Chapter 1359

Late at night, Zion drove, the streetlights casting fleeting shadows across his face. Resting casually on the seat beside him was an old newspaper. Its yellowed pages showed the marks of time, with the headline detailing the kidnapping. Yet, Zion's expression remained impassive, devoid of any emotion. He finally stopped the car when he reached the coast. Stepping out with the newspaper in hand, he walked to the shore, pulled out a lighter, and set the brittle paper alight. The flames danced slowly, devouring the fragile pages, the flickering glow casting shadows across Zion's sharp features. When the last remnants of the newspaper turned to ash, he scattered them across the sand. … Inside Hackett Manor, Maeve lay in bed, drifting unknowingly into a restless sleep. Her dreams were fragmented, yet disturbingly familiar. There was a ship, flames, and a narrow, suffocating space. The salty scent of seawater rose higher, threatening to swallow her whole. The damp, suffocati