When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 104: Unspoken worries

Chapter 104: Unspoken worries

Samuel met her gaze, a sharp pang of regret hitting him. "I know," he replied softly, almost to himself. "But I can handle it."

She nodded slowly, worry etched on her face, but she didn’t push him. They finished breakfast in silence, a heavy tension lingering in the air.

When he stood to leave, he felt her eyes on him, worry shadowing her expression. He forced a faint smile, hoping it would reassure her, but as he stepped out the door, he couldn’t shake the feeling that each moment of silence was pushing her further away.

Zinnia watched him from the doorway, her heart tightening as his figure grew smaller down the drive. She gripped the edge of the table, trying to understand the distance growing between them.

With a sigh, her shoulders slumped. She tried to shake off the thoughts that nagged at her. Maybe it really was just work—things he couldn’t discuss. She knew how private Samuel could be. But deep down, she wished he would let her in, let her share his burdens instead of carrying them alone.

For a moment, she considered calling him back, asking him to talk, to really tell her what weighed on him. But she knew better. He was stubborn and guarded, and she had seen the wall he built around himself time and time again.

With a final sigh, Zinnia turned away, trying to quiet the ache in her heart. She wanted to believe things would be fine, even as doubt crept in. She just wished she didn’t feel so alone.

---

The office buzzed with activity, the flurry of tasks usually helping Samuel focus. But today, his mind drifted back to Marlo and Cain. He sat at his desk, scanning reports, but the words barely registered. His thoughts kept circling back to Timmy’s findings.

Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from Timmy lit up the screen: "Sir, something’s happened. Marlo was spotted at the warehouse again, but this time he left with another man. They looked serious."

Samuel’s pulse quickened. "Did you get a description?" he texted back.

"Not yet, but they drove off in a black SUV. I’ll keep tracking them."

"Good work. Stay close," Samuel replied, his heart racing.

He stood up, pacing the room, feeling the weight of the situation.

---

Hours later, as evening approached, Samuel felt the tension in the air. Timmy’s updates had been sparse, and Samuel was growing restless. He knew he couldn’t just sit and wait. He had to take action.

"Timmy, can you meet me at the warehouse?" he texted.

"On my way," Timmy replied.

Samuel grabbed his jacket and headed out, determination flooding his veins. He needed answers, and he was done sitting on the sidelines.

When he arrived at the warehouse, dim light cast eerie shadows on the ground. He spotted Timmy crouched behind some crates. Samuel joined him, and they exchanged a tense look.

"Any sign of Marlo?" Samuel whispered.

"Not yet, but I think I saw the SUV earlier. It might be parked around back," Timmy replied.

Samuel nodded, heart pounding. "Let’s check it out."

They moved quietly, sticking to the shadows as they made their way to the rear of the warehouse. As they approached, Samuel noticed the SUV parked just out of sight. A surge of adrenaline hit him.

"Stay low," he instructed.

Peering through the tinted windows, he tried to catch a glimpse inside. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized the silhouette of a man talking animatedly. It was Marlo, but he was not alone.

"Who’s he with?" Timmy asked, straining to see.

Samuel squinted, trying to make out the figure beside Marlo. The man leaned forward, and the light caught his face. Samuel’s heart sank as realization hit him.

"It’s Walter Cain," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We need to get closer."

They edged closer, finding a better vantage point. The tension was palpable as they listened intently to the conversation unfolding before them.

"You need to keep your end of the deal, Marlo," Cain said, his tone sharp and threatening. "I can’t have any loose ends."

"I know, I know. Just give me more time. This isn’t what I signed up for," Marlo replied, his voice tinged with desperation.

Samuel exchanged a worried glance with Timmy. This was worse than he had imagined. Marlo was in deep, and Samuel couldn’t help but wonder how far he would go to save himself.

"What are they talking about?" Timmy whispered, shifting slightly to get a better view.

"I don’t know," Samuel replied, keeping his voice low. "But we need to find out."

They stayed still, focusing on the conversation. Marlo’s face twisted in anxiety, while Cain’s was a mask of cold determination.

"You have until tomorrow night, Marlo. After that, I can’t protect you anymore," Cain warned, his eyes narrowing.

Marlo nodded, visibly shaken. "I understand. Just... I need a little more time."

Samuel felt a surge of anger. Time? What did Marlo need time for? This was bigger than he had thought. He had to confront Marlo about this, but not here. Not now.

"Let’s pull back," Samuel whispered to Timmy. "We need to plan our next move."

They quietly retreated, their minds racing with questions. What was Marlo involved in? What did Cain mean by loose ends? Samuel had to dig deeper, but first, he needed to get back to Zinnia.

---

When Samuel arrived home, the weight of the evening hung over him like a heavy cloak. He found Zinnia sitting on the couch, her eyes glued to a book, but she looked up as he entered.

"Sam," she said, her voice light, but there was an undercurrent of concern.

"Zia," he replied, forcing a smile. "How was your day?"

"Just the usual. Work was busy," she said, her eyes searching his. "What about you?"

"Same," he said, trying to keep his tone casual. But he felt the knot in his stomach tightening. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he couldn’t burden her with his worries, either.