When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 48: Raw emotions

Chapter 48: Raw emotions

As Zinnia reached for the phone in the living room, the screen lit up with Lily’s name. She hesitated for a brief moment, knowing that Lily would have heard the news by now. Her stomach churned with nerves, but she couldn’t avoid her friend any longer. With a deep breath, she answered the call.

"Hey, Lily," she greeted softly, trying to sound calm.

But Lily’s voice came through, sounding anything but calm. "Why didn’t you tell me anything about this, Zinnia? Are we still friends, or have you forgotten to consult me now?" Lily’s tone was sharp but laced with the familiar worry Zinnia had grown used to over the years. "I just saw the news, but I guess it’s too late for me now."

Zinnia could almost picture Lily’s sulking expression, her lower lip jutting out slightly like it always did when she felt left out. Zinnia’s heart sank with guilt. She hadn’t meant to keep her in the dark, but everything had happened so fast, and she barely knew how to process it herself.

"I’m sorry, Lily," Zinnia said, her voice gentle. She tried to lighten the mood, hoping to ease the tension. "I thought you were too busy enjoying the view of handsome men, so I didn’t want to interrupt your fun."

There was a brief pause before Lily replied, and though Zinnia couldn’t see her, she could imagine Lily rolling her eyes dramatically. "I need a break from those views every now and then," Lily said with a hint of amusement. "So they don’t get boring, you know? I can always find more of them when I want. But you? Your well-being matters more to me."

Zinnia smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. Lily always knew how to balance concern with humor. But then Lily’s tone shifted again, more serious this time. "Now, tell me—this news about James... Is it true? Is he really alive? And if he is, why hasn’t he reached out to you? How could he let you think he was gone all this time? I need an explanation from him for making you go through that."

Zinnia felt a heaviness settle in her chest at the mention of James. She hesitated, biting her lip as she thought about how to respond. Taking a deep breath, she finally said, "I don’t know, Lily. I’m not really sure if it’s true. There’s a chance someone is using James’ memory to mess with Samuel’s position in the company."

She didn’t mention the strange events that had happened over the past few days—someone pretending to be James, luring her out. Zinnia didn’t want to worry Lily more than she already was.

Lily was quiet for a moment, then her voice came through again, filled with concern. "What about Samuel? How did he react? You didn’t tell him about James, did you? How are things between you two now? Did he get mad after finding out?"

Zinnia let out a small laugh, though there wasn’t much humor in it. "No, he didn’t get mad, surprisingly."

"Tell me if that Samuel did something to hurt you, and I’ll beat him up," Lily said, her voice turning playful again, though the sincerity behind it was clear. "Anyone who dares to hurt my dear Zinnia will get a powerful slap from me."

Zinnia chuckled at Lily’s protective nature, feeling her spirits lift just a little. "No, really. He didn’t. Actually, I was surprised by how he took the news about James. I expected him to be upset, at least. But he acted differently."

"Oh?" Lily’s curiosity peaked. "How did he react?"

Zinnia paused, thinking back to that conversation. "He told me he’d help me find James if he’s really alive. And... he said if I truly still love James, he’d let me go."

"What?!" Lily’s shock was evident through the phone. "Aren’t you guys doing well? I thought you’d finally moved on and were happy with Samuel. Why would he say something like that?"

Zinnia sighed, her guilt bubbling to the surface. She hadn’t told Lily the full truth about her relationship with Samuel—how things had started strong but cooled down over time. There were moments she found herself questioning everything. What would her life be like if she had ended up with James instead?

"I don’t know," she admitted softly. "I’m still unsure of my feelings."

Lily was silent, giving Zinnia the space to continue.

"I thought I had moved on from James," Zinnia said quietly, "especially during the times when I was genuinely happy with Samuel. But with this news about James being alive... it’s brought back all these old feelings. It’s confusing. And I don’t want to complicate things anymore."

On the other end of the phone, Lily exhaled slowly, as if absorbing everything Zinnia had said. "So... you’re still not sure about Samuel?"

Zinnia closed her eyes, leaning back into the couch as she replayed the past few years in her mind. At first, she had been drawn to Samuel because he looked so much like James. Even their voices were eerily similar, though Samuel’s had a different tone.

She had tried to see Samuel for who he was, to love him for himself. But there were always those moments—those brief flashes—where she saw James in him, and it would all come rushing back.

"Yes, I’m still unsure," Zinnia admitted, the words tasting bitter in her mouth. "I thought I could move on from James, and I was happy with Samuel for a while. But now... I’m confused. The news of James’s return stirred up all those old feelings. It’s making me question everything. But I don’t want to complicate things anymore."

Unbeknownst to her, Samuel had just arrived home. He stood frozen in the hallway, just outside the living room, listening to every word. His heart ached as he heard Zinnia’s voice, filled with uncertainty.

"I don’t know if I still love James," Zinnia continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know if I ever fully let go of him. And I don’t know if what I feel for Samuel is love or... something else."

Samuel felt the weight of her words like a punch to the gut. His chest tightened, but he remained silent, rooted in place, unsure whether to walk in or keep listening.