When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 190: Guilty to Become Better!

Chapter 190: Guilty to Become Better!

Samuel swallowed hard, his throat dry despite the tea he had just sipped. He managed a faint nod. "Thank you, Dad. That... that means a lot to me."

But inside, his heart twisted. Ricardo’s words were like daggers of shame. If they knew how much he’d hurt Zinnia over the years—his coldness, his distance, the times he let his work come first—they wouldn’t be looking at him with such kindness.

Elena tilted her head slightly, her gentle gaze studying him. "Is something on your mind, Samuel? You seem a little quieter than usual today."

He straightened up, his pulse quickening. "No, not at all. Just... thinking about how lucky I am to have Zinnia and all of you in my life." The words felt like both a confession and a plea for forgiveness he didn’t deserve.

Elena’s smile widened. "Zinnia is lucky too. You’ve been so good to her."

Samuel bit the inside of his cheek, resisting the urge to look away. The truth was, he hadn’t been good to her—not in the way she deserved. For years, he’d held himself back, building walls she had no choice but to navigate alone. He had let his insecurities and fears dictate their relationship, leaving her to pick up the pieces.

"Samuel," Ricardo said, leaning forward slightly, "relationships aren’t always easy. But it’s clear to us that you love our daughter. That’s what matters."

He clenched his hands together tightly in his lap. How could he tell them he hadn’t always been the man they thought he was? Instead, he promised himself silently that he would be. He would be better—not just for Zinnia, but for the parents who had embraced him so wholeheartedly.

"Thank you," Samuel finally said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I do love her. More than anything. And I’ll do everything I can to make her happy."

Ricardo nodded approvingly. Elena gave him another warm smile, her faith in him unshaken. Samuel felt a pang of guilt so sharp it nearly made him wince.

---

After spending some time in the market, Zinnia carefully selected a few flowers that caught her eye, each one destined to inspire her next piece. She carefully arranged them in her arms, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. She had always believed that flowers had a unique way of grounding her, a natural source of peace that she could draw from whenever needed.

The afternoon was slipping by quickly, but Zinnia felt ready for her next task—her meeting with the Lopez Digital Studios production crew. She checked the time, realizing she had just enough to get to the studio, so she quickly made her way to her car, the flowers still gently cradled in her arms.

---

As Zinnia arrived at Lopez Digital Studios, she was greeted by the familiar hum of activity. The production crew was buzzing about, preparing for the next phase of shooting. Zinnia felt a sense of anticipation building in her chest as she entered the meeting room, where the key players were already gathered.

"Zinnia, you made it!" Marcos, the director, greeted her with a wide grin. "We’ve been waiting for you to join us."

Zinnia smiled and nodded, setting her flowers down on a nearby table. "I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long," she said as she took a seat.

Katherine Lee, the casting director, glanced up from the papers she was sorting through. "No, we’re just going over the final details for the next shoot." She adjusted her glasses and noticed the wrapper from the flower market. Looking at Zinnia, she asked, "How was the flower market? Did you find some good inspiration?"

Zinnia nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely. It’s always so refreshing. I have some new ideas for the next scenes, actually."

Sophie Tran, the producer, spoke next. "I’m glad to hear that. We need all the creative input we can get for the next shoot. The cast has a week to rest after the last one on the ship, but there’s still so much to plan."

Michael Zhen, the stunt coordinator, leaned forward. "I’ve been working on a few new ideas for the physical sequences. With the rest period, I want the cast to come back with fresh energy so we can really push the action scenes to the next level."

Zinnia nodded thoughtfully. "I’m sure Ryan, Trish, and the others will be ready. They’ve been working so hard."

"Speaking of which," Marcos interjected, "I’ve been thinking about how we want to approach the next phase. We’re at a critical point in the movie, and we need to make sure the transitions between scenes are seamless. Especially for Daniel’s arc."

Ryan Kim, who played the seasoned agent, Daniel, was currently resting, but everyone knew how vital his performance was.

"That’s true," Zinnia agreed. "Ryan’s role as Daniel has to really hit home in the next set of scenes. We need to make sure the character development is strong, especially after the last cliffhanger."

Katherine spoke up. "I’m still deciding on the final cast for some smaller roles, but I think we’re all set with the main group for now."

Zinnia smiled. "I trust your judgment, Katherine. We need strong talent to carry this story."

Zinnia turned to Marcos. "Have we finalized the shoot locations yet?"

Marcos nodded. "Yes, I’ve got everything scheduled. Some scenes will require outdoor shoots, so I’ve been scouting the best spots. We should be able to get everything we need before the weather changes."

Sophie chimed in. "Let’s make sure we don’t overwork the team. A well-rested crew is just as important as a well-prepared one."

Michael laughed. "I’m not worried about that. We’ll keep the energy up when they’re back."

The room fell into a quiet pause as everyone reflected on the discussion. There was still a lot of work ahead, but the team felt confident in their ability to handle the next steps.

After a few moments, Zinnia broke the silence. "Let’s make sure we’re all in sync. I’m excited for the next phase, but it’s crucial that we keep the momentum going."

Everyone nodded, and Marcos leaned back in his chair. "That’s why we’re a team, Zinnia. We’ll make this work."

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Author’s Note:

12-12-24

Yay! Today is my birthday, and it’s raining blessings!

Thank you to everyone who greeted me and sent gifts. Special shout-out to LotusLin, SlowestCook, and GoddessKM for the amazing supergifts!

A big thanks to M0M0KA for the book trailer and to Hansora for always being supportive in achieving the Win-Win.

Of course, a heartfelt thank you to everyone for supporting my book up to this Chapter. I hope you’ll stay with me until the end of this story!

Love lots!