When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 191: Apology

Chapter 191: Apology

Zinnia arrived home, her arms full of the flowers she had carefully chosen at the market. Their vibrant colors and gentle scent filled the air as she stepped into the quiet house. She made her way to the kitchen and set them down on the counter, letting out a small sigh of relief after the long day.

She had spent the morning wandering through the market, letting her fingers brush against soft petals as she searched for the perfect flowers. The afternoon had been consumed by a long meeting at the office, and now, as she stepped into the quiet of her home, a wave of exhaustion hit her.

As she searched for a vase, her eyes landed on another bouquet already adorning the table—the one Samuel had given her yesterday. She paused, a soft smile forming on her lips. The flowers were still fresh, their petals blooming beautifully.

After arranging her new flowers, Zinnia placed them beside Samuel’s bouquet. The sight of the two arrangements together made her heart ache in a way she couldn’t quite explain.

Lost in her thoughts, she gently adjusted a few petals, admiring the contrast between the two bouquets. Just as she was about to turn away, the sound of the front door opening broke her reverie.

Samuel stepped inside, his tie loosened, and his expression weary but softer than usual. He glanced at her, then at the flowers. "You went to the flower market?"

Zinnia nodded, brushing her hands against her skirt. "I couldn’t resist. They were too beautiful to leave behind."

His gaze flicked to the two vases side by side. "They look good together."

Zinnia smiled faintly. "They do."

"So do we," Samuel thought but didn’t say. He set his briefcase down and walked over to her, studying her face. "How was your day?"

"Busy, but productive," Zinnia replied. "The meeting went well. The team’s excited for the next phase of production."

"That’s good to hear." He paused, his eyes shifting back to the flowers. "I’m glad you liked the ones I gave you."

Zinnia’s smile softened. "Of course I did. They’re lovely."

Samuel’s lips curved in a faint smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I’m glad."

"Have you eaten?" she asked, sensing his exhaustion.

"Not yet. I thought I’d make some tea first," he said.

"Let me help," Zinnia offered, but Samuel shook his head.

"No, you’ve been busy all day. Sit. I’ll take care of it."

Reluctantly, she took a seat at the dining table, watching as he moved around the kitchen. His movements were methodical, almost soothing in their precision.

When he finally placed two steaming cups of tea on the table, he sat across from her. The quiet that settled between them wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was heavy with things neither of them knew how to express.

Zinnia broke the silence first. "Thank you for the flowers, Samuel. And for this." She gestured to the tea.

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "It’s the least I can do."

"For what?" she asked softly.

"For everything," he said after a long pause, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her chest tightened at the vulnerability in his tone. "You don’t have to thank me, you know."

Samuel looked at her then, his eyes darker than usual. "Yes, I do."

The intensity of his gaze left her momentarily speechless. She sipped her tea, letting the warmth calm her racing thoughts.

Samuel sat quietly across from Zinnia, his fingers tracing the edge of his tea cup, his mind racing. Thoughts from his conversation with her parents echoed in his head, replaying every word, every look. He hadn’t deserved their kindness. He hadn’t deserved her parents’ trust, or her trust for that matter. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him as he thought about all the ways he’d hurt her.

Why had he been so foolish? Why had he pushed her away when all she’d ever done was care for him? The weight of his mistakes pressed heavily on him, like a constant reminder of how he had failed her. He had acted like he was too good for her, like she wasn’t worth his time, and now, here he was, regretting every moment of it.

He glanced at Zinnia, her face calm, serene, and he couldn’t help but feel unworthy of her presence. She had always been the light in his dark world. Her kindness, her strength, the way she held everything together—he had always taken it for granted. And now, as he looked at her, he realized just how much he needed her.

Without her, he was nothing. Without her, he felt like a hollow version of himself. He knew he couldn’t let her go, but he also knew he had no right to keep her, not after everything he had done. The guilt gnawed at him, he realized how much he had damaged the relationship they had once shared.

"Zia," he said, his voice shaky, barely above a whisper.

Zinnia looked up at him, her brows lifting slightly in curiosity. "Yes?"

His heart raced as he struggled to find the words he so desperately needed to say. He had rehearsed this in his mind a hundred times, but now that the moment had come, his thoughts were a tangled mess. He swallowed hard, fighting to steady his breath.

"I... I’m so sorry," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "For everything." He paused, his eyes dropping to the table as if the words were too much to bear. "I know I don’t deserve you. What I’ve done... it can’t be forgiven, but still, I need to apologize. I was such an asshole for ignoring you. For hurting you." His voice cracked, and he quickly cleared his throat. "I’m really sorry for everything."

Zinnia remained silent, her gaze softening as she watched him, but Samuel wasn’t sure if that was because of forgiveness or simply pity. He didn’t deserve either. He had been selfish, and now, here he was, trying to fix something that might already be broken beyond repair.