When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 194: You’re Mine!

Chapter 194: You’re Mine!

"It’s not showing off," he said, flipping the wrap with practiced ease. "It’s survival. If I don’t feed you soon, you might pass out."

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. "True. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on."

Within minutes, Samuel brought two plates to the table. The flatbread wraps were golden brown, oozing with melted cheese, and the side salad was simple but vibrant—fresh greens tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Zinnia’s eyes widened. "Okay, I take back everything I said. This looks amazing."

Samuel shrugged, though his faint smile betrayed his pride. "Told you I’ve got this."

She picked up her wrap and took a big bite. The blend of flavors—earthy mushrooms, gooey cheese, and the crisp flatbread—made her pause in delight. "Wow," she said after swallowing. "This is so good. Like, really good."

"I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve," he replied casually, though her reaction clearly pleased him.

Zinnia smiled, her heart swelling as she took another bite. "Well, consider me impressed. You’re full of surprises, Samuel."

He met her gaze, his expression softening. "I just wanted to make sure you’re happy. That’s all that matters to me."

She set her wrap down, her fingers lingering on the plate as his words settled over her. "You already do," she said softly, her voice steady with emotion.

They shared a look, the moment stretching between them like an unspoken promise. This time, no lingering shadows, no weight of the past—just them, together.

After finishing her meal, Zinnia insisted on cleaning up despite Samuel’s protests.

"You cooked. I clean. Fair trade," she said firmly, gathering their plates.

Samuel leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching her with a small smile. "You’re impossible, you know that?"

She glanced at him over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling with humor. "And you’re just realizing this now?"

He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "No. But I think I like it."

As Zinnia washed the dishes, Samuel moved closer, standing behind her. She felt the warmth of him before he even spoke.

"Zia," he said softly, his voice low and steady.

She paused, turning her head slightly to look at him. "Yes?"

He hesitated for a moment, then reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face. "I meant what I said earlier—about fighting for us. I’m not going anywhere. You’re my future, Zia. Always."

Her heart fluttered, and she turned fully to face him, her hands still wet from the sink. "And you’re mine," she said, her voice filled with quiet conviction.

They stood there, close enough to feel the warmth of each other’s presence.

---

Samuel strode into the Lucas Realty Group building the next morning. His steps were lighter, almost carefree, a sharp contrast to his usual serious, calculated gait. His bright smile was the first thing anyone noticed, as he greeted every employee he passed with a cheerful, "Good morning!"

The employees froze in their tracks. Their eyes widened as they watched him walk by, stunned. This wasn’t like him at all. Samuel was known for his cold, distant demeanor, his laser focus on work, and his near-constant scowl. No one had ever seen him smile so brightly, except that one time after his engagement to Zinnia Lopez, let alone greet anyone with anything more than a curt nod.

"Did... did he just smile?" one employee whispered under their breath, their voice tinged with disbelief.

Another employee blinked, looking around at the others, as if searching for confirmation. "I think... I think he just did!"

They all stared at Samuel’s retreating figure, their minds still trying to process what they had just witnessed. It was like watching a completely different person walk through the doors.

"He smiled at me, and not only that, he also greeted me ’Good morning,’" one employee stammered, staring at their reflection in the glass as though they’d just seen a ghost.

"I’m not going crazy, right?" another murmured, shaking their head.

The entire office fell into stunned silence. The idea of Samuel—CEO of Lucas Realty Group, known for his sharp mind and even sharper demeanor—smiling so freely and even greeting everyone with a "Good morning" was so out of character that it left everyone questioning their reality. It felt as though the world had shifted just slightly, and no one was quite sure if it was a dream or if it was truly happening.

One employee snapped back to reality as Samuel had already passed, his bright smile still lingering in his mind. "Is... is the world ending?" they muttered to themselves.

The thought seemed to echo around the office as more and more employees began to come to terms with what had just happened. Their CEO, who usually walked through the halls with a purposeful, almost intimidating stride, had just passed them with a smile on his face and a cheery "Good morning" for each of them.

Another employee, trying to snap out of their daze, muttered in disbelief, "I actually saw Samuel Lucas smiling. I even heard him greet me with a ’Good morning.’"

"Wait, is that even possible?" another voice piped up from the corner. "Did we just get a glimpse of a new era?"

It was chaos, but it wasn’t loud. It was the kind of stunned silence you’d expect after witnessing something unbelievable. Samuel had turned into an enigma, leaving a trail of bewildered employees in his wake.

By the time he reached his office door, Samuel’s smile hadn’t faded, but it was accompanied by a soft chuckle, something deep inside of him settling into peace. Zinnia’s words from last night—"You’re mine!"—kept echoing in his mind, replaying over and over like a sweet song he couldn’t get out of his head.

"Yeah, I’m yours," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.

He stood at the door for a moment, his hand on the handle, still lost in thought. The feeling of Zinnia’s words had wrapped around his heart like a warm embrace. "I’m yours, Zia, and you’re mine," he said, this time louder, the joy in his voice unmistakable.