When Love is a Question Mark -
Chapter 283: Dangerous Pursuit
Chapter 283: Dangerous Pursuit
Steven stepped closer, wanted to comfort him, but James took a step back. "No," James said sharply, his voice breaking. He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "All this time, you let me live as someone I wasn’t. Samuel Lucas, the heir, the perfect son... but I was never him. I’ve been James all along."
His chest tightened as another realization struck him like a punch to the gut. His voice dropped to a whisper, full of anguish. "Zinnia," he said, barely audible. "Zinnia has been waiting for James. Searching for James. She never stopped... and all this time, I was right here. I was the person she was waiting for, but I didn’t even know."
Tears welled in his eyes, but he blinked them away. He didn’t want to cry—not here, not now. He didn’t want his parents to see the broken man standing before them. Without another word, he turned and strode toward the door.
"Samuel—" Steven called after him, but James didn’t stop.
"Don’t," James said firmly, his voice laced with pain. "Don’t call me that."
He walked out of the room, his footsteps heavy, his breaths uneven. The walls of the corridor felt like they were closing in on him as he moved toward the exit of the building. The truth weighed on him like an anchor, dragging him deeper into despair with every step.
---
Outside, the night was eerily calm. The cool breeze brushed against his face, but it did little to soothe the fire burning in his chest. James took a deep breath, his fists clenched at his sides as he crossed the street, his thoughts a whirlwind of regret, anger, and confusion.
He didn’t notice the car until it was too late.
The screeching of tires shattered the silence, followed by a dull, sickening thud as the car slammed into him. James’s body was flung into the air, landing with a sickening crunch on the pavement.
The world around him blurred. Voices shouted in panic, and footsteps rushed toward him, but everything felt distant, like he was trapped underwater. The pain in his body was sharp and all-consuming, yet his mind drifted elsewhere.
As he lay there, his vision fading, flashes of memories flooded his mind. Zinnia’s smile, her laughter, the way she used to look at him with such love and hope. The realization that he was the man she had been waiting for, searching for, filled him with a strange mix of sorrow and longing.
He wanted to see her one more time. To tell her the truth. To tell her everything. But his body refused to move, and his voice wouldn’t come.
"Zia..." he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. His eyelids grew heavier as the world around him darkened, the chaos fading into silence.
---
Zinnia parked her car outside the hotel where Samuel’s parents were currently staying, her heart heavy with unease, though she couldn’t understand why. She had spent hours debating whether she should come, but in the end, she decided to pick up Samuel or perhaps visit his parents as well.
As she stepped out of her car, the stillness of the night was shattered by the sound of shouting. She froze, her eyes scanning the scene. A crowd had gathered near the edge of the street, their voices frantic. Her pulse quickened as her gaze fell on a man being carried toward a black SUV. The bloodstains on his shirt glistened under the streetlights.
Her heart stopped. It was Samuel.
"No... no!" Zinnia whispered, her voice barely audible as panic surged through her. She darted toward the commotion, her heels clicking against the pavement. "Wait! Stop!" she shouted, her voice breaking with desperation.
The car door slammed shut just as she reached it. The engine roared to life, and before she could reach out, the vehicle sped away, leaving her standing in the middle of the street.
"Samuel!" she screamed, her voice echoing in the night.
Without hesitation, she turned and bolted back to her car. Her hands shook as she fumbled with the keys, the image of Samuel’s bloodied body flashing in her mind. As soon as the engine roared to life, she sped after the car, her tires screeching against the asphalt.
The city lights began to fade as she followed the vehicle into the outskirts. The streets grew darker, narrower, and the shadows of trees loomed over her, adding to her growing fear.
"Why aren’t they heading to the hospital?" she muttered to herself, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. The car ahead took a sharp turn onto a secluded road, and Zinnia hesitated for a split second before following.
Her phone rang, jolting her. She reached for it, keeping one hand on the wheel, and saw Timmy’s name flashing on the screen. She quickly answered.
"Timmy, it’s not a good time," she said breathlessly, her eyes fixed on the car ahead.
"Ma’am Zinnia," Timmy’s voice was urgent, almost frantic. "Are you with Sir Samuel?"
"What? No—he’s... he’s hurt! I’m following the car that’s carrying him. They’re not heading to the hospital, Timmy. Something’s wrong," she said, her voice cracking.
There was a pause on the other end, and then Timmy’s voice dropped, filled with dread. "Ma’am, you need to listen to me carefully. Frank escaped from prison tonight. The police are hunting him down, but there’s a high chance he might come after you—or Sir Samuel."
Zinnia’s blood ran cold. Frank. The name was enough to send a chill down her spine. He was dangerous, vindictive, and had every reason to target them.
"Timmy," she said firmly, her eyes narrowing as the car ahead slowed and turned into a desolate property. "Samuel’s life is at risk. I have to help him."
"Ma’am, please, don’t do this alone. Call the police and let them handle it. I’ll be there as soon as I can," Timmy pleaded.
"I don’t have time for that!" she snapped, her frustration and fear boiling over. "I’m not going to just sit back while they do God knows what to him!"
The line went silent for a moment before Timmy sighed. "Then be careful, Ma’am Zinnia. Please."
"I will," she promised, her voice softer now. "Just hurry."
"For now, tell me the plate number of the car, its details, and your current location. I’ll call the police first and ask them to track the car. Maybe Frank is behind this," Timmy shuddered at the thought.
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