<b>Chapter </b>417


    59


    Walchere


    Maelis heard Zinnia’s words, a hint of madness creeping into her expression. She shricked, “Zinnia, how dare you disobey me.”


    “Please call two security guards,” Zinnia said directly to the attending staff member.


    “Of course, Ms. Moore. Security has been called,” the staff member responded. He had alerted them the moment trouble arose. Just then, two towering security guards arrived and took protective positions beside Zinnia–a sight that made Maclis absolutely livid.


    “Ms. Moore, let us escort you upstairs,” the staff member said politely. “As for thisdy, we’ll have her shown


    out.”


    They should have escorted Maelis out the moment she caused a scene, but seeing that she knew Zinnia, they hesitated.


    “Good,” Zinnia nodded, surrounded by the staff as they escorted her toward the elevator.


    “Madam, please leave the premises immediately, or we will have to call security,” the front desk staff said in a firm, no–nonsense tone.


    “Zinnia. How dare you ignore me? I told you to take me upstairs. Are you deaf or what?” Maelis shrieked, watching as Zinnia walked past her without so much as a nce.


    In full view of everyone, she felt utterly humiliated. Losing allposure, she lunged forward, reaching out to grab Zinnia’s arm.


    But before she could get close to Zinnia, a towering security guard stepped in front of her, looking down at her from his imposing height. His mere presence made Maelis’s confidence instantly waver.


    Zinnia regarded the hysterical Maelis with calm eyes. “Mrs. Shaw, your shamelessness knows no bounds. I never knew that you were actually deranged. Need the number for a psychiatric hospital? I’d be happy to give it to you.”


    “Are you insulting me? I don’t mind pping you again.” Maelis screamed, her voice trembling with rage. Zinnia’s calmness seemed to provoke her. She felt so unfair that she was the only who was suffering.


    “Zinnia.” Isaac called out. Just then, the express elevator doors opened and he and Maisie stepped out, quickly making their way toward Zinnia.


    “Isaac. Maisie,” Zinnia greeted.


    “Zinnia, are you alright? Let me take a look at you,” Maisie hurried over, her voice full of concern. Upstairs, when they got Jackson’s call saying Maelis had shown up again, they were shocked.


    They couldn’t believe Maelis was still haunting them–even with the Shaw family in such a mess, she still dared toe after Zinnia.


    Neither Isaac nor Maisie dared to tell Sofia that Maelis had shown up again. On such a joyous asion, Maelis’s presence was nothing but bad luck.


    <b>17:58 Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>6 </b>


    “I’m alright. I’ve already called security. Let’s head upstairs–Grandma must be waiting,” Zinnia said calmly. None of them spared Maelis a single nce as they walked away.


    Blocked by security guards and unable to get within an inch of them, Maclis‘ anger surged as they ignored herpletely. “Isaac, take me upstairs. I want to see Mom and Dad!” she shrieked, her rage exploding.


    Isaac looked at Maelis coldly and said, “Mrs. Shaw, let me remind you–you are no longer connected to our family. If you keep harassing us like this, we’ll have no choice but to call the police.”


    Ever since Henry publicly severed ties with Maelis, they all stopped calling her “Aunt“-after all, they were never truly family. Maelis’s biological parents were just ordinary people, close college friends of Sofia.


    When her parents died in an ident, Sofia, out of kindness, took her in and let her enjoy decades of wealth and privilege. But she was never satisfied–Maelis enjoyed a prosperous life in the Lynn family for decades, never content, repeatedly upsetting Sofia and Henry.


    If the elderly couple got stroke because of her constant provocations she could never have made up for it.


    “Zinnia, let’s go,” Isaac said firmly, walking protectively beside her while Maisie linked arms with her in support. The three of them headed elevator together, leaving the scene behind.


    Maelis could only watch helplessly as they left, blocked by security and unable to get even a step closer. Her face turned pale, then flushed with rage, her venomous gaze glued to the elevator doors as they closed.


    “Madam, please leave, or we will have to take you out,” the staff member said, turning to Maelis with a polite gesture toward the exit.


    The lobby was bustling with people, and themotion drew quite a crowd. Someone said, “Isn’t that Mrs. Shaw? What’s she doing here? I heard the Lynns have already cut ties with her.


    “Is she here to pester them again? How shameless- they’ve made it clear they want nothing to do with her, yet she keepsing back time and again.”


    “The Shaw family is drowning in trouble right now. Without the Lynn family propping them up, they’re nothing. Now that they’re in deep shit, I don’t think she’d just let go of a golden goose like the Lynns.”


    “Honestly, Maelis is such a fool. The Lynn family treated her so well, and instead of being thankful, she actually had the nerve to criticize them.


    “Now that she’s in trouble, just look at her–she doesn’t seem the least bit remorseful. I bet she’s still ming Lynns for not bailing her out.”


    The crowd watched as Maelis was asked to go out of the lobby, clicking their tongues and shaking their heads.


    She had once reaped all the benefits of being the Lynn family member, but after their affection waspletely cut, she tried to stir up trouble. Once a renowned socialite, ever since marrying Donald, she became petty and small–minded.


    The hushed whispers–mostly from the same high–society women who once fawned over her–pierced Maelis’s ears. Her face twisted in humiliation at cruel irony.


    17:58 <b>Mon</b>, Oct 6


    The dramatic fall from their former ttery to their current mockery was too much to bear. Too ashamed to remain and endure their scorn, Maelis could no longer stay.


    As Maelis walked out, someone curled their lips in disdain and the gossip started up again. “Honestly, the Shaws traded diamonds for ss.


    “After everything Betty did, Maelis, as a mother, not only failed to protect her real daughter, but kept defending her adopted one–pouring scorn on her real daughter instead.


    “How clueless can you get? If she’d just treated Zinnia right, with Perkins, and Lynns all doting on Zinnia now, the Shaws could’ve been riding high.”


    “After everything that happened, not only has Maelis failed to recognize her mistakes, but Donald hasn’t either. Instead, he just stands by and watches as his family hurts Zinnia. He doesn’t act like a father at all.”


    “They say Donald likes Betty more. I don’t understand why he can’t stand having a daughter raised in a small town. For families like ours, it’s no big deal to have one more daughter.


    “We can easily afford it. At worst, she could’ve been married off for an alliance. Yet he just stood by and let Zinnia be driven out.


    “That’s weird,” one of the onlookers muttered.


    “Honestly, I agree with you. Donald’s always been so opportunistic, but when Zinnia’s got all these powerful connections, he couldn’t care less.


    “Meanwhile, despite all the wrongs Betty’s done, the Shaws keep shielding her–as if she were his own flesh and blood.” <fn59c3> Official source is Find★Novel</fn59c3>