<b>Chapter </b>383


    :


    0723


    The loud click of high heels on the floor told everyone Yvette arrived before she even showed up.


    “Perfect timing. You’re just in time for dinner,” Raymond said warmly, looking at her.


    Yvette and Aaron came back, carrying shopping bags.


    “Just made it back for dinner.” Yvette grinned as she took off her shoes and put onfy slippers. “I went to Yosando for some ideas and made some cakes this morning.”


    Aaron followed behind her, arms full of packages, and changed his shoes beforeing in too,


    “Maisie, you look stunning! I haven’t seen you with long hair in years,” Yvette gasped dramatically, her eyes wide with excitement.


    Yvette thought, ‘Ever since Maisie was seven, she immediately asked for a short haircut. She even got me to use connections to get her into boot camp. That short hairsts ten years, along with her tough training.


    Maisie gave her overly dramatic mom a helpless look. “Mom, can you tone it down a bit?”


    Zinnia and Maisie wanted to change their looks when they got back, but Yvette sent them a message asking them not to. She wanted to see what they wore herself. That was why they were still dressed up.


    None of them were short on money. Their clothes were all new, and they had splurged on the best makeup and styling. Though not professional, with their good looks and money, they looked pretty great.


    “Can’t even take apliment? Oh,e here, sweetie, let me get a good look at you,” Yvette said, pulling Zinnia closer, her eyes shining with happiness. “Our little cutie is just too adorable. Let me give you a few kisses.”


    She bent down and gave Zinnia a loud kiss on the cheek.


    “Zinnia, you are just too cute! That pretty dress fits you perfectly.” Yvette never hid her love for her kids. Her praise was full of affection.


    Zinnia’s cheeks turned pink instantly. She lightly scratched her cheek.


    Yannis had just finished a work call. When he saw Yvette kissing Zinnia all over her face, his eye twitched at the sight.


    He looked at Aaron and said, “Aren’t you going to stop your wife? Why does she start kissing people the moment she sees them?”


    Aaron also noticed his wife’s antics. His lips twitched a little. When he caught Yannis’s pointed look, he could only give a helpless look and said, “Come on, you know who’s really in charge at home.”


    Yannis thought, ‘I really need to talk to Yvette. She can’t just go around kissing Zinnia whenever she feels like


    it.’


    <b>12:26 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>2 </b>


    “Yvette,” Yannis called her as he walked over.


    (2)


    “Oh, what brings you here? I thought you weren’ting until tomorrow,” Yvette said in surprise when she saw Yannis, eyeing him with curious eyes before turning back to pinch Zinnia’s cheeks.


    Yvette shot Maisie a sneaky look, asking, “When did Yannis get here?”


    Maisie said, “Yannis picked us up and drove us back.”


    Yvette looked at her suspiciously. “What’s gotten into Yannis today? Since when does he y driver? He actually picked you up?”


    Maisie nodded and said, “Yeah, he was surprisingly nice.”


    Thanks to years of silent understanding, they shared a knowing look.


    “I’ve got some free time today,” Yannis said as he walked to Zinnia. Her eyes <b>still </b>sparkled, her cheeks a little shy.


    Zinnia had been hurt by the Shaws. They never gave her the love a real family should. But Yvette was different. When she loved, she loved totally. Her blunt, passionate love could break through Zinnia’s guarded feelings and make her feel truly loved.


    Feeling Yannis’s look on her, Zinnia looked up into his gentle, smiling eyes. “Thank you, Yannis,” she said softly, her beautiful eyes curling, shining as if they held a gxy inside.


    Zinnia felt thankful to Yannis. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have known such wonderful parents like Yvette and Aaron.


    Because of the hairpins in her hair, Yannis couldn’t ruffle Zinnia’s head. He told her softly, “You deserve all the love in the world. You don’t need to thank me.”


    Aaron watched from the side, his eyes on Yannis. A quick surprise crossed his face as his eyebrows furrowed slightly. After a short, thoughtful moment, he looked away.


    Seeing Yannis arrive, Raymond came over with a warm smile and said, “Now that you’re back, let’s have dinner. Why don’t you stay the night with us?”


    Yannis agreed. The group sat around the table. Yannis sat to Raymond’s right, and Maisie nudged Zinnia to sit next to him.


    Maisie really didn’t want to sit next to her frosty cousin, but since he wasn’t cold to Zinnia, she thought, ‘Well, guess I’ll just have to ask Zinnia to put up with sitting next to him.’


    “Sweetie, try these meatballs. They are really delicious,” Yvette said happily as she put some on Zinnia’s te. <fn3609> ?????? ???? find?novel</fn3609>


    Yvette added meatballs to Maisie’s te and said warmly, “Darling, you’ve lost weight since Ist saw you. school food isn’t good, just eat out.”


    “I think I’ve gained a little weight,” Maisie said while eating.


    If


    “Thanks, Mom,” Zinnia said, holding her fork and craving the meatball. But she held back and looked ar Yannis with pleading eyes.


    ‘Can I eat this? It smells so good. I really want to try it, Zinnia thought, staring at the yummy–looking meatball.


    Yvette saw Zinnia’s little hints at the table, turned to Yannis, and asked, “Yannis, are you starving Zinnia?”


    “Yannis,” Raymond said with real concern, “how about letting Zinniae stay with us so we can take care of her?<b>” </b>


    “Yannis isn’t starving me,” Zinnia said. “I can’t eat too much meat. Please don’t me him; he’s always been good to me.” She hurried to exin, not wanting Yannis to be misunderstood because of her.


    Concern showed in the others‘ eyes. Yvette reached for Zinnia’s hand, her voice trembling as she asked, “Zinnia, are you feeling sick? Did you see a doctor? How serious is <b>it</b>, sweetie? Why didn’t you tell us?”


    “Zinnia, let me check you,” Raymond said worriedly.


    “I’m fine–just that I can’t eat much meat or sugar right now,” Zinnia said gently.


    “Zinnia’s okay. I already had Roderick check her, so no worries,” Yannis reassured them.


    “Go ahead and eat,” Yannis said softly, cing some peeled shrimp on Zinnia’s te. “Just watch your diet these days. Don’t only eat meat.”


    “Okay,” Zinnia said obediently.


    “Really, Yannis? Don’t hide anything from us,” Yvette pressed, still worried.


    “Zinnia’s totally fine,” Raymond said after checking her pulse, though he was a bit surprised himself. Yannis looked at Raymond and shook his head slightly. Raymond understood and didn’t push further.


    After Raymond spoke, the others let out a sigh of relief. Yvette said tenderly, “My poor Zinnia, you’ve really been through a lot. Once you’re fully better, Mom will take you girls out for a feast.”