinniaโ€™s mouth, her heart breaking.

โ€œThis is unacceptable,โ€ Henry murmured. โ€œDonald and Maelis canโ€™t even care for her properly. We told them this would happenโ€”they never treated both girls fairly. But they just wouldnโ€™t let us take her in. Now look at herโ€”burning up with fever, and nobody even noticed.โ€

Henryโ€™s body tensed as he watched Zinniaโ€™s labored breathing. The girl whoโ€™d been perfectly healthy days ago now burned up before his eyes.

He swallowed his anger toward his daughter, but Donaldโ€™s neglect stuck in his throat. โ€˜Two grown adults, both completely failing their own child,โ€™ he thought, shaking his head.

Sofiaโ€™s voice cut through the room. โ€œThatโ€™s settled. Zinnia stays with us. If the Shaws canโ€™t care for Zinnia, and Maelis wonโ€™t make time, I will.โ€ The thought of her daughterโ€™s negligence made her blood boil.

โ€œGrandma,โ€ Jackson whispered, โ€œZinnia thinks Maelis is kicking her out. I found her leaving the Shaw residence with her bags. Had to lie that you were sick to get her to come with me. She canโ€™t find out I lied when she wakes up.โ€

Water splashed as Jackson dunked the towel again. He twisted it tight between his fists before laying it across Zinniaโ€™s burning skin. The unnatural heat radiating from her skin turned his stomach.

Jacksonโ€™s lie about her being sick caught Sofia by surpriseโ€”she was perfectly healthy, after all. She nodded absently at first, still focused on Zinnia, until the truth crashed into her.

โ€œWait,โ€ Sofia said, her voice rising. โ€œMaelis is kicking her out? Is she crazy?โ€ Rage burned through her.

The sheer heartlessness of a mother abandoning her own child left Sofia and Jackson speechless.


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