When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 269: The Request

Chapter 269: The Request

As the man finished making his final request, his eyes closed, and his grip on Samuel’s arm slackened. The room was silent except for the distant hum of the city. The weight of the request hung in the air, thick and suffocating.

Samuel sat there for a long moment, the notebook and flash drive heavy in his hands. His heart hammered in his chest as he tried to come to terms with everything that had just been revealed. The room seemed to close in around him, the tension so thick that it felt like he could hardly breathe.

But before he could make any decisions, the man—No. 13—was gone, the light fading from his eyes.

Samuel stood there, motionless, for what felt like an eternity. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the occasional, distant sound of cars passing by. When he finally moved, his legs felt heavy, as if every step was weighed down by the gravity of what he now knew.

His hands trembled as he stood up, the notebook and flash drive still clutched tightly in his grasp. He couldn’t shake the feeling that everything had changed in an instant, that the past and the future were now tangled in a web of deception.

He turned toward the door, determined to act quickly.

At that moment, Timmy’s voice broke the silence, the question hanging in the air like a heavy weight. "Sir, are you going to do what he asked?"

Samuel paused, his mind racing. He met Timmy’s gaze, the weight of the decision pressing on him with each passing second. "Yes," Samuel replied quietly, his voice firm but filled with an unsettling resolve. "If what he said is true, then I really need to pretend to be James. I can’t risk Zinnia’s safety. No other man who looks like James should be near her. Not now. Not ever."

Timmy nodded, his expression hardening as he understood the gravity of Samuel’s words. "Understood, sir. I’ll take care of it."

Samuel continued, his voice low and determined. "Go and give him a proper burial. Be careful. No one should know No. 13 is dead. We can’t let anyone find out, especially not the ones behind this. We can’t let them know anything."

Timmy didn’t hesitate. "Of course, sir." He turned to call out to their trusted men, giving them orders to move quickly and quietly. Samuel remained behind, alone in the dimly lit room, his eyes falling on the notebook in his hands. With a deep breath, he began to read.

The pages were filled with information—details about James’s life, his habits, his preferences. Samuel absorbed every word, as if the pages themselves held the key to becoming someone else. The more he read, the more he realized just how deep the deception ran. There were videos too, recordings of James speaking, his mannerisms, his tone of voice.

Samuel spent hours going through them, practicing the way James moved, the way he talked, trying to immerse himself in the persona he was about to take on. Every detail was important. It wasn’t just about the clothes or the hair—it was about becoming someone else entirely.

By the time the first light of dawn began to creep in through the windows, Timmy returned, his footsteps muffled on the soft carpet of the room. Samuel looked up, his eyes red from lack of sleep, but there was no doubt in his mind that this was what had to be done.

Timmy paused in the doorway, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of Samuel. "Boss..." His voice trailed off, clearly taken aback. "You look exactly like James. You’re... so natural, as if you are him. How did you manage to change your demeanor like that? You’re truly amazing."

Samuel gave a tired smile, running a hand through his hair. "Am I?" He paused, looking at his reflection in the nearby mirror, studying the image in front of him. "I don’t know. I’m surprised too. I didn’t expect I could really pull this off."

Timmy shook his head in awe, his admiration clear. "I’ve never seen anything like it. You’ve got it down to the smallest detail. It’s like you’ve become him, boss."

Just as Samuel was about to respond, a loud ring cut through the air, startling them both. Samuel glanced down at the phone in his hand—the phone that had belonged to No. 13. He hadn’t even realized it was still in his possession.

With a quick swipe, Samuel opened the phone and stared at the message that appeared on the screen. His heart sank as he read the details.

It was a mission for today. The message outlined the plan: Zinnia is supposed to be hit by a car on her way to the hospital. But James will save her. After that, James will pretend that he remembers everything—the accident of saving Zinnia will trigger his memory.

Samuel’s pulse quickened as he read the words. His mind raced with the implications. The mission was set in motion already, and Zinnia’s life was in danger. But the message also hinted at something more—something far more complicated than he’d realized.

He turned to Timmy, his voice tense. "It’s happening today, isn’t it? I have to go. Now."

Timmy nodded. "We’re ready, sir."

Samuel took one last glance at his reflection, a deep sense of resolve settling in his chest. This was it. There was no turning back. He was going to become James—and he was going to do whatever it took to protect Zinnia.

Moments later, Samuel stood near the hospital entrance, his gaze fixed on the busy scene ahead. It felt as though time had slowed—his heartbeat pounding in his chest, his mind focused, every sense sharp. The street bustled with people, the morning air cool, but he could feel the weight of the moment. This was it—the culmination of everything set in motion.

He turned to Timmy, who stood next to him, his expression serious, as if he could feel the tension in the air too. "Go and check on Zinnia’s parents for me," Samuel instructed in a low, steady voice. His eyes lingered on the entrance of the hospital. He didn’t want to be distracted by anything. "Make sure they’re secure. I’ll handle the rest here."

Timmy nodded without hesitation, his expression one of understanding. "Understood, sir. I’ll be back soon." With that, he slipped into the crowd, his movements swift and purposeful.

Samuel stood alone now, the plan unfolding before him. He checked his watch—it was almost time. His heart pounded harder in his chest.

As he turned to look across the street, he saw her. Zinnia. She was walking toward the hospital.

Just as they had planned, a car almost hit Zinnia. Samuel, pretending to be James, ran toward her to save her but ended up being the one who was hurt.

The next day, they proceeded to the next step of the mission, where James finally remembered Zinnia after the incident.