When Love is a Question Mark-Chapter 238: Unease in the Quiet

Zinnia stood in front of the small sink in the hospital’s restroom, her hands trembling as she scrubbed at the faint stains of blood on her arms. The water ran warm, swirling red before disappearing down the drain.

She avoided looking at herself in the mirror, afraid that the reflection would betray the storm of emotions she was desperately trying to suppress.

After drying her hands, she changed into a clean blouse she always kept in her bag for emergencies. The soft fabric against her skin felt like a small comfort, though her mind was anything but at ease.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and practiced a calm expression before stepping out of the restroom.

---

Zinnia made her way to her parents’ hospital room. The quiet corridors of the hospital felt heavy, but she forced herself to walk steadily.

When she reached the door, she paused, composing herself once more. She couldn’t let them know what had happened—there was no need to add to their worries.

Pushing the door open, she was greeted by the familiar warmth of her parents’ presence. Her mother, Elena, looked up from her knitting, a smile spreading across her face.

"Zinnia, sweetheart!" Elena said, setting her knitting aside. "You’re finally here. I was wondering if you’d come today."

Her father, Ricardo, was propped up on the bed, looking much better than he had in recent weeks. "There’s my girl," he said with a grin. "You’re just in time. Your mom was about to start lecturing me about sitting up too long."

Elena rolled her eyes fondly. "Someone has to keep him in check."

Zinnia chuckled softly, stepping inside. The familiarity of their banter eased her nerves slightly. "You’re looking good, Dad," she said, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "Seems like Mom’s lectures are working."

Ricardo laughed. "Don’t tell her that, or she’ll never stop."

Elena gave him a playful glare before turning her attention back to Zinnia. "How are you, darling? You look a little tired. Is everything okay?"

Zinnia hesitated for a fraction of a second but quickly masked it with a smile. "I’m fine, Mom. Just a long day. I had a lot to take care of."

"And Samuel?" Ricardo asked, his tone casual but curious. "Why didn’t he come with you?"

Zinnia’s smile faltered for the briefest moment. "He’s busy with work," she replied smoothly. "You know how he is—always running around making sure everything’s perfect. But he said he’ll visit soon, maybe tomorrow or the day after."

Her parents exchanged a glance but didn’t press further.

"Well, that’s good to hear," Ricardo said. "He’s a hardworking young man. We’re proud of him."

Elena nodded in agreement, her eyes softening. "And with the wedding so close, I imagine he’s even busier than usual."

Zinnia stiffened slightly but managed to nod. "Yes, it’s been hectic. Speaking of which, have you two given any thought to the date?"

Her parents’ faces lit up. Ricardo was the first to speak. "Actually, we were just talking about it earlier. The doctors say I’m recovering faster than expected. If everything goes well, the wedding could happen this week."

Zinnia blinked, caught off guard. "This week?" she repeated, her voice a mix of surprise and nervousness.

Elena reached out, taking her hand gently. "Yes, sweetheart. We didn’t want to rush you, but your father and I would love to see you walk down the aisle while we’re both healthy enough to enjoy it. But only if you and Samuel are ready."

Zinnia forced a smile, her heart heavy with the weight of everything that had happened earlier. "Of course, Mom. If Dad’s doing well and the doctors approve, we can make it happen."

Her parents beamed, and Ricardo gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Thank you, sweetheart. It means the world to us."

---

The sun was setting by the time Zinnia returned to her apartment. She dropped her bag by the door and sighed, running her fingers through her hair. The events of the day had left her emotionally drained, and all she wanted now was some semblance of normalcy.

She realized then that she hadn’t seen Samuel all day. The thought struck her as odd; usually, even with his busy schedule, he would have checked in, or at least Timmy would have mentioned something.

"Timmy didn’t say anything earlier," she muttered to herself as she sank onto the couch. Her mind replayed the strange silence surrounding Samuel’s absence, and unease began to creep in.

Pulling her phone from her pocket, she dialed Samuel’s number. The line rang once, twice, then a third time, but there was no answer. She frowned, her heart beginning to race as the call eventually went to voicemail.

"Sam," she said softly, unsure if he’d even hear the message. "It’s me. Call me back when you get this, okay? I... I just wanted to check on you."

Ending the call, she stared at her phone for a moment before biting her lip. Something didn’t feel right. Samuel rarely ignored her calls, especially without any explanation. She hesitated, then decided to call Timmy instead.

The phone rang for a few moments, and just as she was beginning to grow impatient, Timmy’s voice came through.

"Miss Zinnia," he greeted, his tone a little too formal. "I wasn’t expecting your call. Is everything alright?"

"Timmy," she said quickly, trying to keep the anxiety out of her voice. "Where is Samuel? I’ve been trying to reach him, but he’s not answering his phone."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. Zinnia could almost hear the hesitation in Timmy’s breathing.

"Timmy?" she pressed, her voice sharpening. "What’s going on? Where is he?"

Timmy sighed, and she could hear the guilt in his tone as he spoke. "I... I’m sorry, Miss Zinnia. I should’ve told you earlier, but Samuel left for home last night."

"Home?" Zinnia repeated, her brow furrowing in confusion. "You mean back to the country?"

"Yes," Timmy confirmed, his voice quieter now. "Something major happened with the company, and he needed to handle it personally. He didn’t want to worry you, so he left without saying much."