When Love is a Question Mark-Chapter 253: Can Only Be Hopeful

"We should be quick, Mom," Zinnia said, though she wasn’t sure if it was a promise she could keep. She could already feel the weight of the hospital walls closing in on her, the sterile air making her anxious. "I just want to make sure I’m here if he wakes up. I want to be here for him."

Elena offered her a small, reassuring smile. "I understand, sweetheart. Let’s go, and we’ll be back before dark. That way, we won’t be away for too long."

Zinnia grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder as she led the way toward the exit. The hallway felt quieter now, the hustle and bustle of the hospital staff no longer as overwhelming as it had been earlier in the day.

As they walked through the lobby and out into the cool evening air, Zinnia took a deep breath, feeling the tension in her body ease just slightly. The thought of getting away from the hospital for a little while was comforting, even if she couldn’t shake the constant worry gnawing at her mind.

The drive back to the apartment was relatively quiet, with Elena focusing on the road and Zinnia lost in her thoughts. Her mind kept drifting to Samuel and Lucas Realty, to the troubling news about the company’s instability.

She wondered where Samuel was, why he hadn’t answered her calls, and what was happening behind the closed doors of the company. The uncertainty about her father’s condition was already too much to bear; the added worry about Samuel and his silence was becoming overwhelming.

When they arrived at the apartment, Zinnia was quick to head upstairs. She pushed open the door, greeted by the familiar, comforting scent of home, but even here, the air felt different. The apartment had always been a place of warmth, but now it seemed cold and distant.

She glanced around, her eyes landing on the small kitchen where she had spent so many mornings with her father during vacations. The two of them would chat over breakfast, his warm smile filling the space.

"Mom, I’ll just grab a few things, then we can go back," Zinnia said, her voice sounding more fatigued than she meant.

Elena followed her inside, her presence a steady anchor for Zinnia. "Take your time, Zinnia. There’s no rush. I’ll pack a bag for myself too."

Zinnia moved through the apartment quickly, gathering a few changes of clothes, a toothbrush, and some toiletries. She couldn’t quite explain it, but as she packed, she felt an overwhelming sense of urgency.

She wanted to be back at the hospital as soon as possible, to be ready for whatever might come. Every minute that passed felt like one she could never get back.

"I’ll leave these things by the door," Zinnia said, her voice a little distant as she folded the clothes neatly. She glanced over at her mother, who was quietly gathering her own items. "I’m so tired, Mom. I wish I could just get some rest, but I can’t. Not until I know he’s okay."

Elena looked at her daughter with a mix of sympathy and concern. "I know, sweetheart. You’ve been through so much today. But remember to take care of yourself too. You won’t be able to be there for your father if you’re running on empty."

Zinnia nodded absently, but she didn’t feel like listening to her mother’s advice in that moment. The need to be with her father, to keep watch over him, felt more pressing than anything else. After a few more minutes, she was ready to go. They both grabbed their bags, and Zinnia locked the door behind them before heading back down to the car.

The drive back to the hospital was quicker, but it felt like time was stretching out between them, as if the distance between the apartment and the hospital was an eternity.

Zinnia’s thoughts raced, and the silence between them was heavy with unspoken worries. Her mind kept returning to Samuel—why hadn’t he reached out? What could possibly be happening at the company that had everyone so tight-lipped?

As they arrived at the hospital, Zinnia’s heart rate quickened. She could already see the dimming sky outside, the orange glow of the streetlights casting long shadows across the parking lot. The air felt colder now, the evening settling in with an eerie calmness. She and her mother made their way to the elevators in silence, both of them feeling the weight of the situation.

When they reached her father’s floor, Zinnia felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She wasn’t sure why, but the closer they got to his room, the more the sense of dread settled over her. She paused outside the door for a moment, taking a deep breath before pushing it open.

Inside, the hospital room was just as it had been when she left, with the soft beep of the heart monitor and the quiet rustling of the sheets. Her father still lay motionless, but Zinnia could almost feel him there, a presence in the room, reminding her to keep going.

"I’m back, Dad," she whispered, walking over to his side. "I’m not leaving again. I promise."

Elena, too, took a moment to adjust to the silence of the room before settling into the chair beside the bed. She glanced over at Zinnia, who was holding her father’s hand once again, her fingers gently tracing the lines of his palm. The night had fallen, but the wait continued.

"We’re here, Ricardo," Elena said quietly. "We’re here, waiting for you to come back to us."

Zinnia sat beside her mother, the two of them united in their hope and quiet vigil, both determined to be awake when Ricardo finally woke up.

After a few more hours, when it was already late at night, Zinnia sat on the edge of an available bed in the room, her phone clenched tightly in her hands. Her mind was fixated on one thing: reaching Samuel.