When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 285: The Heartbeat of Hope

Chapter 285: The Heartbeat of Hope

"Miss, you’ll have to wait here," a nurse said gently, blocking her from entering the emergency room.

"But—" Zinnia began, her voice cracking.

"Please, we need to focus on stabilizing him. You’ll be informed as soon as we know more," the nurse assured her before disappearing through the swinging doors.

Zinnia stood frozen for a moment, her hands trembling. She finally sank into one of the chairs in the waiting area, her head in her hands as a storm of emotions raged within her.

---

Meanwhile, Timmy was outside, dealing with the police and suspects. Frank, the man behind the attack, had been apprehended along with his accomplices. Timmy’s jaw tightened as he relayed everything he knew to the officers, his worry for Zinnia and Samuel barely hidden beneath his professional demeanor.

"So it was Frank?" one of the officers confirmed.

"Yes. He’s been targeting them since his escape," Timmy replied. His eyes darted toward the hospital entrance. "I need to get back inside. Please keep me updated."

---

An hour later, Zinnia was still seated in the waiting area when she heard hurried footsteps approaching. She looked up to see Steven and Valerie Lucas rushing toward her, their faces pale and filled with worry.

"Zinnia!" Valerie exclaimed, her voice trembling. "Where’s Samuel? What happened?"

"He’s in the emergency room," Zinnia replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "They haven’t told me anything yet."

Steven ran a hand through his hair, his expression filled with guilt. "I should have stopped him. I should’ve gone after him when he left the room."

Valerie placed a trembling hand on her husband’s arm. "We didn’t know... We thought he needed space. We never imagined this would happen."

Before Zinnia could respond, she heard another set of voices approaching. Turning, she saw her parents, Elena and Ricardo Lopez, arriving with Lily by their side.

"Zinnia!" Elena hurried to her daughter, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Are you alright? What happened?"

"I’m fine, Mom," Zinnia said, her voice breaking. "But Samuel—he..." She couldn’t finish her sentence as tears filled her eyes.

"He’s strong, Zinnia," Ricardo said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "He’ll pull through."

Lily knelt beside Zinnia, her eyes filled with concern. "He’ll be okay. I know he will. He has you waiting for him."

The small group sat together, the air heavy with worry and silence, broken only by soft reassurances and murmured prayers. Steven paced back and forth, while Valerie sat with her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Meanwhile, Lily dragged Zinnia away to change out of her wet clothes.

---

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doors to the emergency room opened, and a doctor stepped out. Everyone stood at once, their eyes fixed on him.

"Doctor," Zinnia said, her voice trembling. "How is he? Is Samuel okay?"

The doctor gave them a reassuring smile. "He’s stable now. He suffered minor injuries and some blood loss, but he’ll be fine with rest and care."

Valerie let out a sob of relief, leaning into Steven, who exhaled deeply.

"When can we see him?" Zinnia asked urgently.

"We’ll move him to a private room shortly. He’s resting now, but you’ll be able to see him soon," the doctor replied.

Elena stepped forward, her voice soft but hopeful. "Doctor, Samuel and Zinnia’s wedding is coming up soon. Will he be well enough to attend?"

The doctor smiled lightly. "It depends on his recovery, but from what I can see now, I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be able to attend. He’ll need to avoid any strenuous activities, but he should be fine to participate."

Elena sighed in relief and looked at Zinnia, who still seemed on edge. "See, Zinnia? He’s going to be alright. Everything will be fine."

Zinnia nodded slowly, her heart still heavy but lightened by the news. She turned to the doctor again. "Thank you. Can I see him as soon as he’s moved?"

"Of course," the doctor replied with a kind smile. "He’ll want to see you."

---

As the group settled back into the waiting area, the tension began to ease. Valerie clung to Steven’s arm, whispering, "We should have stopped him. If we hadn’t let him leave..."

"It’s not your fault, Valerie," Steven said quietly, though guilt lingered in his voice. "What matters now is that he’s safe and recovering."

Zinnia’s parents sat beside her, offering quiet comfort. Ricardo patted her hand gently. "You’ve been through a lot tonight, Zinnia. But Samuel is in good hands now."

Elena added softly, "And so are you. We’re here for you, always."

Zinnia nodded, her gaze fixed on the doors to the emergency room, waiting for the moment she could finally see Samuel again.

The next morning, Zinnia sat slumped in the chair next to Samuel’s bed, her head resting against the edge of the mattress. Her hand was entwined with his, holding on tightly even in her sleep. Her face was pale with exhaustion, but faint traces of worry and longing remained etched in her expression.

The room was quiet except for the steady beeping of the monitor beside the bed and the faint sound of Samuel’s breathing.

A gentle warmth brushed against Zinnia’s cheek, soft and deliberate, as though afraid to disturb her too suddenly. She stirred, her brows furrowing slightly before her eyes fluttered open.

"Zia," a deep but hoarse voice murmured.

Her gaze snapped up, meeting Samuel’s tired but affectionate eyes. He was awake. His thumb grazed her cheek as his hand cupped her face, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.

"Sam..." Zinnia whispered, her voice trembling. For a moment, she was frozen, staring at him as if unsure whether she was dreaming or awake. Then, reality hit her, and her tears spilled over. "You’re finally awake!"

She shot up from her chair, leaning forward to wrap her arms around him, careful not to disturb the IV in his hand or the bandages on his arm. Her hold was firm but gentle, as though afraid he might disappear if she let go.

"Zia," Samuel whispered again, his voice low and rough. Despite his weakness, he managed to lift one arm and place it lightly on her back. "I’m okay..."