When Love is a Question Mark-Chapter 257: Feeling Torn

Later that afternoon, Zinnia stood in the quiet hospital hallway, her fingers pressed against the screen of her phone. She tried dialing Samuel’s number once again, her heart heavy with worry.

The screen blinked back at her, showing "Call Failed." She frowned and tried again, her finger tapping the call button more forcefully this time.

The phone rang, and Zinnia held her breath, hoping that this time, the connection would go through. But after a few moments, the call was dropped again, leaving her in the silence of the empty hallway.

She sighed and looked down at her phone in frustration. The last time she had been able to reach him had been days ago, but each time she tried since, it was the same. The call couldn’t go through.

Her worry only deepened, especially after hearing the unsettling news the other day about Lucas Realty Group. Investors were pulling out their investments, and the company seemed to be in crisis. The rumors and reports seemed to pile up one after another, but after the last headline, there had been no more updates. It was as if everything had gone quiet, and Zinnia couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Zinnia turned away from the phone, feeling the weight of her uncertainty. She paced back and forth in the hallway, her mind racing. What’s really going on with the company? she wondered.

Why can’t I reach Samuel? The thought gnawed at her, leaving her uneasy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something Samuel wasn’t telling her—something important. And that left her stuck in a loop of confusion and concern, unsure of where to turn next.

She glanced back at the door to her father’s room. The quiet hum of machines inside was the only sound that reminded her of his fragile state. Zinnia’s heart ached.

She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her father now—not when he was still in danger, not when she couldn’t be certain he would wake up anytime soon. He had always been strong, but the accident had shaken him to the core. Zinnia couldn’t bring herself to leave him until she knew he was safe. Not now, when he needed her the most.

But then the other side of her mind pulled her in another direction. Samuel needed her too. She had promised him she would stand by his side, that she would help him through this crisis with his company.

The news of the investors pulling out had shaken everything, and Zinnia knew Samuel was under a lot of pressure. He had always carried the weight of his family’s legacy, but now that burden seemed even heavier.

She knew he wouldn’t ask for help—Samuel had never been one to rely on anyone except Timmy. But Zinnia wanted to be there for him now. He needed her.

The problem was, she couldn’t be in two places at once. And her father was the priority, wasn’t he? She had to be there for him, stay by his side until he was stable again. It was what any daughter would do, what any daughter should do. But at the same time, Zinnia couldn’t ignore the anxiety building inside her at the thought of leaving Samuel alone to face whatever was happening with his company.

With a heavy sigh, Zinnia slid down the wall to sit on the cold hospital floor. She wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face in them, trying to calm the storm inside her. What am I supposed to do? she thought. Stay with my father? Go to Samuel? I don’t know which one needs me more right now.

Her phone buzzed suddenly, and she quickly looked up, hoping it was Samuel. But it was just another missed call notification—this time from Timmy. She stared at the screen for a long moment before her fingers reluctantly dialed the number. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The phone rang once, twice, before Timmy picked up.

"Miss Zinnia?" Timmy’s voice was strained, though he tried to sound composed. "I’m sorry, but I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. Sir Samuel is—"

"Timmy?" Zinnia interrupted, her voice thick with concern. "What’s going on with Samuel? I’ve been trying to reach him, but the calls won’t go through. I’m really worried about him. Is everything alright? I saw the news about the investors pulling out... What’s happening with Lucas Realty?"

There was a long pause on the other end, and Zinnia’s stomach churned with worry.

"Miss Zinnia," Timmy began carefully, "I’m afraid I don’t have all the details yet. Samuel’s been caught up in a lot of meetings, and I haven’t been able to get him to answer his phone. But please don’t worry. I’ll make sure to keep trying to reach him. If there’s anything important, I’ll let you know."

Zinnia felt a wave of frustration rise within her, but she tried to keep her voice steady. "Please, Timmy. I need to know what’s going on. I need to make sure he’s okay."

"I understand, Miss Zinnia," Timmy replied softly. "I’ll keep trying. I promise."

Zinnia’s hand tightened around the phone as she fought back tears. "Thank you, Timmy."

When the call ended, she sat there, staring at the screen of her phone. It was clear that Timmy either didn’t have any more information or had information but didn’t want to share it with her. It was up to her to decide what to do next. Her heart was torn, and every choice seemed heavier than the last.

She stood up slowly, her legs shaky as she glanced toward her father’s room. He still wasn’t awake, and she couldn’t bring herself to leave him, not now. But her mind kept drifting back to Samuel. I need to be there for him, she thought. But I can’t abandon my father either.

Zinnia glanced back down the hallway, as if hoping an answer might materialize from the emptiness. But there was nothing—only silence. And in that silence, her confusion deepened even further.

Just as she resolved to return to her father’s room, her phone buzzed. This time, it was Samuel calling.