When Love is a Quest Chapter 244: A Convenient Truth?

Chapter 244: A Convenient Truth?

Jas chuckled softly, a sound that felt both familiar and foreign at the sa ti. "I’m getting better," he said, his smile widening. "The doctor said I can be discharged tomorrow."

A wave of relief washed over Zinnia, and she let out a small sigh. "That’s great news," she said, her voice earnest. "You need to focus on resting and recovering."

Jas nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a mont before he turned to Lily, acknowledging her presence with a small smile. "And you must be Lily," he said, his tone friendly. "Thank you for being here—for being with Zinnia."

Lily returned the smile, her voice soft. "Of course. I wouldn’t be anywhere else."

Timmy, who had remained near the door, cleared his throat lightly, breaking the mont. "I’ll step out for a bit to give you so privacy," he said, excusing himself and leaving the room quietly.

As the door clicked shut behind him, the room fell into a gentle silence, filled with an unspoken understanding between the three of them.

Zinnia sat on the chair beside Jas’s hospital bed, her fingers gripping the edge tightly as she summoned the courage to ask the question that had haunted her for years.

Jas leaned back slightly, a soft smile still lingering on his face, but she could see the fatigue in his eyes. Lily stood silently behind her, her gaze sharp and watchful, though her expression gave nothing away.

Zinnia finally broke the silence. "Jas," she began softly, her voice trembling slightly. "Where have you been all these years? What happened after the tsunami when you went missing?"

Jas’s smile faltered, and he glanced away for a mont, as if gathering his thoughts. "It’s... a long story," he said, his voice quiet. He looked back at her, his gaze heavy with a mix of emotions—sadness, regret, and sothing else she couldn’t quite place. "I don’t rember everything clearly, but I’ll try to explain what I can."

Zinnia leaned forward, her heart pounding. Lily, standing behind her, crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Jas’s every reaction.

Jas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The tsunami... I rember the water, the chaos. People were screaming, debris everywhere. I tried to get to you, Zinnia. I really did. But the waves swept

away." His voice cracked slightly, and he paused to steady himself.

Zinnia’s breath hitched, tears threatening to spill as she listened. "And then what?" she pressed gently, needing to know more.

"When I woke up, I was in a hospital," Jas continued, his gaze distant. "I was told I’d been found unconscious on the shore, miles away from where we were. I didn’t know who I was... I couldn’t rember anything at first. The doctors said it was amnesia caused by the trauma."

Zinnia gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth. "You lost your mory?" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. But that was the only explanation for why he hadn’t recognized her the other day.

Jas nodded slowly. "Yes. For years, I lived under a different na, in a small village. The people there were kind—they took

in and gave

a ho. But... sothing was always missing. I felt like I didn’t belong, like there was a part of

I couldn’t reach."

Lily’s jaw tightened, her mind racing as she listened. She had spent so many sleepless nights searching for Jas, chasing every lead, only to find dead ends. And now, hearing this story, she couldn’t shake the unease creeping into her thoughts. Sothing felt off, as if there were pieces missing from the puzzle.

"How did you rember?" Zinnia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What brought you back?"

Jas hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. "It started with flashes—images, sounds, feelings. Then, a few months ago, soone showed

a photo. It was of places in this country, and that’s why I decided to visit—exploring places that seed familiar to ."

"Then the accident the other day sohow triggered my mory," he continued. "When I saw you about to get hit by a car, it was like... everything ca rushing back all at once. I rembered your face, your voice... everything about you."

Zinnia felt a lump form in her throat, her emotions swirling in a storm of relief, confusion, and sadness. "Jas," she murmured, her voice breaking. "I... I looked for you for so long. I kept wishing to see you again."

Jas reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he placed it over hers. "I know, Zinnia," he said softly. "And I’m so sorry I couldn’t find my way back sooner."

Lily, who had been silent all this ti, finally spoke up, her tone sharp but controlled. "Jas," she said, her gaze piercing. "You’re telling us you spent years with no mory, in so remote village, and then suddenly everything ca back because of a photo and that accident? Doesn’t that seem... convenient?"

Jas turned to her, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. "I understand how it sounds, Lily," he said. "But it’s the truth. I don’t have all the answers. I wish I did."

Lily’s eyes narrowed further, and her mind raced with doubts. Sothing about this story didn’t sit right with her. She had poured so much ti, effort, and resources into finding him, only to discover that he’d been alive and well, living under a different na. And now he was back, just as suddenly as he had disappeared. The timing felt too perfect, too coincidental.

Zinnia, sensing Lily’s tension, turned back to Jas. "Jas," she said carefully, "is there anything else you’re not telling us? Anything at all?"

Jas shook his head, his expression earnest. "No, Zinnia. That’s everything. I promise."

But Lily wasn’t convinced. She stayed silent, watching him intently, her gut telling her this wasn’t the end of the story. Sothing was brewing beneath the surface, sothing she couldn’t quite put her finger on, like the calm before a storm.