Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 240

Chapter 240

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“Thanks,” Zinnia said, still a little dazed as she held the plushie. She had barely glanced at it, and now it was in her hands.

Right away, Jackson turned to the waiter and was ready for an order. He knew the menu here was a surprise-cach table got a set of mystery dishes. He wasn’t sure what would come out, but he remembered Zinnia didn’t like parsley or garlic.

So he said, “We’re ready to order. Four portions, please. And make sure there’s no parsley or garlic in the dishes.”

“Got it,” the waiter replied, and then quietly stepped away.

*****

Perry was already peppering Zinnia with questions. “Hey, Zinnia, how old are you? You look so young. What grade are you in? Which school?”

“Seventeen, senior year, Evershine High,” Zinnia replied politely, keeping it brief. She didn’t seem annoyed by Perry’s barrage of questions. Sure, he was a bit chatty, but he was Jackson’s friend, after all.

Evershine High School in Jinston is an elite institution. Zinnia’s grades from her small-town public school wouldn’t have qualified her for admission. But she was a Shaw, and the family couldn’t very well ignore her just because of that. So they splashed out a fortune to get her in.

They didn’t expect Zinnia to excel academically. Senior year was just a stepping stone-a way to help her get through her teenage years without disgracing the family.

They planned to send her abroad for college. As long as she maintained the family’s reputation and earned her diploma, that was enough.

“Wow, Zinnia, you’re 17? You look like you’re still 15 or 16,” Perry said, genuinely surprised.

He had thought Zinnia was younger, maybe a sophomore. But she was already seventeen, almost an adult. At just five-foot-three, she looked tiny next to Perry or Jackson, both of whom were over six feet tall. Her small face and slow, soft speech only made her seem younger.

plate of cookies and small cakes toward her. “And here, grab

said, picking up a bear-shaped cookie and

*****

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Chapter 240

and saw Perry staring at Zinnia. He picked up an orange from the table and tossed it at him. “Aren’t you going back? Just hanging around here, running this little restaurant for

dynasty for generations, with hospitals all over the place. But Perry had always been the black sheep. He’d never set foot in a

rolling it in his hand, his tone flat. “He’s got his precious golden boy to carry on the family name. Why should I go back and make things worse? Or steal

over the inheritance to that guy? Perry, you need to fight

money,” Perry replied, looking irritated. Then he paused and his mood lifted. “Anyway,

exchange, feeling a bit

and smiled, his eyes softening. “Bring

while. Jackson said. “We’re busy right now, and Zinnia starts school tomorrow.” He

just up ahead. Head straight and you’ll see them. the waiter at the entrance said, his eyes flicking to the new

lazy smile on his face as he twirled his car keys. “Hey,

black shirt with the collar undone,

hadn’t expected to see him here, her eyes widening in surprise. It seemed that he was one

yet; Perry was blocking his

you here? We just talked about you,”

eyes scanning the room. “Heard Jackson had a new girl around and

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Chapter 240

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and caught sight of Zinnia standing next to Jackson,

Zinnia thought, “This guy is really something. He seems to

is smart, kind, and so cool-why does he have