Chapter 458
“Nathan will be fine,” Yannis said, gently ruffling Zinnia’s hair as he met the worry in her eyes. With Jackson in
Mealinia, of course Nathan would be fine.
“Yannis, to be honest, I'm really worried about Nathan,” Zinnia murmured, her head lowered as she nervously.
fidgeted with the card in her hands.
She continued, her voice trembling with concern, “Nathan has never leftbehind before. If he did this time,
something must have happened. He hasn't contactedat all. I'm afraid something terrible might have
happened to him.”
Yannis gently pinched Zinnia’s check, a soft smile on his lips. “Zinnia, trust him. Didn't he promise to cback?
He'll definitely return.”
Zinnia was certain Nathan would return safe and sound. She knew he couldn't bear to leave her behind- maybe
he was even making preparations to cback for her right now.
On the weekend, Zinnia and Yannis went out together. Once Lydia agreed to see Benny, Yannis arranged for a
paternity test. The results confirmed that Benny was indeed Lydia's father. After that, they booked a restaurant
so Lydia and Benny could meet and talk over dinner.
“Yannis, is that man back yet?” Zinnia asked
“I've already sent Toby to pick him up,” Yannis said, walking beside her.
“Yannis, what do you think their reunion will be like?” Zinnia skipped ahead a few steps, then suddenly stopped
and turned back to look at him.
‘After over a decade apart, what will Lydia’s reunion with her father be like?‘ Zinnia wondered. Her own meeting
with the Shaw family after all those years had been anything but pleasant.
“Let's just wait and see,” Yannis replied calmly.
As they talked, they reached the door of the private room.
Inside the private room, Lydia had arrived early; Bonnie hadn't come. Lydia had agreed to meet Benny mainly to
see what kind of person he was.
She knew she could fully support herself and her mother-she wanted nothing from him. All she really wanted
was the truth about the past, to know whether her mother had loved the wrong person.
Zinnia and Yannis entered the private room to find Lydia standing by the window, her gaze distant.
She wore a casual camel-colored hoodie over a white silk blouse, black cargo pants, and black combat boots.
Her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail, revealing delicate, clean features behind thin silver-rimmed glasses-
the whole look crisp and put-together.
Zinnia was always true to her word. The day after she promised to get | vdia new glasses she brought her ten
12:21 Thu, Oct 9 M
Chapter 458
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This not only let Lydia keep wearing glasses as she wished, but also significantly improved her appearance.
compared to those old, chunky black frames. For once, Lydia didn’t refuse her, and soon swapped out her
outdated glasses for the new ones.
“Lydia,” Zinnia called out warmly.
As the door to the private room opened, Lydia looked up with a delicate smile. “Zinnia, Yannis,” she greeted.
Yannis nodded in acknowledgment.
“Lydia, when did you get here? Have you been here long?” Zinnia asked as she hurried to her side.
Lydia lowered her gaze to Zinnia, a faint smile playing at her lips. “No, I've only been here a few minutes.”
“Lydia, are you nervous?” Zinnia asked, pulling her to sit with her on the small sofa. Yannis took a seat opposite
them, quietly watching their conversation.
“No, I'm not nervous,” Lydia said, shaking her head.
Zinnia exhaled softly, the memory of her first encounter with the Shaw family almost slipping away.
She'd been so wrapped up in mourning Nathan that the Shaw family barely registered. Maelis had looked at her
with eyes full of reproach and distance-feelings that left Zinnia feeling strangely disconnected.
And Howard's initial look of disgust was unforgettable. Even when he tried to mask it, the damage was done.
Realizing they didn’t want her around, Zinnia had instinctively shut herself off, never daring to show them
her true self.
Now, watching Lydia prepare to meet her family after all those years, Zinnia felt a pang of worry. She didn’t want
Lydia to face the scoldness, the srejection she had.
She had no idea how families were supposed to feel when they were reunited with someone they'd lost. But from
what she'd seen with the Shaw family, it was hard to feel optimistic about these reunions.
“He’s here,” Yannis said, checking his phone-Toby just brought Benny downstairs.
As soon as he spoke, both Zinnia and Lydia immediately fell silent.
Yannis said softly, “Lydia, we'll wait for you in the next room. If you need anything, just calland I'll cright
over.”
Since it would be improper for outsiders to intrude on a father-daughter reunion, Yannis had arranged a separate
room nearby to give them privacy.
Lydia gently stroked Zinnia’s hair and replied softly, “Okay.”
Zinnia stood up from the sofa, and Yannis picked up her small purse as they both headed to the adjacent private
room.
12:21 Thu, Oct 9 M
Chapter 458
No sooner had Zinnia and Yannis left than Toby ushered Benny into the private room. Lydia glanced up as they
entered, her eyes shifting subtly behind her glasses.
Not far away, Benny stood with his head slightly bowed, his face half-hidden behind Toby.
779
In a nervous, hushed voice, he whispered, “A-are we there yet, Toby? Do you think... my daughter might not like
me?” His voice was hoarse from damaged vocal cords, so he kept it low to make it less grating.
Toby felt Benny nervously tugging at his sleeve. Glancing at Lydia, who was already seated by the window, he
leaned down and quietly reminded the anxious man beside him, “Benny, Ms. Hollis is already waiting inside.”
Benny had only trusted Yannis and Toby since Yannis’s rescue. When Toby had told him two days ago that they'd
found his daughter, Benny had been stunned-then overjoyed. He had a daughter.
Deep down, Benny had always known he was missing two important people in his life. Now that he had a
daughter, it meant he must have had a wife, too.
His daughter wanted to meet him, and it filled him with a mix of excitement, nerves, and hope for the lost years.
He'd spent hours fussing over his appearance, even going so far as to have Toby bring in a styling team. It
wasn't until he'd stepped off the plane that he felt ready.
The whole way there, Benny had
peppered Toby with questions about
Lydia—what she was lt, whéher
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sted vand if she took after
him or her mother. Toby, ever patient,
answered each question without a
hint of irritation. The content is on
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chapter there!
Now, as they approached the private room, Benny's nerves got the better of him. He hid behind Toby, terrified
that his daughter might reject him.
As they approached the private room, Benny grew so nervous that he ducked behind Toby, terrified Lydia might
not accept him.
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W-we're here already?” Benny had
kept his head bowed the entire way,
nervously and reddy asking
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me?“-so caught up in his worries that
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he hadn't even noticed they'd arrived
at the private room. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“Mm-hmm.” Toby nodded.
Benny fidgeted nervously, his voice
. w gop
low and hesitant. “Hi, I'm your father.
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really indodLce myself properly. If it's
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content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
“I don’t know if you'll like me, and that’s okay. But I really hope you'll givea chance to make it up to you and
your mom.
“I have about 20 million dollars saved-I'd give it all to you if that helps. I'm really hoping you'll say yes.”
12:21 Thu, Oct 9 M
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