When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 215: Breaking the News

Chapter 215: Breaking the News

Samuel hesitated for a moment before speaking. "After that, I think we should go to your parents’ house to properly celebrate the success of my proposal."

Her eyes widened slightly. "You remembered?"

A faint look of guilt crossed his face. "Of course. I invited them last night, but I didn’t even notice when they left. That wasn’t right."

Zinnia smiled gently. "They’ll understand, Sam. But it’ll mean a lot to them if we go today."

He nodded firmly, a determined look in his eyes. "Then it’s settled. First, my father. Then, your parents. We owe them that much."

As they cleared the table together, Samuel spoke again. "I feel bad about how things went last night. They came to support us, and I didn’t even thank them properly."

Zinnia placed a hand on his arm, her touch light but reassuring. "You were overwhelmed. They’ll forgive you."

His gaze met hers, gratitude flickering in his eyes. "Still, I’ll make it up to them."

She nodded, her voice soft. "We both will."

They fell into a quiet rhythm, washing and drying dishes side by side.

As the last dish was washed and dried, Samuel and Zinnia quietly moved to their respective rooms to prepare for the day.

Zinnia entered her bedroom, feeling the weight of the news that had just broken. Her mind was still spinning from the announcement of Samuel’s new position as Chairman of Lucas Realty Group.

She closed the door behind her and sat on the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath. She quickly moved to her closet and started sorting through clothes, picking out a simple but elegant dress. She needed to feel put together for today, especially since they were going to see her parents.

After her shower, as she changed, she thought about the proposal from the night before. It had been unexpected, beautiful, and overwhelming all at once.

Zinnia couldn’t help but smile, remembering the way Samuel had looked at her with so much emotion. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke to her, his sincerity was undeniable. She wished she could understand him better, but for now, she felt happy just being in this moment with him.

In the meantime, Samuel walked into his own room, a slight frown on his face. He glanced at his phone again, still shocked by the events of the morning. His thoughts raced as he picked out a dark suit—something formal but not too flashy, just enough to convey seriousness for his father’s call and the visit to Zinnia’s parents.

He sat on the edge of his bed, dialing his father’s number. The phone rang, and Samuel felt a knot form in his stomach. His father had always been an enigma to him—so distant and focused more on his wife than on business—and now he had transferred so much of his wealth to Samuel. Was it his father’s way of pushing him forward, or was there more to it?

The line clicked, and Steven Lucas’ voice came through, smooth and commanding as ever. "Samuel," he said, "I see the news already reached you."

"I... I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly," Samuel replied, his voice steady but filled with confusion. "I didn’t know you planned to give me control of the company this fast. Was it always the plan?"

Steven chuckled softly on the other end. "You’re asking if I planned this? Samuel, you know I’ve been thinking about this for years. It took too long, but I couldn’t wait for you to finally make a move with your proposal."

Samuel sat up straighter, surprised. "The proposal?"

"Of course," Steven continued, his voice light but firm. "It’s been three years since your engagement. I’ve watched you grow, but no matter how much we talked about it, there was no real progress in your relationship. So, I decided to give you a nudge. I transferred the shares and made you the chairman. I thought that with your new position, things might finally move forward."

Samuel swallowed, processing the words. He felt a mix of emotions—pride, pressure, and an odd sense of liberation. "I didn’t realize you were so... eager about it," he muttered.

"Well, Samuel, I needed to go back to my wife," his father said with a laugh that held little warmth. "I’ve been here long enough to give you your shares and make sure things are in motion. Now it’s time for me to return to where I’m needed. But I expect you to follow through with what we discussed. Make things happen."

Samuel leaned back against the bed, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "Actually, Father... there’s something I need to tell you."

"What’s that?" Steven asked, clearly curious.

"I proposed to Zinnia last night," Samuel said, the words feeling surreal as they left his lips. "And she said yes."

There was a long silence on the line before Steven spoke again, his tone shifting to one of warmth and approval. "Well, well, that’s the best news I’ve heard all morning! Congratulations, Samuel. I’m glad to hear you finally took the leap. I’ve been waiting for this day."

Samuel exhaled, feeling a mix of relief and nervous excitement. "Thanks, Dad. It means a lot to hear you say that."

"So, what’s next?" Steven asked, sounding more like a businessman than a father. "Have you planned anything for today?"

"I was thinking of going to Zinnia’s parents to celebrate with them," Samuel replied. "I feel like it’s the right thing to do. We didn’t get a chance to properly thank them last night, and I want to make it right."

"That’s a good idea," Steven agreed quickly. "But Samuel, you can’t go empty-handed. You need a betrothal gift for Zinnia. You know how these things work. I’ll handle it. I’ll take care of everything you need—arrangements, the gift, all of it. You just make sure you take care of Zinnia and her parents. Make them happy. That’s your job now."

Samuel’s mind whirled. "You’ll handle the gift?"

"Of course," Steven said, a sense of finality in his voice. "Now, listen closely. Don’t overthink this. Zinnia’s happiness and her family’s approval are the most important things right now. You just need to show them that you’re committed, and that you’re capable of stepping up."

"I’ll do that," Samuel agreed, his voice firm.