Chapter 198

“Yannis, since you know my master’s identity, do you know why the Moore family moved abroad twenty years ago, and what happened with the explosion three years later?” Zinnia asked, resting her cheek on her arm and gazing at him. She mused, “Since Yannis has photos of Master’s family, he must know far more than Brian.”

Yannis replied, “Twenty years ago, Mrs. Moore fell seriously ill, and doctors in our country couldn't save her. At that time, medical technology abroad was far more advanced, so Mr. Richard Moore immediately moved his wife and child overseas.” He knew a bit about this; Richard had even consulted Henry about possible treatments for his ailing wife, Hannah. Two decades ago, medical technology was indeed more advanced. Hannah's sudden illness had thrown Richard and Nathan into complete panic, but Richard prioritized his wife's life, ultimately deciding to move the whole family abroad.

“What about the explosion?” Zinnia pressed. “I heard it was brutal. Why did it happen so suddenly?” Zinnia was most concerned about who wanted to harm her master's family.

Yannis said, “The explosion was likely the result of an internal power struggle within the Moore family. It happened so suddenly that by the time we received news, the two family leaders had already perished. The Lynn family retrieved Richard and Hannah's bodies and arranged the funeral, but their inquiries yielded no answers. However, we're certain the Moore family branch was somehow involved.” He didn't really know much about what happened to the Moore family. His own family was in turmoil that year, and he only caught fragments of information.

Yannis noticed Zinnia's furrowed brows and the mix of curiosity and gloom in her eyes. He said gently, “If you want to know, I'll have someone look into it for you.”

Seventeen years ago, the explosion that struck the Moore family must have been connected to a branch of the family; otherwise, that branch would have also suffered. If Nathan were still alive, he definitely wouldn't have spared them. Yannis considered the MZ Group overseas, gradually encroaching on the Moore Group. He suspected the "M" represented Moore, and the "Z," Zinnia, guessing Nathan was precisely who he sought.

“Thanks, Yannis,” Zinnia replied. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. She thought, ‘If the Moore family branch was truly behind this, I'll spare no effort to make them pay.’

Time flew. Friday afternoon arrived, and Zinnia and her classmates went home after their last class. As Yannis arrived at the classroom for a parent-teacher meeting, he bumped into Yvette, who was elegantly dressed in a light yellow dress with pearl buttons, a white shawl draped over her slender figure, and her hair elegantly pinned up.

“What brings you here?” Yvette asked.

Chapter 197

Yannis noticed Zinnia’s wariness, realizing she didn’t fully trust him, and a bitter ache settled in his chest. She was instantly guarded about anything related to her master.

“Who are you looking for?” Zinnia asked, feigning ignorance. She sensed Yannis wasn't against her master, but she remained cautious.

“Nathan Moore, the heir of the Moore family. He might be your master,” Yannis stated bluntly.

Zinnia realized Yannis was searching for her master, and she guessed her master was likely from the Moore family. Her hands clenched involuntarily.

“I don’t know my master’s name,” she said. “We grew up in that small town. Aren’t the Moore family supposed to be abroad? Why would my master have anything to do with them?”

Yannis said, “Zinnia, I have a family portrait of the Moore family. Your master should be around 27 now.” He showed her a picture of a handsome man, a pretty woman, and a good-looking boy. The woman sat on a bench, flanked by the man and boy, all smiling at the camera. The warmth and happiness practically leapt from the photo.

The Moore family's tumultuous past meant any online photos had been erased. Zinnia had searched in vain. Rare photos existed, but only of Richard Moore; his wife and son were kept out of the public eye. Yet, in their circles, photos were always obtainable. Yannis had acquired this one a few days prior.

Zinnia's gaze locked onto the boy, who looked no older than seven, but his delicate features hinted at the striking beauty he would possess. His refined face and pure, sparkling eyes held a gentle mirth. Just looking at him, a girl would feel lost in his gaze forever. Zinnia gasped. She thought, ‘That’s really M…’

Zinnia rarely saw her master's face. He always wore a mask, explaining it was to avoid frightening people because his face was burned and disfigured. He only removed it to comfort her when she was sick. Just seeing his handsome face always made her feel better and even helped her eat more. Those few glimpses were etched in her memory.

The boy in the portrait was a smaller version of her master; his features had only grown more striking with age. But his gentle, luminous eyes rarely held a smile, often brimming with quiet sorrow.

Yannis said gently, “Zinnia, Nathan grew up with Jackson. We’ve been searching for him for years. We just want to know if your master is Nathan and if he’s still alive. We won’t hurt him.”

Her reaction told Yannis everything: Nathan was undoubtedly her master. Yet, it was clear Nathan had never revealed his true identity to her. The shock and unfamiliarity in her eyes when she saw the photo were genuine. She truly hadn't known before. She might have had suspicions, but confirmation only came from the photo.

Chapter 197

Zinnia said, “You’ll never find my master. I don’t know where he is either. He told me not to look for him, so you two should stop searching; he has his own plans.” She lowered her lashes, veiling the sorrow in her eyes.

Yannis noticed her sorrow, gently tousled her hair, and said softly, “Zinnia, I’m here for you.”

“Yannis, how did you figure out my master is Nathan Moore?” Zinnia asked.

Yannis replied, “Jackson recognized the technique when you played the zither.” He’d waited over a month to ask her about his suspicions.

Jackson and Nathan had been inseparable since childhood; their mothers were best friends. So, the moment Zinnia's zither performance video appeared in the group chat, Jackson grew suspicious. Initially, he hadn't considered Zinnia's master to be Nathan. Her massage techniques only planted a seed of doubt. However, learning about her unusual physical condition, the undetectable ingredients in Moon Scar Cream, and Henry's confirmation, he truly began to suspect her master's identity. Later, her distinctive zither performance solidified his suspicions.