Yannis asked, “Zinnia, where are you staying now?”
“I’m staying at a hotel for now,” Zinnia replied.
Zinnia had no idea where Yannis was taking her, but she wasn’t the least bit worried that he might harm her. She leaned back comfortably, her gaze drifting to the passing scenery outside the window.
“For now?” Yannis echoed.
Zinnia nodded and explained, “Yeah, I bought a place, but it’s still being renovated. Can’t move in for a couple more days.”
Yannis asked, “Where did you buy your new place?”
“Cloud Harbor,” Zinnia replied.
Yannis‘ grip on the steering wheel faltered slightly. He asked, “What made you choose Cloud Harbor?”
Zinnia absentmindedly tapped the cartoon bear plush hanging in front of her and said, “When the real estate agent showed me around Cloud Harbor, I just felt so at home there that I bought a place. What’s up?”
Yannis replied, “I live in Cloud Harbor. Which building are you in? Since we’re neighbors, Zinnia, if you ever need anything, just let me know.”
Zinnia’s words sent a wave of emotion through Yannis’s chest. He thought, ‘She said she felt so at home in Cloud Harbor. Could it be that, deep down, Zinnia still has a soft spot for Cloud Harbor, the place we once called home?‘
Zinnia’s eyes widened in surprise. She exclaimed, “Really? What are the odds?”
Yannis’s eyes sparkled with a smile. He said, “I live on the 18th floor of Building A. Which building are you in, Zinnia?”
“Building B, 19th floor,” Zinnia replied. Then she recalled the beautiful swing outside the 18th–floor balcony she saw. She said, “Looks like our apartments face each other. I saw a lovely swing outside your balcony.”
Yannis said gently, “That swing is yours.”
Zinnia’s eyes widened. She asked, “Mine?”
The car came to a stop at the red light, and Yannis shifted into neutral. He turned to face Zinnia and said, “We lived together for three months.”
Zinnia gasped, “Really?” In disbelief, she thought, ‘Just how close were we back then? I lived with Yannis for three whole months.
Zinnia burst with questions, “Why would I live with you? You said I only stayed with you for three months, then where was I living before that? Who was ! living with?”
Yannis paused slightly. Then he said, “You used to live with your Master.”
Hearing the word “Master“, a sharp, uncontrollable pain shot through Zinnia’s chest. It was so several moments. She asked, “My master? Did I have a Master?”
sudden, so intense, and so clear that her breath caught for
Yannis knew there was no way he could keep this from Zinnia. He thought, ‘Nathan isn’t doing too well right now, but if he knew Zinnia was still alive, it would surely lift his spirits.’
Yannis said gently, “Yes, you have a Master. You’ve lived with him for the past seventeen years.”
Zinnia tightened her grip on the seatbelt, her voice barely above a whisper as she asked, “Is his name Nathan?”
Yannis said, “Yes. Zinnia, did you remember something?”
Zinnia slowly shook her head. She said, “No. Lydia once told me that I used to have two very important people. She told me about Nathan.”
She thought, ‘No wonder just hearing Nathan’s name makes my chest ache. Seventeen years. We must have been close!
Zinnia’s voice was thick with emotion as she asked, “Then where is Nathan now?”
Yannis replied honestly, “Nathan is currently staying on a small island. Give it some time. I’ll help arrange for his return.”
Nathan had retreated to his island hideaway once again. He completely cut himself off. He refused to see anyone. Now that Zinnia had returned, Yannis felt it necessary to arrange for someone to contact Nathan.
Yannis thought, ‘Nathan’s vision is only partially restored now. If Zinnia finds out, she’ll surely blame herself.”
Suddenly, Zinnia found herself asking, “Is Nathan okay now?”
Yannis said, “He is fine.”
Back when Zinnia left, Nathan was barely clinging to life. But now, Nathan had made a remarkable recovery. However, his eyes had gone untreated for four years, and full recovery would take some time.
Nathan refused to cooperate with the treatment for his eyes. It was his way of punishing himself for failing to protect Zinnia.
Zinnia lowered her head and murmured, “Mm.”
Before they knew it, their casual conversation had carried them to their destination. Zinnia looked out the window and saw a claw machine arcade. She saw all sorts of adorable plushies inside.
“A claw machine arcade?” Zinnia asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Yannis pulled into the parking spot and said gently, “Yeah, let’s hit the claw machines first. Later, I’ll take you out for a nice meal.”
Since they had just had a meal, Yannis thought it was not the best time to take her out to eat. He decided to take her to have some fun instead.
Zinnia chuckled and said, “I figured you’d take me to places we used to go together and see if anything would jog my memory.”
Yannis got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the door for her. He said, “I bet Edward has been showing you around Jinston quite a bit these days, hasn’t he?”
Zinnia got out of the car and replied, “Yes.”
Yannis said, “You’ve lost your memory. Just looking around or walking through familiar places probably won’t help you get it back. We need some hands- on experience. Edward doesn’t know what your life in Jinston was really like, but I do.”
He thought, ‘Even if the Evans family could trace Zinnia’s past in Jinston, the specifics would always remain unknown to them. But I know. I lived w Zinnia for three months, personally attending to her every need.‘
“Then I will trouble you for that, Mr. Perkins,” Zinnia replied with a light smile.
A shadow of sadness crossed Yannis’s eyes. He said softly, “Zinnia, you used to call me just Yannis. You still can, you know.”
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