Chapter 111
“She threatened us, Zinnia told Maisie.
Zinnia didn’t take Betty’s threat to heart. She thought, ‘If she dares lay a hand on me again, I won’t hold back.
I’ve still got a slash of poison powder I haven’t even used yet. I wouldn’t mind testing it on her
Hey, Mrs, Shaw, Betty just threatened Zinnia. She might go after Zinnia again. Better get ready to clean up the mess again,” Maisie called out loudly to Maelis and the others who hadn’t gone far.
Wette 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.
“Yosef, do you really believe them? We grew up together. You know what kind of person I am. I just lost my temper today…” 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 Yosef’s gaze, she bit her lip and looked at him with a wounded gaze.
“Betty, don’t provoke Zinnia again,” Yosef said firmly, looking into her eyes.
“I’ve got work to attend to. Mom, the driver will take you home.” With that, he strode off without looking back.
“Mom, is Yosef mad at me?” 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. “Of course not. Yosef loves you. He’s just swamped with work. If anyone messed up today, it’s Zinnia.
“It was outrageous of her to team up with a stranger to gang up on us. She’s completely clueless. I can’t even think of her as my daughter.”
The more Maelis thought about it, the angrier she became. Her voice grew sharper at the mention of Zinnia.
“Mom, how does Zinnia know Yannis?” Betty asked.
Maelis frowned, “Who knows? Jackson is friends with Yannis. Maybe she met him through Jackson.”
She sneered again, “I really don’t know what kind of friends Jackson’s making these days. Yannis has no manners at all. No wonder he acts like he was raised without a mother.”
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.
“Mom, watch what you say.” Hearing Maelis‘ comment about Yannis, Betty warned, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby before frowning at
Maelis.
“Alright, alright,” Maelis muttered, realizing what she’d just blurted out and quickly shutting her mouth.
Yannis’s mother was a taboo in high society. Anyone who brought her up never ended well.
“Mom, Yannis isn’t like that. He was only acting that way because of Zinnia. Who would’ve thought she’d go to him instead of you? Yannis is usually so kind. Maybe someone said something to turn him against us,” Betty said slowly.
“Who else but Zinnia? That little snitch. I honestly don’t know how I ended up with a daughter like her,” Maelis fumed, just the mention of Zinnia making her angrier.
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Chapter 111
Betty listened in silence, her eyes chilling, Zinnia la such a clingy nuisance, she thought.
Zinnia and the others had no idea what Maells was saying, not that they would care even if they knew. The feud was now set in stone.
“Have you eaten yet? How about I take you out to eat?” Yannis said, his eyes fixed on Zinnia even as he addressed them both.