Chapter 177
Zinnia had been living with Yannis for quite some time now, watching over him as he took his medicine every day.
Yannis really had no choice. If he hesitated even a little, those big eyes would look at him, silently saying, “You’re a grown man. Are you really scared of a little medicine?”
Her eyes were hard to ignore.
Another reason Yannis took his medicine was those worried comments Zinnia once made about his future. But he definitely wasn’t going to tell Raymond about that.
Yannis nodded without showing much emotion.
Yannis’s health looked better, and Raymond’s face lit up with happiness. “So, how about your insomnia? Is it still bothering you now?” Raymond asked.
“Much better now,” Yannis said with a small smile–meaning he still had it, but it was much better.
Yannis would be lying if he said he didn’t have insomnia. But since that night with Zinnia, whenever he got trapped in those dark, blood–drenched visions, her voice would always bring him back to reality.
This cycle kept going. He’d sink into those nightmares, then be pulled out again and again, all night until morning. During those short moments of relief, he could sleep a little.
Yannis hadn’t realized how much Zinnia meant to him. She could reach him in ways no one else could, even pulling him out of that darkness.
Even Roderick, who tried hypnosis for years, hoping to erase those memories, never managed to do that.
Whenever he remembered her soft voice saying, “I won’t leave you,” and that warm, comforting hug, Yannis’s heart would melt.
He thought, ‘Maybe I can’t ever forget those memories. But when I’m almost drowning in that inescapable past, Zinnia will reach out and pull me back.
“How did Zinnia treat you?” Raymond asked, really curious.
He knew how bad his insomnia had been. Even if it was not fully gone, any progress was a big step.
Raymond wanted to learn her tips.
“She made me herbal pouches and some pills, and even wrote me a new prescription,” Yannis said, but Raymond couldn’t help thinking Yannis looked a bit too proud–like he was showing off on purpose.
“What kind of herbal pouch is it?” Raymond asked seriously, hiding his doubt.
Having heard him brag about it already, Yvette joined in, “Dad, he wouldn’t even use aromatherapy candle; what kind of herbal pouch could help him sleep? He’s definitely lying.”
Yannis pulled out a herbal pouch from his suit pocket. Raymond reached out to take it, but Yannis held it back. “Just look, don’t touch,” he said.
Raymond sighed, “Come closer, will you? My eyes aren’t as sharp as yours.” Yannis looked at the silver streaks in Raymond’s hair, then moved it closer so he could see.
Raymond put on his glasses, knowing well that he didn’t like anyone touching his things, and looked at it carefully.
The herbal pouch contained 21 different herbs, all for treating insomnia.
Raymond asked carefully, “You mean you can really fall asleep just with this herbal pouch? After all these years, it’s hard to believe something so simple
could work.”
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08:30 Fri, 13 Jún J◄
Chapter 177
Yannis shook his head. “The herbal pouch alone isn’t enough. I have to take the pills too. Breathing in the scent of the herbal pouch makes me a line sleepy.”
He added, “But as soon as I close my eyes, all those memories come back and I can’t sleep. Only when I take a pill and remind myself of Zinnia’s words can I finally calm down.”
“Did you bring the pills?” Raymond asked.
Yannis had brought them. Since he was sleeping over tonight, he knew he couldn’t sleep without them. And if Zinnia saw him tired, she’d worry. He took out a bottle and handed it over; only a few pills were left inside.
Raymond poured out a pill, sniffed it, and looked interested. He asked, “What did Zinnia tell you?”
“She told me not to overthink,” Yannis said.
“You’re lucky. Meeting Zinnia is the best thing that ever happened to you,” Raymond said, giving Yannis’s shoulder a good pat.
He couldn’t help thinking, ‘She got a teacher from the Moore family and really knows how to win hearts. With Zinnia around, Yannis will never fall apart again.”
“I agree,” Yannis said, his eyes lazily curving and shining with a happy sparkle.
Yannis went upstairs. The younger people’s rooms were on the third floor, while Raymond and Yvette with her husband stayed on the second. Zinnia’s room was next to Maisie’s, and Yannis’s was right across from theirs.
“Zinnia,” Yannis softly called as he got close to her room and knocked.
“Coming! Just a second,” Zinnia’s hurried voice came from inside, along with quick footsteps.
“No rush, Zinnia,” Yannis said kindly, listening to her rushing around.
A moment later, the door opened. Zinnia appeared, holding her head with one hand while pulling the door open with the other, tilting her head as she looked up at him.
“Yannis? What are you doing here?” she asked, looking surprised.
“Can’t get your hair out?” Yannis said, looking at her, trying not to laugh.
Zinnia had her hair all messed up, the beads of her hairpin tangled in her hair. Her eyes looked annoyed. She had gotten upset just trying to take her hair
down.
“Yep,” Zinnia muttered, still sulking about it.
She had put on too many hairpins and decorations tonight; some even had beaded tassels. Zinnia had never worn her hair like this before. After dinner, she went straight to her room, planning to shower and wash her hair.
But when she tried to take everything out, no matter how long she worked at it, she just couldn’t get it undone. Her scalp hurt, her hands ached, and she felt angry inside.
She had to tilt her head awkwardly because a beaded hairpin with tassels was tangled in her hair, and it hurt to straighten up. She wanted to ask Maisie for help, but Maisie was in the shower.
Maisie wore a wig, which was easy to take off, but Zinnia’s long natural hair was styled intricately, so undoing it was a nightmare.
“Let me help,” Yannis offered, noticing Zinnia’s occasional wince. He handed her the plate of strawberries and then moved behind her. Finding the tangled beaded hairpin with tassels, he gently started to free her hair.
The decorative tassels got caught at the back of her neck–Zinnia had been struggling in front of the mirror for ages, trying to loosen them.
Chapter 177
“Thank you, Yannis,” Zinnia sighed happily when the hairpin was finally removed, letting her straighten her head
“Sit. I’ll finish fixing it,” Yannis said, looking at her tangled hair and her pouty lace.
He gently poked her round cheek, watching it deflate as her anger faded. With a lazy smile, he teased, “You’re about to puff up like a little pufferfish. Poor Zinnia, getting so worked up.”
AD
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