Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Zinnia woke up to daylight.

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Luckily, it was the weekend and Zinnia didn’t have to go to school. Otherwise, she'd be dead on her feet.

She pushed open her room door and stepped out, only to find the hospital room deathly quiet.

Zinnia's appearance drew everyone's gaze toward her.

Several pairs of eyes locked onto her, snapping her half-asleep mind into full alertness.

Instinctively, she took a step back, pressing herself against the door, ready to slip back into her room.

With James now awake, the room fell into an unnerving silence. Zinnia had no idea what they’d been discussing

before.

“Zinnia,” James called softly, his voice gentle yet still rough from his recent illness.

Yannis stood up and walked over to her with a reassuring smile. “Hey, no need to run off. Don’t be scared. You're

the hero of our family right now.”

“Huh?” Zinnia blinked in utter confusion.

‘I just took a nap. What the heck happened while | was asleep?’ she wondered.

Zinnia glanced around in bewilderment. Victor was beaming at her. Layla flashed her an enthusiastic thumbs- up,

and even Devin, who was usually so stoic, wore a faint smile.

Zinnia had absolutely no idea what was going on. She was completely lost.

“What's happening?” Zinnia asked hesitantly as she and Yannis took seats by the hospital bed.

‘Why am | even here, mixed up in their family affairs?‘ she thought.

“Zinnia, is there anything you desire? Just nit. If you want the stars in the sky, | will have Yannis fetch them

for you,” James smiled warmly at Zinnia, who sat there a bit stiffly.

“Your promise? Why am | the one who has to do it?” Yannis shot James an annoyed glare,

James eavesdropped on their conversation in the middle of the night, and now James was trying to pawn him

off as a reward.

“I'm getting on in years. | might not be around much longer,” James said. “The doctor says | shouldn't stress

myself out. Can’t you doa favor and show Zinnia our gratitude?”

James snorted.

“Gratitude?” Zinnia still didn’t get it.

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After tossing and turning half the night, her mind was still foggy. She just couldn’t connect the dots.

“Yes, the misunderstanding between them has finally been cleared up,” Victor exclaimed excitedly.

Yannis shot back, “Who told you?”

James lifted his chin. “Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?”

“Sir, don’t hold your head up so high. The doctor said you've just woken up, so no sudden movements.

“Isn't it great now that you've talked things out? You're even finishing each other's sentences.”

Victor watched nervously, his heart racing with concern as he observed James’s movements.

Zinnia thought, finally catching on, ‘So that’s it. James and Yannis must have talked things out.”

They exchanged a glance at Victor's tic tone and then turned away in unison.

“Yannis, would you like to celebrate your birthday at the Perkins Manor?” James asked.

“You're lying here in a hospital bed and still thinking about my birthday?” Yannis asked, sounding surprised.

Honestly, it was not Yannis’s fault to banter with James. Here James was, stuck in a hospital bed, yet still fussing

over his son’s birthday.

The doctor said his condition required at least six months of complete rest and recuperation.

Birthday celebrations at halways turned the place upside down.

“All | need is srest. It’s not like | can’t move. | don’t care. You have to cback to the Perkins Manor for

your birthday,” James retorted stubbornly.

He was just resting, not bedridden.

“Yannis, it's been two years since you celebrated your birthday at home. Dad just wants to have you back this

time,” Devin said.

Watching the stubborn father-son duo with amusement, he voiced James's unspoken wish.

Yannis hadn't celebrated his birthday at hsince he went abroad at the age of 21. After two years away, he

only returned six months ago.

Now that his son was finally back, James longed for Yannis to celebrate his birthday at home.

With the air cleared between them, James could no longer keep up his stern fatherly facade and couldn't help

but act like a mischievous old man.

After all, he knew Yannis would never truly disregard him.

James said, “With my health like this, who knows how many more birthdays | can celebrate with you? | insist we

celebrate at the Perkins Manor... Unless...”

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James paused, noticing Yannis’s silence and suddenly feeling self-conscious about his demanding tone.

“Fine, let's do it at the Perkins Manor,” Yannis conceded.

James smiled, “Let’s do it at the Perkins Manor. It hasn't seen this much excitement in ages...”

As soon as Yannis agreed, James broke into a broad smile. Then he turned to Zinnia with a twinkle in his eye and

said warmly, “Zinnia, you'll ctoo.”

“Oh, okay,” Zinnia replied instinctively.

“It's settled then. We'll celebrate at the Perkins Manor,” said James.

“Alright, Layla and | will clear our schedules and help out in person. We'll make sure to decorate properly. It's

been ages since Yannis last celebrated his birthday at home,” Devin said, a faint smile curling his lips.

James grinned and said, “Make it more festive.”

“I remember Yannis loved balloons when he was little,” Victor said with a smile. “We'll definitely put up loads

of balloons.”

Layla grinned, “We still need to order a cake. Should we go for something elaborate or just keep it simple?

Actually, never mind. We'll decide after talking to the pastry chef.”

Devin asked, “Yannis, which friends should we contact? We should let them know in advance.”

Not once did anyone ask Yannis what he wanted.

Zinnia sat up straight, hands resting on her knees, and listened as everyone chatted about Yannis’s birthday

plans. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, but she couldn't help yawning quietly, feeling even more out of place in

the lively conversation.

Zinnia and Yannis sat by the hospital bed, while Devin and the others stood in a circle behind them.

James lay on the bed.

Something just felt off, but Zinnia couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong.

Yannis said, “Didn't sleep well? We'll head hsoon so you can catch up on ssleep.”

Yannis, the actual birthday boy, was completely ignored as everyone bickered back and forth. Their nonstop

chatter was giving him a splitting headache.

‘Why did | ever agree to this birthday thing?’ he thought ruefully.

Yannis saw her stifle a yawn and lower her gaze, revealing the dark circles under her eyes.

She rarely stayed up late. Last night, she didn’t fall asleep until past 3 a.m., and now it was barely nine.

“Yeah,” Zinnia sighed. “I tossed and turned all night, drifting in and out of sleep. Honestly, it felt like | hadn't

slept a wink.”

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As soon as she finished her words,

Layla said, “Zinnia, what Le gm

as dp FoLIE? I'll'show you

sbrrie ideas later. You can pick your

favorites.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Layla held her phone right in front of Zinnia, clearly excited as she started scrolling through options, eager to

brainstorm decoration ideas together.

“Wait, you're askingto pick what I like? But isn’t it Yannis’s birthday?” Zinnia asked, utterly bewildered.

“Oh please, there's no point asking

Yannis. He'll just say whatever like

always. Zinnia, letisjugDpick what!

yQu fikeNnRateVer you choose, he's

bound to love it." Layla couldn't help

sounding dismissive whenever

Yannis was mentioned. The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Having grown up with everything he wanted, Yannis rarely desired anything specific.

Birthdays didn't matter to him, but

Layla and the others never tiregha,

makingq fuse afterel vannis only

tlre a year older once, and they

were determined to make it perfect.

“I don’t think that’s right...” Zinnia believed birthdays should be about the celebrant’s preferences.

Having experienced a disappointing birthday herself, she felt this day belonged to Yannis and should reflect

his tastes.

She just couldn’t understand why Layla bypassed Yannis and asked her instead.

“Whatever you like, Yannis will love too. Right, Yannis?” Layla smiled as she turned to him.

Everyone looked at Yannis with a smile.

“Yes.” Yannis said.

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