Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 279

Chapter 279

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Howard said, “Mom, if you’d brought Zinnia back and had a proper talk with her, maybe even let her sweet-talk Grandma a little, wouldn’t that have solved the issue just as well?

“Not only that, but it could’ve been a chance to fix your relationship with her. Instead, you made this choice, and now you’ve pushed Zinnia even further away. You’ve completely broken her heart, Mom.”

Howard felt tightness in his chest as he listened to Maelis’s words, frustration bubbling up inside him.

He continued, “And pulling the post down so abruptly will only make the online chatter worse. We should’ve taken a different approach to minimize the damage.

“Betty could’ve issued a sincere apology, and we could’ve released a statement saying that she’s family in every way that matters. Letting everyone know we’re standing behind her would’ve worked just as well, wouldn’t it?

“Over time, people would’ve moved on, and this whole mess would’ve blown over. Zinnia isn’t the type to hold grudges forever. So why did you have to make this decision?

“And another thing-we haven’t even officially acknowledged Zinnia as our daughter. She’s our own child, and we owe her that much.”

Howard rubbed his temples, his headache worsened. He couldn’t understand why his mom always seemed to make things harder for everyone. Before coming home, he’d even wondered if Zinnia had exaggerated the situation.

But after hearing Maelis’s reasoning, Howard realized with a sinking heart that convincing Zinnia to come back home would now be nearly impossible.

The image of Zinnia’s cold, distant gaze from earlier that afternoon flashed in his mind, and it stung deeply. This was the second time she’d been abandoned.

Howard didn’t have a particularly close bond with Zinnia, given how little time they’d spent together. But even with that distance, he had never once thought of giving up on her.

He figured their lack of connection was due to the short time she’d been back. He felt that Zinnia might be a bit

deteriorate to this extent.

headstrong, but he never imagined their relationship woe

“I… Betty has been so upset about the online backlash. Jackson refuses to take down the post, and

father came home and insisted I ask Jackson to remove the post. Your grandmother said if I wanted the post taken down, I had to make

voice trailing

is my daughter! How could she ever turn her back

to Zinnia multiple times, but Zinnia had never shown her any

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Chapter 279

And when the heart is wounded, it’s not something that can be easily

up with them, didn’t share deep bonds, and now, being treated like this, repairing their

families aren’t a cure-all. If they were, Zinnia wouldn’t be ignoring him while calling Isaac her brother so

again and again.

jab to Howard’s heart. He was supposed to be her third brother, yet after all their encounters,

thought, ‘Mom might not grasp the consequences, but how could Dad not? Why would he

In her mind,

truly be severed.

all this to blame me for making the wrong choice?” Maelis snapped, frustration bubbling over. She’d comforted

that’s not what I meant! I just wish you’d talk to us before making such big decisions. We could’ve worked

understand me! You are all busy with your own lives, and I’m left here dealing with

didn’t harm her in any way, so I thought asking Suzy to

was the

now Zinnia went and complained to you? Betty was right-she’s such

me. She just stood there watching. If I hadn’t been pushed to the brink, would I have agreed so quickly?” The more Maelis spoke, the more aggrieved she

Zinnia didn’t come to me to complain. We were arguing, and she accidentally let it slip,” Howard said, instinctively

he frowned. He thought, ‘Did Betty say something to Mom about Zinnia?’

this to you?” Maelis snapped, her tone tinged with frustration and blame. She felt hurt that her son wouldn’t take her side or help

Howard? What’s going on here?” Yosef’s voice cut through the tension as he entered the

in

saying I was wrong.” Maelis said, walking up to him with a hint

his piercing gaze locking onto

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