Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 262

Chapter 262

Howard couldn’t figure out why Zinnia had started to occupy his thoughts. Maybe it was the way she sat there quietly, listening to their plans to send her away, her calm and steady gaze making him feel inexplicably uneasy.

Or maybe it was the time she fainted in his arms, her pale face showing a vulnerability he hadn’t noticed before. It hit him that she wasn’t just some girl; she was his sister, someone who needed to be cared for.

Or perhaps it was the way she stopped talking to him, her cold demeanor leaving him feeling unsettled. Or maybe it was her indifference, the way she ignored them completely, her coldness making him feel uncomfortable, like they were being treated unfairly.

Whatever the reason, Howard knew he didn’t want Zinnia to treat him like this. He thought, ‘She is clearly angry. I owe her an apology. Maybe if I apologized, she’d stop being so distant. Maybe she’d smile at me again.’

Howard called out, “Zinnia.” His voice was hesitant as he looked at her. Her silence made him feel like he was standing on shaky ground.

“I don’t need your apology,” Zinnia replied, her tone flat and her expression unchanged.

Howard’s hand slowly dropped to his side. He said, “Zinnia, you haven’t forgiven me, have you?” His voice carried a hint of

sadness.

Zinnia replied, “Who says I have to forgive you just because you apologized?” Her voice was calm, but her words were sharp. She couldn’t understand why Howard looked so defeated. She thought, ‘Does he think an apology is all it took?’

Howard fell silent.

“Zinnia,” a voice called out from behind them.

Zinnia turned her head. Upon seeing the person, her eyes sparkled with joy. She called out, “Charlie!” She stepped past Howard and hurried toward Charlie. He had been busy lately, and she hadn’t seen him for several days.

Charlie pulled his hand from behind his back, revealing a white teddy bear. He said, “I broke my promise, so here’s something to make it up to you.”

He had promised to spend time with Zinnia until school started, but a call from his teacher had pulled him away the very next morning, leaving him no chance to keep his word.

“Thank you, Charlie,” Zinnia said softly. She hugged the teddy bear tightly. It was soft and adorable, and she rubbed her cheek against it.

be so formal with me.” He ruffled her hair lightly. His face softened with a gentle smile as he

accompanied by

stairs.

out of nowhere. Her gaze

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Chapter 262

outside the garden, watching the lively scene inside. The laughter and warmth felt like a world apart, and Zinnia fit right in, as if she truly belonged

ready.” She sighed inwardly, ‘Regret won’t change anything now. It’s too late. They’ve already

voice light and cheerful as she sat surrounded by the Lynn brothers. Jackson couldn’t make it today because of

with you,” Charlie said warmly. He carefully deboned a piece of fish before placing

applied to transfer his work to the hospital. However, if the lab required his expertise in the future,

return to assist.

to her bowl and said, “Zinnia, you

“It is good.” Her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, and her eyes sparkled with pure joy. She thought, ‘Meat is the best thing

relaxed, savoring every bite, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor at the Shaw residence. At Shaw

The dishes were a colorful, flavorful spread, rich with oil

family. The Shaws preferred bland, light flavors. Heavy oil and seasoning were practically taboo. Howard

bowl, but she wrinkled her nose in disdain before reluctantly eating them. She never

only rice at home because there were no

else was picking up dishes, Zinnia alone would just hold onto her bowl of rice and

notice her,

like that while eating? It was as if she thought we would bully her! But they never considered that she simply

Howard hard. He thought, ‘We never tried to understand her.’ His heart sank under the weight

greasy texture felt strange and uncomfortable in his hands. It was his

shell, tearing it in all the wrong places and leaving the shrimp looking like it had been through a

zone.

Zinnia. Just as he extended his

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12:56 Thu, 18 Sept