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.

of cookies and small cakes toward

a bear-shaped cookie

*****

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Chapter 240

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 fun? Isn’t your dad furious by

Perry had always been the black sheep. He’d never set foot in a hospital, choosing instead to open his

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

Perry, you need to

choice. It’s not like we’re desperate for the money,” Perry replied, looking irritated. Then he paused and his mood lifted. “Anyway, Yannis is

feeling a bit

her gaze and smiled, his eyes softening. “Bring Zinnia along when we do. Yannis hasn’t

“We’re busy right now, and Zinnia starts school tomorrow.” He didn’t push it further. His

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

Perry glanced back and saw Yannis sauntering over, a lazy smile on his face as he twirled his car

shirt with the collar undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone. His long fingers idly played with

expected to see him here, her eyes widening in surprise. It seemed that he was one of

yet;

here? We just

room. “Heard Jackson had a new girl

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Wed, 17 Sept

Chapter 240

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of Zinnia standing next to

really something.

buddy, or it might even change my opinion of Jackson. Jackson is smart, kind,