Chapter 206
Laurie and Zinnia spent half the morning exploring the estate, yet only managed to cover half of it. When they finally sat down in the dining room, servants began presenting dish after dish of various styles. Since it was Zinniaโs first visit, the chef truly pulled out all the stops to impress her.
Zinnia thought, โNo wonder the heroines in those novels could never escape the estateโitโs enormous.โ She mused, โI spent two hours riding around in a shuttle and only managed to cover a third of the outer area. I havenโt even started on the inside yet.โ The daily cleaning was mostly done by robotic vacuums; if the staff had to do it, theyโd collapse in bed afterward.
Laurie said, โLady Zinnia, since we werenโt sure of your preferences, weโve prepared a selection of dishes from various cuisines. I hope youโll find something you enjoy.โ
Laurie stood beside Zinnia as she took her seat at the long dining table, completely covered with dishes. Behind her, a line of attentive servants waited. Whenever Zinnia glanced at a dish, a servant would immediately place it on her plate. Zinnia thought, โWow, I feel like an emperor.โ Fortunately, Laurie assured her that any leftovers would be eaten by the servants, so nothing would go to waste. This put Zinnia at ease.
After a light lunch, Laurie dutifully led Zinnia on a tour of the estateโs inner grounds. Since this had been her Masterโs former home, Zinnia accepted his offer to show her around. After spending the entire afternoon, Zinnia barely managed a general overview of the estateโs interior. The surrounding orchards, stables, and sports fields were simply too vast to explore in a single visit. Eventually, she returned to the main manor, where her Master and his family had once lived.
She stood alone in the vast, empty living room. The towering ceiling seemed to touch the clouds, with intricate openwork and a spiral staircase winding its way up, floor after floor, in this twenty-story main building. Museum-worthy wall paintings adorned the walls, and even the most ordinary decorative pieces could fetch a fortune. Laurie maintained the estate impeccablyโspotless and breathtakingly beautiful, like a fairy-tale castle. Yet, Zinnia couldnโt feel a trace of human warmth. โItโs stunning,โ she thought, โbut all this beauty feels so empty without its true master.โ
It was getting late, and Zinnia had to return to Cloud Harbor.
โLady Zinnia, wonโt you live here?โ Laurie gazed at Zinnia with pleading eyes. โYouโve only just arrivedโhavenโt stayed even one day yet. Surely you wonโt abandon everyone at the estate so soon?โ
Zinnia couldnโt bear to meet Laurieโs pleading gaze. โIโll come back in a while,โ she answered. Though already in his sixties, the well-preserved man looked barely over fifty.
โGreat. Weโll always be waiting for you, Ms. Zinnia. Just drop me a text whenever youโre coming, and Iโll personally come pick you up,โ Laurie said, grinning. He arranged for a driver to take Zinnia back.
As the car pulled away, Zinnia looked back at the estate. โIโll definitely come again,โ she thought. โAfter all, this is my home.โ
As soon as Zinnia left, Yelena Lynton, in the Mealinia, immediately received word. She got up from her desk and knocked on the tightly shut office door. A cool, deep voice resonated through the door: โCome in.โ
Yelena paused her breathing as she gently pushed open the door. Behind the wide desk sat Nathan, a suave figure. The office maintained a constant temperature. Nathan sat with his head slightly bowed, his chiseled profile resembling fine porcelain. A pale, nearly translucent hand was pressed to his lips, from which occasional soft coughs escaped. His slender frame was slightly hunched, his shoulders draped in a camel-colored shawl.
โWhat is it?โ Noticing Yelena, Nathan lifted his gazeโhis eyes, both gentle and cold, clear as crystal. His voice was like jade clicking. Though sheโd seen that godlike face countless times, Yelena still found herself in awe. โThe Creator really played favorites,โ she thought.
She replied, โBoss, the estate just reported that Ms. Zinnia Shaw had arrived at the Moore manor.โ
โI hope the estate staff served her well,โ Nathan said. Only upon hearing news of Zinnia did his expression soften, a faint smile touching his lips. My little princess has gone to the estate, he mused. I wonder if Zinnia likes it there.
โDonโt worry, Sir, I make sure to keep the staff on their toes every monthโthey wouldnโt dare neglect Ms. Zinnia Shaw. Laurie said sheโll probably come to stay soon,โ Yelena said. Seeing his eyes light up at the mention of Zinnia, Yelena felt a little jealous. Only Ms. Zinnia Shaw, she thought, could bring any happiness to him.
โSpeed up wrapping up the Mooresโ affairs. They thought sending their youngest son back home would keep him out of trouble, but the fool ran headfirst into disaster the moment he returned. Now heโs finished, and all they care about is getting him out of jail. Theyโre distractedโthis is the perfect time to strike. No more delays. Try to wrap everything up before the end of the year,โ Nathan ordered coldly. He thought, โZinnia is smart and helped by Yannis. She might have guessed who I am.โ
Just as Zinnia stepped out of the car, another vehicle pulled up behind her. The window rolled down, revealing Yannis sitting inside. Yannis opened the car door, motioned for her to come over, and said, โHop in.โ
Zinnia got into the car, which headed down to the underground garage. The car from the Moore manor wasnโt registered, so it couldnโt gain access.
โWhere have you been?โ Yannis asked, his smiling eyes resting on her.
Zinnia said frankly, โI went to the Moore manor.โ
โMissing your Master?โ Yannis glanced sideways at her downcast face. He had never known who bought the Moore manor, but now it was clearโit was Nathan.
โA little,โ Zinnia admitted and thought, โI donโt even know where Master is now. Thereโs still so much candy left in the jar he gave me, but I have no idea when heโll come back.โ
Yannis shifted closer to Zinnia and said softly, โHere, you can lean on me.โ
โIโm not crying,โ Zinnia shot him a sidelong glance as a faint minty fragrance enveloped her. She instinctively scooted away, sniffed, and asked, โWhat cologne is that? I want itโit smells amazing.โ
After spending so much time with Yannis, Zinnia had grown bold around him, speaking her mind without a second thought.
โIโm not sureโmy assistant picked it for me. Iโll have him get you a womenโs version,โ Yannis said, readily agreeing. He shifted closer, gently cradled her head, and guided it to rest on his shoulder. โIf youโre feeling down, you can lean on me. And if you want to cry your eyes out, I promise I wonโt laugh at you.โ
Chapter 206
โIโm not going to cry,โ Zinnia murmured, a little sad, her head resting on his shoulder. She didnโt actually feel like crying, but she admitted to herself that she was missing her Master. She thought, โMaster was born into such extreme wealth, yet in the end, he lived with me in that small town, doing everything by hand, taking care of me, the little burden I was.โ She pictured that young man, supporting the even smaller her.
โYannis, howโs your investigation into the Moore family going?โ she asked.