When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 132: Preparation

Chapter 132: Preparation

Zinnia blinked, surprised. "Drive me?" she echoed. "But I’ll be heading straight to the port. It’s nowhere near your office."

"I don’t care," he said, his eyes earnest. "I want to take you there."

For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. Memories rushed back, of the early days of their engagement when he would insist on driving her to work. Back then, it had felt like a simple act of love, a small way of showing he cared. Somewhere along the way, those gestures had become rare.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice soft. "It’s far, and it might make you late."

He shook his head, a determined look on his face. "I don’t mind," he said. "I won’t be seeing you for a week. Let me do this."

Her heart squeezed in her chest. He wasn’t the type to say things outright, but his actions always spoke louder. The idea of her being gone for a week seemed to weigh heavily on him, even if he wouldn’t admit it.

"Okay," she agreed, feeling warmth spread through her. "Thank you."

They walked to the car together, the morning air crisp and cool. Samuel opened the passenger door for her, a small but meaningful gesture that made her heart ache in the best way. She slipped inside, settling into the seat as he closed the door and rounded the front of the car to the driver’s side.

As he pulled out of the driveway, the silence between them was comfortable, almost soothing. Zinnia glanced over at him, taking in the way his hands gripped the steering wheel, the way his jaw was set with a mix of focus and something she couldn’t quite name.

"You really don’t have to do this," she said, her voice gentle.

He glanced at her, his lips quirking up in a half-smile. "I want to," he said. "Besides, it’s not every day I get to see you off like this."

She smiled, looking out the window as the city passed by. The streets were just waking up, shops opening and people starting their routines. It felt good to be beside him, even if they were just driving.

"Remember when you used to do this all the time?" she said, her voice wistful. "Back when we first got engaged?"

His smile faded a little, but he nodded. "Yeah," he said, his voice soft. "I remember."

There was a pause, and she wondered if he was thinking the same thing she was—that somewhere along the way, things had changed. But she didn’t want to dwell on that now. Not when he was here, making an effort.

"I appreciated it, you know," she said quietly. "I still do."

His grip on the wheel tightened, and he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. "I’m glad," he said, his voice almost too low to hear. "I didn’t realize... how much I missed doing this."

Zinnia turned to him, surprised by his honesty. Samuel wasn’t the type to open up easily. Hearing him admit something so personal felt like a small victory, a crack in the walls he kept around himself.

They drove in silence for a while, the tension between them less heavy, more hopeful. When they reached the port, Samuel parked and turned off the engine. He sat there for a moment, his hands still on the steering wheel.

Zinnia unbuckled her seatbelt, ready to get out, but he stopped her with a gentle touch on her arm. She looked at him, her breath catching at the way his eyes searched hers.

"Take care of yourself," he said, his voice thick with emotion he usually hid. "And call me. Even if it’s just for a minute."

"I will," she promised, her own voice shaky. "I’ll miss you."

He let out a soft sigh, his thumb brushing against her skin. "I’ll miss you too," he admitted, and she knew it was the truth.

With a final, lingering look, she stepped out of the car, grabbing her bag from the backseat. Samuel watched her go, his heart heavy but full of something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Love.

As Zinnia walked toward the port, she turned back once, waving at him. He waved back, a small smile on his lips, but his eyes were filled with a longing that made her heart ache.

And as she disappeared into the busy morning crowd, Samuel sat in his car, feeling the empty space she left behind. A week had never felt so long.

---

The port bustled with early morning energy, the sun glinting off the water and casting golden hues on the equipment and containers scattered around. Zinnia stood near a set of cases, taking in the organized chaos surrounding her.

The production crew worked tirelessly, unloading gear and setting up cameras, with Marcos, the director of operations, overseeing it all. His voice, steady and authoritative, carried over the noise as he directed everyone.

"Let’s get those monitors set up over there," Marcos instructed. "And watch the cables—no tripping hazards."

Zinnia adjusted her backpack and surveyed the bustling scene. She thrived in this environment, the steady hum of people working together to make something extraordinary happen. As she was looking around, Victoria Chen arrived. The Branch CEO of Lily Oceanic Industries stepped out of her company car and walked briskly toward them. Her gaze was focused, and she greeted Zinnia with a curt nod.

"Zinnia," Victoria said, her tone professional and efficient. "Glad to see everything is underway. We have a lot to get done today."

Zinnia nodded and offered a polite smile. "Yes, thank you for arranging everything. Are all the supplies accounted for?"

Victoria glanced at her tablet, swiping through her notes. "Yes, everything is here. We’ll be doing a full check to make sure it’s all functioning. We can’t afford any hiccups."

"We’re ready for that," Zinnia said. "We’ll make sure everything is perfect."

They walked together to the dock, where the crew continued to unload and prepare the specialized equipment. Victoria kept an eye on everything, occasionally making notes and giving feedback. Marcos joined them, wiping sweat from his forehead but looking determined and energetic.

"Everything’s coming together," Marcos reported. "We’ll start testing the stabilizers and lighting, then check the sound equipment. By this afternoon, we should be ready for the cast."