When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 141: The Calm After the Chaos

Chapter 141: The Calm After the Chaos

The group meal slowly came to a close, and the energy that had filled the restaurant started to die down. The laughter and chatter between the crew, actors, and staff gradually faded as they began to gather their things, ready to part ways for the night. Zinnia stood up from the table, her eyes scanning the room as she smiled warmly at everyone.

"We’ll update you all on the next schedule for the movie shoot," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Thanks for everything tonight, and I hope you all enjoyed yourselves."

The crew and actors nodded in agreement, thanking her and Samuel for the generous evening. "It was a blast, Zinnia!" Trish called out, grinning as she grabbed her bag.

"Definitely," said Michael, the stunt coordinator. "I didn’t expect anything like this, but it was great. We’ll be ready for the next round."

With goodbyes exchanged, everyone started heading out, one by one. Some of the actors seemed reluctant to leave, still chatting among themselves about the unusual experience of being treated by Samuel and Zinnia in such a personal way. The generosity and warmth they’d received had taken them by surprise. It was a rare sight for most of them to see someone as powerful as Samuel showing such kindness.

Samuel and Zinnia lingered for a moment, watching the last of the group leave the restaurant. "I didn’t expect them to enjoy the evening so much," Samuel commented, his voice thoughtful. "It was the least I could do after all the chaos I caused."

Zinnia smiled, her expression softening. "They deserved it. And you did the right thing." She turned to face him, her voice quiet but filled with a gentle sincerity. "Thank you, Sam."

He gave her a small, genuine smile. "Anytime."

As they made their way out of the restaurant, Samuel opened the door for her, and they stepped into the cool night air. The quiet of the evening surrounded them as they drove back to their home.

---

The drive back was peaceful, the quiet hum of the engine filling the space between them. Samuel’s mind was still on the events of the evening, but Zinnia’s presence next to him was oddly calming. When they reached the house, Samuel parked the car in the driveway and turned to her.

"I guess this is where we part for the night," he said, his tone soft.

Zinnia nodded as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "It is. Goodnight, Samuel."

"Goodnight, Zinnia," he replied, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than usual. "Sleep well."

She smiled at him, the warmth of the evening still evident in her expression. "You too."

As she stepped out of the car, Samuel watched her walk toward the door, and he stayed there for a moment, letting the silence settle over him. When he finally got out of the car, he made his way to his bedroom, but his mind was still racing.

---

Once inside his room, Samuel picked up his phone and dialed a number he knew well. The lawyer on the other end answered after a couple of rings.

"Hello, Samuel. What can I do for you tonight?" the lawyer’s voice was calm but direct.

"I need to ask about Cain. I know he’s behind bars, but he contacted me today. He made some threats involving a bomb and the ship," Samuel said, his voice cold as he recounted the situation.

The lawyer paused. "Threats, huh? That’s serious. But you’re right—it’s just a bluff if there was no bomb. Still, threatening someone while in prison can be grounds for additional charges."

Samuel clenched his jaw, frustration simmering inside him. "So, what can we do about it?"

"Well, he could face charges for attempting to cause harm or create panic. The authorities might classify it as a terroristic threat or harassment. If we push for it, it could mean additional years in prison for him."

Samuel’s grip on the phone tightened. "I want him to suffer the consequences. He needs to understand he can’t just mess with people’s lives and get away with it."

The lawyer was silent for a moment before responding. "I can start gathering the evidence, but you know how these things go. It won’t be quick. I’ll need you to be patient."

"I’ll wait," Samuel said, his voice unwavering. "I won’t let this slide."

---

The next morning, the atmosphere was different. The usual tension that Samuel had felt was gone, replaced by a sense of normalcy. He and Zinnia shared a quiet breakfast, the soft clink of cutlery the only sound in the otherwise calm room.

"You seem to be in a better mood today," Zinnia commented with a slight smile, pouring herself some juice.

Samuel glanced at her and nodded. "I guess I am. The chaos from yesterday is behind us, and I’m ready to focus on what’s next."

She smiled, sensing the shift in his mood. "Good. Me too."

After breakfast, Samuel looked over at Zinnia. "I wanted to ask you about something, Zia. You know I mentioned compensation for the commotion yesterday."

Zinnia raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting the question. "You really don’t have to do that, Samuel. It wasn’t necessary."

"I know, but I promised in front of everyone, and I have to follow through. It’s the right thing to do," he insisted. "I’ve already caused enough trouble. The least I can do is help cover the damages."

Zinnia hesitated, but after a moment, she relented. "Fine. But only because you promised. I’ll send you the contact for our accounting department."

She pulled out her phone, quickly typing the contact information, and handed it over to Samuel. He took it and sent a quick message to his own team to handle the matter.

---

Once they were ready for the day, Samuel walked with Zinnia to the car. "I’ll drive you to the office today," he said, his tone casual, but there was a sense of genuine care behind his words.

Zinnia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Sam."

As they drove, the atmosphere between them was easy, with Samuel making a few lighthearted comments and Zinnia responding with a smile. She realized how much she actually enjoyed these quiet moments with him.

When they arrived at the Lopez Digital Studios building, Zinnia stepped out of the car and waved at Samuel. "Good luck with everything today. I hope things go smoothly for you."

Samuel smiled and nodded. "Good luck to you too, Zia. I’ll be thinking of you."

With that, Zinnia walked into the building, and Samuel drove off. But instead of going to his office, he headed straight to the precinct where Cain was being held.