Chapter 71
Chapter 71
The conversation ended on a sour note, and Zinnia didn’t even bother taking the gifts.
“Anne is always hanging around Betty. You need to be careful around her,” Maisie said to Zinnia.
Maisie shook her head as she watched Anne leave. She thought, ‘She used to seem like such a decent person, but ever since she knew Betty, something about her just feels off.
“Got it.” Zinnia nodded, mentally adding Anne to her list of people to watch out for.
Zinnia knew she wasn’t the best at reading people. Often, people would cross her boundaries without her even realizing it. That was why she decided it was better to stay cautious from the start.
Master used to say she was too naive and would get taken advantage of once he wasn’t around. Back then, Zinnia would argue that no one dared to mess with her as long as he was around.
However, Master was gone, and she had to learn to protect herself.
Zinnia mentally blocked Anne and marked her as someone to be cautious of.
“See you tomorrow, Zinnia,” someone said.
Finally, the afternoon classes were over, and it was time to head home. Zinnia was still feeling pretty energetic by the end of the day.
prety theater herbag
The afternoon was filled with art classes, which Zinnia found manageable. After the grueling morning, the afternoon felt like a breath of fresh air.
“See you tomorrow.” Zinnia’s classmates waved goodbye, and she returned their farewells while packing up her bag.
“Zinnia, let’s go home together. Isaac has one more class than us,” Maisie said as she walked over.
Isaac was in the advanced class, so he got out half an hour later. That extra half hour was for self–study, though some teachers still took up the time for
additional lessons.
“Sure,” Zinnia agreed with a nod.
Earlier, Isaac had messaged Zinnia to let her know about his extended schedule, and the Lynn family had already arranged for a driver to pick her up.
Zinnia and Maisie walked out of the school side by side.
“Zinnia, why don’t you go with me? Let the Lynn family’s driver wait here for Isaac. It’s rush hour now, and sending another car would just mean sitting in traffic forever,” Maisie suggested after spotting the Lynn family’s car.
“You’re right,” Zinnia agreed without hesitation and got into the Jenkins family’s car with Maisie.
The two families lived close to each other, just a short turn away. The driver dropped Zinnia off at the Lynn residence before taking Maisie home.
Zinnia returned to the Lynn residence. From afar, she could see someone standing inside. She pursed her lips, and her grip on her backpack strap tightened. Gradually, her face became expressionless.
“Hi, Zinnia,” Maelis called out as she saw Zinnia coming back. She quickly stepped out of the living room, her eyes brimming with excitement.
It had only been a few days, but Maelis felt like Zinnia was such a stranger to her.
Looking at Zinnia, who seemed to have shed her former self in just a few days, Maelis was overwhelmed with emotions.
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Chapter 71
Zinnia wore a pink dress adorned with pearls and had her hair styled beautifully, her delicate face glowing with elegance. At that moment, she seemed to
have suddenly grown up.
Zinnia always wore plain clothes at home–the ones she brought from the small town. The outfits Maelis had bought for her remained untouched.
Her hair was always tied in a high ponytail, and she never wore accessories or styled her hair beyond the simplest look.
It looked like Zinnia was still holding her accountable, silently blaming her as a mother.
However, here, at Sofia’s house, Zinnia seemed
SO cease, thriving under their care and affection.
Maelis couldn’t escape the guilt. She had failed to earn Zinnia’s trust, and the distance between them was her own doing.
