After confirming Edward had left, Zina retrieved her mask and hat again. She checked the time on her phone. ‘Only nine,’ she mused. ‘Still early.’

Having napped in the car on the way back, Zina wasn’t feeling sleepy at all. She stared at the delicious food pictures on her phone. There was just so much good food at home. She’d been craving these for ages. Sure, she’d had plenty to eat these past few days, but it was all healthy meals.

Edward wouldn’t let Zina touch anything else, always saying those snacks were unhygienic and her body couldn’t handle them. But right now, she just wanted to indulge in some junk food.

Zina remembered spotting many restaurants on her way back. She changed into something more comfortable and put on her hat and mask.

Zina tiptoed to the door and cracked it open just enough to peek outside, making sure the hallway was empty. Then, in a flash, she slipped out.

It was already late. If Edward found out she’d snuck out for junk food, he’d definitely put his foot down.

Back in Yinecrest, her dad and brother never let her have any. Now that she was back at home, she could do anything she wanted. There was no way Zina was going to behave herself. She was going to eat something delicious.

Zina took the elevator down. She pulled out her car keys and picked out a gorgeous sparkling frosted berry pink Porsche from the hotel garage. The shimmering color made her smile. She loved it.

Since they were staying at the hotel, their assistant had parked the cars in the garage. Buckling her seatbelt, she eased the car out of the underground garage.

The night air was slightly warm as Zina rolled down the car window, letting the breeze brush against her delicate, striking features. Her chestnut brown hair danced in the wind. Her eyes sparkled with a wild sense of freedom. This was what freedom felt like.

Maybe it was because she looked half-dead when she first came home and scared everyone so badly that her family started treating her like a fragile doll. The Evans family was rich. With all their money, there was always a troop of servants following her wherever she went. But now that she was back home, she could finally taste real freedom.

The GPS announced a right turn ahead. Zina checked the traffic and signaled right. The car slowly moved forward.

Meanwhile, in a nearby car, Jackson was scrolling through the latest project proposal on his tablet. “How has Nathan been lately?”

“Mr. Moore remains unchanged. He spent some time on his private island recently, but after returning, he’s still secluded himself from everyone,” the head assistant, Yuri, replied.

Ever since Zinnia’s accident, Nathan had withdrawn from the world, staying in the small house where they once lived. A barely audible sigh escaped in the car. “I’ve reviewed the latest proposal. Get it implemented ASAP. Also, clear my schedule for Yellowsin. Have the doctor accompany me.”

Jackson powered off the tablet in his hands and rubbed his tired temples, exhaustion etched across his face.

For the past four years, Nathan had secluded himself from the world, refusing to see anyone. He locked himself away in that small house. His only respite was the occasional stay on his private island. Other than that, Nathan spent all four years in isolation.

And throughout those four years, they never found Zinnia. If it weren’t for Giselle insisting that Zinnia was still alive, Nathan would have broken down long ago. And four years ago, after that night of weeping, Nathan’s eyesight deteriorated, leaving him partially blind.

“Understood, Mr. Lynn,” Yuri said, “By the way, Mr. Hanover’s second son just returned, and he’s brought along the heiress of the Evans Group.”

Jackson replied, “The heiress of the Evans Group? I thought the Evans family only had an heir?”

Jackson had been so busy lately that he hadn’t paid attention to anything outside the company. Ever since Zinnia’s accident, Nathan had stopped managing the Moore Group, leaving everything to Jackson and Yannis to hold things together. After all, Nathan had fought so hard to win the company back. There was no way they could just stand by and watch it fall apart.

Jackson had heard of the Evans Group, but as far as he knew, Adrian was the only kid. He didn’t know they had a daughter.

Yuri explained, “The heiress of the Evans Group has never appeared in public. It was only in the past two years that rumors started to spread, and people found out they had a daughter. She’s twenty-two this year, but no one knows what she looks like.”

The Evans family had done an excellent job protecting Zina, never letting any information leak out. Very few people at home even knew Edward, let alone Zina. Although Edward had been taking Zina out recently, they only went to exclusive venues. So even though they’d been back for several days, hardly anyone had noticed or recognized them.

“Twenty-two?” Jackson set the tablet aside and stared out the window.

‘If Zinnia were still alive, she’d be twenty-two this year too,’ he thought. A sudden pang gripped his chest. ‘Zinnia, where are you? Have you been safe these past four years?’ His mind flooded with countless thoughts.

Jackson rolled down the window, letting the muggy night air rush in. He glanced out, his gaze landing on a car slowly pulling away ahead. Through its half-open window, he caught a glimpse of a pair of eyes, startlingly familiar. His pupils constricted.

“Step on it,” Jackson urged, his voice tight.

“What’s wrong, Mr. Lynn? It’s a red light,” said Yuri, puzzled.

Jackson looked up at the traffic light; three minutes left on the red. This was the busiest road during the evening rush hour, and traffic was crawling along in gridlock. Jackson frowned, searching for the car again, but it had already vanished into the sea of vehicles. In that brief glance, he hadn't registered what kind of car it was.

“What’s wrong, Mr. Lynn?” Yuri asked.

Jackson had always been steady. Over the past four years, his emotions had grown even more restrained and unreadable. This was the first time he’d shown any sign of urgency.

“It’s nothing. Let’s keep going.” Jackson leaned back in his seat.

He thought, ‘Those eyes I just saw looked a bit like Zinnia’s.’ But the thought quickly faded. Jackson dismissed it. After all, it had been four years with no news of Zinnia. She couldn’t possibly appear now.

Jackson shook his head. ‘I must just be exhausted. My eyes are playing tricks on me,’ he thought. ‘Those eyes only bear a passing resemblance to Zinnia’s.’

Jackson convinced himself it was just another mistake. Over the years, they’d had too many false sightings. Back when Zinnia first disappeared, they were always mistaking strangers for her. At that time, Yannis would chase after anyone who even vaguely resembled her.

They put out rewards everywhere, 30 thousand dollars for any clue or sighting, real or not. If anyone claimed to have seen someone like Zinnia, no matter how far, Yannis would rush over immediately. But it was always in vain. There were even two occasions when they were lured into traps by rivals and ended up injured. Only in recent years had things finally settled down.

Zina weaved through the congested traffic, then sped straight toward the area full of many restaurants. Just thinking about so many delicious snacks was making her drool.

That was exactly why Zina dared to sneak out tonight. Edward had surgery at the hospital tomorrow. Zina knew him well. He always went to bed early before a surgery to stay in top shape. He was such a dedicated doctor.