When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 203: Balancing Priorities

Chapter 203: Balancing Priorities

Ryan Kim, who played the lead role of Daniel, was the first to step into the room, his strong and seasoned presence filling the space. He gave Zinnia a quick nod. "What’s this about a schedule change?"

Zinnia stepped forward, her voice calm and reassuring. "Ryan, we’ve had a shift in the timeline due to some adjustments we need to make on the production side. We’ve decided to accelerate the filming, hoping to finish a bit earlier than we originally planned. There were some gaps in scheduling that we want to take advantage of."

Ryan raised an eyebrow but didn’t seem overly concerned. "Sounds like a good plan, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the quality. I’ve got a lot on my plate, but I’ll make it work."

Katherine quickly stepped in, "We’re confident this will actually help everyone. The new timeline will reduce the pressure as we approach the final scenes, and we’ll be able to wrap up earlier, which might even benefit your other projects."

Ryan glanced between the two of them and then nodded. "Alright. As long as it doesn’t mean a rush job, I’m in."

Trish Watson, who played the tough ship engineer Alex, walked in right behind Ryan. She looked at Zinnia with a slight frown. "I heard something about a change. Is everything okay? I know a change like this can be a bit unsettling."

Zinnia gave a reassuring smile. "Everything’s fine, Trish. It’s just a strategic move. We’re pushing the schedule to make the most of our current momentum. We’re all in this together, and it won’t affect the quality of the work."

Trish seemed to relax a little, though she still looked uncertain. "Well, as long as it’s for the best. I just don’t want anything to get messed up. Also, I’ve got another movie coming up. In any case, I believe in you."

Zinnia nodded understandingly. "I get it, Trish. We’ll make sure that any adjustments work with your schedule. You won’t have to sacrifice anything for the sake of the changes."

Soon, Tom Ellis, Leo Taylor, and Julian Perez arrived. Tom, playing the calm yet authoritative Captain Harding, nodded as Zinnia gave him the update. Leo, the young hacker Ethan, was quick to ask questions. "So, we’re speeding things up? What’s the reason for it? I mean, we’ve been pushing hard as it is."

Julian, the charming antagonist Victor, crossed his arms. "Yeah, it better not throw off the rhythm we’ve built. I’ve got a lot going on after this."

Zinnia gave them all a reassuring smile, "We’re just taking advantage of some scheduling windows to speed things up. Think of it as a positive shift in direction. We’ll be able to finish sooner, which means you won’t have to worry about overlapping projects or extra downtime."

They all exchanged looks, the explanation making sense. The cast, though concerned about the pace, seemed to understand the necessity of the change.

"Alright, we’re in," Leo said, giving a small shrug.

Tom Ellis grinned. "Yeah, I’m game. Let’s do this."

Julian nodded, his voice slightly more serious. "We’ll get it done."

Zinnia let out a small sigh of relief. "Thank you, everyone. I appreciate your understanding. We’re in this together, and we’ll make sure this works for all of us."

With that, the cast dispersed to prepare for the day’s work, and Zinnia, Marcos, and Katherine exchanged knowing looks. It wasn’t easy keeping the real reason behind the schedule shift under wraps, but they had pulled it off—at least for now.

---

Samuel sat in his office, holding a small velvet box in his hand. He opened it slowly, revealing the engagement ring he had meticulously chosen for Zinnia. The diamond sparkled under the light—a symbol of the commitment he was ready to make but now hesitated over. His expression was unreadable, a mix of longing and frustration.

He leaned back in his chair, the silence in the room punctuated only by the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Finally, Samuel let out a sigh, his fingers brushing over the edges of the velvet box before closing it with a soft click.

Timmy entered the room cautiously, holding a tablet in his hands. The assistant hesitated at the sight of Samuel’s contemplative state, his usual sharp demeanor softened by something unspoken. Clearing his throat gently, Timmy stepped closer. "Boss, if this is a bad time, I can come back later."

Samuel glanced up, snapping out of his thoughts. "No, it’s fine. What is it?"

Timmy shifted his weight awkwardly, his eyes briefly flickering to the closed box in Samuel’s hand. "I was just wondering if we’re still moving forward with the proposal planning? I mean, with everything that’s been going on, should we—"

Samuel interrupted him, his voice low but firm. "We’re postponing it, Timmy."

Timmy blinked, caught off guard. "Postponing? Are you sure? I thought you wanted to—"

"I do," Samuel said, his tone softening slightly as he set the box down on the desk. "But it’s not the right time." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk and lacing his fingers together. "Zinnia’s father is in the hospital, and her focus is entirely on him and her family. How could I propose now, knowing that?"

Timmy nodded slowly, understanding dawning on his face. "That makes sense. Mrs. Lopez would probably want all the support she can get right now, too."

Samuel sighed again, his fingers brushing over the surface of the closed box. "Exactly. This isn’t just about timing. It’s about respecting what she’s going through. Her father’s recovery is the priority. Proposing now would feel selfish, like I’m trying to make it about us when it shouldn’t be."

Timmy took a seat across from him, sensing that Samuel wanted to talk this through. "But you still want to go through with it eventually, right? I mean, you’ve been planning this for a while."

Samuel nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Of course I do. I’ve never been more certain about anything. But she deserves a moment that feels right. Not something overshadowed by worry or stress."

Timmy tapped the edge of his tablet thoughtfully. "So, what’s the plan? Do we put everything on hold indefinitely, or should I start preparing for when things settle down?"