Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 218

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Chapter 218

Zinnia slept until evening. While she was out, the Shaw family came looking for her, but Sofia turned them away, furious.

She made it clear Zinnia wasn’t going anywhere until the Shaws straightened themselves out.

The Shaws had accused Zinnia of wrongdoing over a ridiculous misunderstanding and actually considered banishing her. The thought of Zinnia hearing those hurtful words twisted Sofia’s stomach.

Maelis bore the brunt of Sofia’s fury. Sofia couldn’t comprehend how her own daughter could be so blind to what was right.

When Maelis finally left with red-rimmed eyes, promising to check on Zinnia later, Sofia turned away without acknowledgment.

The irony tasted like ash in Sofia’s mouth. ‘Zinnia’s her own flesh and blood. If she’d truly cared, she would’ve at least looked back before leaving.

‘But no, she’s too wrapped up in coddling Betty while being ready to throw Zinnia away. What kind of mother does that?’ she thought.

“You’re awake?” Charlie entered with medicine, immediately moving to help as Zinnia struggled upright.

Zinnia blinked at the unfamiliar room, her thoughts sluggish, until a kind-eyed man leaned into view. For one dizzy moment, she thought it was her master-always so gentle, always there when she woke up sick.

Without thinking, she leaned into Charlie. “Master…” Her voice came out soft, rough, and aching.

Charlie froze, unprepared for her unexpected closeness and immediate trust.

Charlie looked down at Zinnia leaning on him, confused. A strange warm feeling grew in his chest-he’d never had someone depend on him like this before.

The Lynn family had no girls in Charlie’s generation, and Charlie, like the rest, couldn’t stand Betty, When Zinnia leaned into him, trusting and warm, he froze, his hands stiff on her shoulders, and his mind blank.

Charlie leaned closer, but Zinnia’s whisper was too faint to catch. “Hey,” he said, keeping his voice soft, “I’ll take care of you. No more pain.”

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Wed, 17 Sept

Chapter 218

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should. Remembering his coworkers’ words about how to comfort little sisters,

something inside him. ‘Whoever was supposed to care for her has failed.

say little girls are fragile-no way she can handle this much pain

soothing voice. She looked up

clumsy at first, slowly settled into

pulled away from Charlie’s arms as she realized the man holding her wasn’t

master.

with that familiar scolding tone. “You never let me stop

found her as a baby, dumped in the trash and barely breathing, her tiny body bruised head to toe. The fact she’d survived

shocked him.

her into a fever. A decade of his care had strengthened her, but never truly fixed what had been

as porcelain. Whenever her master went herb- gathering in the mountains, he’d leave her

biological parents and sent her back to the

pool water there still haunted Zinnia. When

idea what to do. Cold water rushed into

familiarity of it prickled her skin-that same abandonment she’d felt when her master

out, but the

bones.

feel the illness coming on. Normally, she’d make her own remedy, but she’d used all her herbs on

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Chapter 218

dragged her to the

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vanished, leaving behind an unexpected chill. That hollow

in lab work to notice her return. Even yesterday’s visit with their

found she matched every image he’d ever held of an ideal sister-delicate beauty and gentle grace.

the unfamiliar surroundings- neither the Shaw residence nor the hospital. Recalling Jackson’s mention of taking her to

Zinnia was even quieter. Before

silent.