Chapter 232

Laughter and chatter blurred the time, and before they knew it, November arrived with a biting chill.

Zinnia bundled into a thick coat, shouldering her backpack as she headed out of the classroom.

Yannis’s text lit up her phone: [Class over? I’m at the school gate.]

Zinnia descended the stairs slowly and replied: [On my way]. Turning to Lydia, she smiled, “I’ll visit Bonnie tomorrow.” The monthly break started the next day.

Lydia nodded. “Okay.”

Soon, they arrived at the school gate and spotted Yannis leaning against his car.

Yannis wore a black trench coat over a crisp white shirt, with casual pants that hugged his frame. His chiseled features and confident stance attracted plenty of attention.

He propped one leg against the car door, not even bothering with his phone. His eyes were fixed on the almost empty school, like he was waiting for someone.

Zinnia had stayed late, wrestling with math problems as Lydia tutored her. The moment she spotted Yannis, her eyes lit up like sparklers.

Noticing how Zinnia’s smile stretched wide as she saw Yannis, Lydia pressed her lips into a thin line. She looked down, her lashes fluttering.

“You’re here!” Zinnia hurried over to Yannis, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

“How could I miss my princess?” Yannis’s gaze softened, affection pooling in his eyes. He took her backpack, slinging it over one shoulder with ease.

Zinnia preened at his flattery. ‘Who doesn’t love being called a princess? I sure do,’ she thought, a giddy flutter in her chest.

Lydia waited until their banter subsided before speaking up. “Yannis.”

Yannis nodded. “We’ll drop you off first. Thanks for helping Zinnia with her studies.”

Lately, Zinnia had been staying late to catch up, returning home long after dinner. Sometimes when Yannis had cooked dinner at home and she was still not back, he would come to pick her up.

Knowing Lydia was tutoring Zinnia eased his mind–Lydia had always been a top student, consistently ranking in the top three at Evershine High, a school of prodigies.

“Happy to help,” Lydia replied softly.

Yannis took the wheel, while Zinnia and Lydia settled in the back.

After dropping Lydia at her complex, Zinnia moved to the front seat and waved. “See you tomorrow, Lydia.”

Glancing back, Zinnia saw the nanny and Bonnie waiting at the entrance.

Bonnie wore an innocent smile, taking Lydia’s hand and murmuring something before looking Zinnia’s way.

Zinnia smiled and waved at her.

Yannis glanced at Bonnie, then withdrew his gaze as he turned the steering wheel. “Zinnia,” he asked casually, “how well do you know about Lydia?”

Eyes on the road, Yannis noticed Zinnia’s hair tousled by the wind. Without a word, he pressed a button to roll up the window. Warmth seeped into the car, wrapping them in a cozy hush.

“Lydia’s from a single-parent family–just her and her mom since childhood. She’s always been a top student, recruited by schools…” Zinnia explained. Lydia had never hidden details Zinnia wanted to know.

After listening to her praise Lydia–clear that she was exceptional–Yannis asked, “What about her father?”

“Lydia never knew him. He vanished before she was born.”

“Vanished without a trace?” Yannis turned the words over.

“Yeah.”

Yannis remembered Bonnie’s straightforward, innocent stare–like a kid’s, totally untouched by the world’s mess. “Her mother seems… different,” he said.

Zinnia didn’t hold back. “Bonnie had been staying in a psych ward. But when I visited, I realized she’d been poisoned and gave her an antidote.

“The poisoning was so severe that after the antidote, she lost all memory. Now she is like a child, learning everything again.”

“Poisoned?” Yannis frowned.

Sensing his curiosity, Zinnia added, “Mind-eroding powder. My master said it’s made by a foreign organization.”

Yannis’s brows knit. If he remembered correctly, this poison originated from the very organization Nathan destroyed.

Every member of that organization was force-fed mind-eroding powder. At the first thought of betrayal, they’d be consumed by excruciating agony.

When the organization fell apart, the imprisoned members broke out of prison, and rumor had it that someone provided them with the antidote.

Yannis found Benny two years ago, but locals said Benny had wandered the street for two or three years before that. His body was a map of scars: fresh cuts over old wounds, a gash across his face, and a missing pinky joint.

When people asked where he was from, he didn’t have an answer. He just muddled through each day like a fool.

Nathan destroyed the organization five years ago–matching when Benny first appeared. If Benny had been a member, Nathan’s raid explained his escape.

Yannis also recalled a rumor: nineteen years ago, a defector fled, and the members of the organization were so determined that they issued a kill order, willing to go to the ends of the earth to bring the person back.

They’d been searching for over a year, but he was nowhere to be found. The guy was a master at covering his tracks–the fact that he’d escaped in the first place was proof enough of his skills.

But six months later, he returned voluntarily. No one knew why, and after that, he was never heard from again.

The organization tortured traitors brutally–few survived. If Benny was that man, the pieces fell into place.

“Zinnia,” Yannis asked, “what’s Lydia’s mother’s name?”

“Bonnie Hollis,” Zinnia replied.

When Yannis first found Benny, he had mumbled “Bonnie” incessantly. Unable to determine his real name, Yannis coined “Benny” from the syllable. Now, Yannis‘ suspicions were mostly confirmed.

Upon hearing Yannis‘ guess, Zinnia was stunned. “You’re saying Lydia’s father is still alive?” she asked.

‘What a small world,’ she thought. ‘I helped Lydia’s mom, and if Yannis is right, he helped her dad. Life weaves such unexpected connections.’

“Not certain yet,” Yannis said. “You could ask Lydia. If she’s willing, I can arrange a meeting. Benny’s been looking for someone for two years, and it might be Lydia and Bonnie.”