When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 198: Drawn to You

Chapter 198: Drawn to You

Lily leaned back on her chair, smiling as her fingers danced over her phone. The work she had been focused on was now completely forgotten. Her phone screen lit up with Timmy’s latest message, and her lips curled into a bright smile. She didn’t even realize she had been smiling so much until a voice broke her concentration.

"Who’s making my daughter smile like that?" Mrs. Aquila’s playful tone startled Lily, making her drop her phone onto the table.

"Mom!" Lily exclaimed, quickly locking her phone. "When did you get here?"

Her mother crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe with an amused expression. "Long enough to see that you’re completely distracted by your phone. So, who is it? Come on, spill the beans!"

Lily felt her cheeks flush as she hurriedly shuffled some papers on her desk, pretending to look busy. "No one, Mom. Just a friend."

Mrs. Aquila wasn’t buying it. She stepped closer, her smile widening. "A friend, huh? Since when does a friend make you forget the rest of the world? Who’s the lucky guy? And when are you going to introduce him to me?"

Lily groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Mom, stop! There’s nothing like that. And introduce him? So soon? You’re jumping to conclusions."

Her mother let out a dramatic sigh, sitting down on the edge of Lily’s bed. "I’ve been waiting forever, you know. When are you going to settle down? All you do is work, work, and spend time with Zinnia. Do you even think about marriage? You’re not getting any younger, my dear."

Lily turned her chair to face her mom, her expression caught between exasperation and amusement. "Mom, I’ve been busy building my career. And yes, I dated some people while I was abroad, but those didn’t work out."

Mrs. Aquila raised an eyebrow, her tone turning sharp but playful. "Oh, don’t remind me. You got my hopes up with every one of those men, only for things to fizzle out. What exactly are you looking for, Lily? And don’t tell me it’s just good looks. Quit playing around. I want to see my grandchildren before I get too old to enjoy them."

Lily burst into laughter but quickly composed herself. "Mom, I’m not playing around. When I dated those guys, I really thought they were the one. But then I realized I only liked their looks, not them. My heart wasn’t in it. I couldn’t see a future with any of them."

Her mother’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. "And this new guy? What about him? He must be something special to have you smiling like that while working. You’re usually so serious when it comes to your job. Even a handsome face couldn’t distract you. But this one, he managed to steal your focus. That’s saying something."

Lily froze for a moment, her mother’s words sinking in. She glanced down at her phone, where Timmy’s last message still lingered on the screen. Her mother was right—when it came to work, Lily was known for being almost unshakable. But Timmy’s message had instantly pulled her away, making her pause everything just to chat with him.

She felt a strange warmth spreading through her chest. The walls she had always kept between her personal and professional life seemed to crumble when it came to him.

"I don’t know, Mom," Lily said softly, meeting her mother’s eyes. "I just met him recently, but it feels like I’ve known him forever. I can’t help but feel drawn to him. Do you think... Do you think I might be falling in love this time?"

Mrs. Aquila studied her daughter carefully, her expression softening. Lily had always been honest with her, even about things like this. She reached out, pulling Lily into a gentle hug.

"My dear Lily," her mother said, her voice tender, "I’ve always prayed that you’d find someone who cherishes you for who you are, not for what you have. You’re an amazing woman, and you deserve someone who sees that. Just promise me one thing—don’t rush. Take your time to know him. And if he’s the right one, you’ll know in your heart."

Lily hugged her mother back, her emotions swirling. "Thanks, Mom. I’ll keep that in mind. But aren’t you contradicting yourself now? You just said earlier you couldn’t wait for me to get married."

"Come on! Of course, my daughter’s happiness should still be the main priority."

---

Meanwhile, back at Samuel’s office, he leaned against his desk, pulling out his phone. His mind wandered to Zinnia as he typed a quick message: "I’ll be home soon. How’s your day going?"

He smiled faintly, imagining her reaction when she saw the rings he had chosen. His phone vibrated almost immediately, and he opened the message with a smile.

But his smile faded as he read her reply: "Something happened to my father. I’m at the hospital right now."

Samuel’s heart dropped, and he quickly typed back: "What happened? Is he okay? I’ll come to you right away."

The response took a few moments, but it felt like an eternity. Finally, Zinnia replied: "He collapsed earlier. The doctors are still running tests. I’ll let you know more soon."

Without hesitation, Samuel grabbed his coat and called for Timmy. "Clear my schedule for the rest of the day. I need to leave now."

Timmy, startled by the urgency in Samuel’s voice, quickly nodded. "Yes, Sir. Is everything okay?"

Samuel didn’t answer immediately. His thoughts were already with Zinnia. "I’ll explain later. Just handle things here for now."

As Samuel left the office, a single thought ran through his mind: "I need to be there for her, no matter what."

Samuel hurriedly grabbed his coat from the back of his chair, his movements sharp and focused. He didn’t bother waiting for Timmy to finish clearing his schedule. Instead, he stormed out of the office, his footsteps echoing loudly in the corridor.

"Sir, should I arrange a driver?" Timmy called after him, struggling to keep up.

"No time," Samuel snapped without looking back. "I’ll drive myself."

The tension in his voice was unmistakable. Timmy knew better than to press further and simply nodded, watching as Samuel disappeared into the elevator.