Chapter 90
Cooking wasn’t her forte anyway, her meals had always been prepared by her master.
“If your brother finds out you skipped dinner and I didn’t take care of you, I’d never hear the end of it! Come on, Zinnia. Just keep me company, okay?” Yannis said, pressing the button for his floor as the elevator continued its upward journey.
‘He’s really laying it on thick–acting all pitiful and lonely. Didn’t he manage just fine before I came along? Zinnia thought, her lips twitching slightly
Zinnia’s backpack, full of homework, was still in his hand–she couldn’t just leave it. Besides, he had mentioned her brother, and she didn’t want Jackson to worry about her.
“Alright, I’ll join you,” she finally relented, glancing at his sharp profile. The light from above cast soft shadows on his face, making him look even more striking.
Though the “poor lonely man” act was likely exaggerated, Zinnia couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Eating alone was, after all, a little sad.
Zinnia often found herself alone at the Shaw residence. Betty would frequently drag Maelis out for shopping trips, and the Shaw brothers rarely back. Most of the time, she was left in an unfamiliar house.
She followed Yannis to the 19th floor. The hallway’s design mirrored that of the 18th floor.
Yannis unlocked the door with a fingerprint scan, and the door clicked open.
He stepped aside, gesturing for Zinnia to enter first.
Zinnia stepped inside but stayed near the entrance, her posture. “Zinnia, I don’t have slippers in your size right now. Just wear mine for now–they’re brand new, I promise! Next time, I’ll have a pair just for you,” Yannis said with a teasing smile.
Closing the door behind them, Yannis bent down to retrieve two pairs of slippers from the shoe cabinet. He unwrapped the new pair and placed them gently by Zinnia’s feet before slipping on his own.
Zinnia slid her feet into the new slippers, but her toes barely reached the front. Her slender feet seemed to swim in the oversized slippers, and she wiggled her toes awkwardly, trying to adjust.
“Zinnia, your feet are so tiny! How do you even walk on these?” Yannis said, laughing.
Her feet were so small, it looked like she’d need to step on him just to make the slippers fit properly.
Zinnia glanced up at him, her clear eyes meeting him. “It’s obviously because your feet are too big,” she retorted, her tone carrying a hint of indignation.
“You’re right. My feet are too big. My bad. Next time, I’ll make sure to get slippers that fit you perfectly,” Yannisreplied without hesitation, his tone light and playful as he took full responsibility.
Yannis met her bright, unguarded gaze and chuckled softly. ‘Next time,‘ he thought, ‘I’ll make sure everything’s ready for her.‘ He was already mentally listing the things he needed to prepare.
Earlier that afternoon, he had returned from a neighboring city. On the way back, he passed by a dessert shop. Though he hadn’t had time to prepare her essentials, he figured it was better to have them ready than to leave her without.
“Come on, let’s head inside. Relax, Zinnia. Treat this place like it’s yours,” Yannis said as he led her into the living room, placing her backpack on the sofa.
“Take a seat, Zinnia,” he added, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over the sofa before heading to the kitchen.
Zinnia sat down quietly, her gaze drifting around the room. The bright, minimalist decor felt oddly calming, a stark contrast to th warmth of her own space downstairs.
fully curated
The apartment had a sleek, minimalist design, with crisp white walls and furniture accented by bold black details. The soft glow of the lights made the
1/2
Chapter 90
space feel open and inviting, almost like stepping into a serene gallery.
Soon, the sound of running water came from the kitchen. After a moment, it stopped, and Zinnia froze, her gaze momentarily blank
