When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 59: Playful banter

Chapter 59: Playful banter

Samuel’s grip on the papers tightened as he listened to Timmy’s voice, the words hitting him like a punch.

"I found an old admission report from a private hospital," Timmy said, his tone tense. "It matches the timeline of James’s accident. He was admitted under a false name, treated for multiple injuries, including a head wound. But after that, there’s nothing. He disappeared from the hospital records, and no one ever officially reported his death."

Samuel felt the ground shift beneath his feet. His chest tightened as he whispered, "Are you telling me James might still be alive?"

Timmy’s voice was grim. "It’s possible. But if he is, someone went to great lengths to keep him hidden."

The room seemed to close in around Samuel as his mind raced. If James was alive, everything changed. This wasn’t just about the company or money. Revilo’s plan wasn’t just financial—it was about controlling James’s legacy, using his name for leverage.

"Why now?" Samuel muttered, more to himself than to Timmy. "Why bring him up after all these years?"

"I don’t know," Timmy replied, shaking his head. "But if James is alive, someone doesn’t want us to find out."

Samuel took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "We need to find him, Timmy. If James is out there, I need to know. Zinnia needs to know."

"I’ve already started digging into it," Timmy said. "We might be able to trace his last known location from the hospital records. But Sir—this is dangerous. Whoever’s behind this will do whatever it takes to bury the truth."

Samuel’s eyes hardened. "Let them try. We’re not backing down."

Timmy gave him a cautious nod. "I’ll keep you updated, but we have to tread carefully. The more we dig, the more we put ourselves in their crosshairs."

Samuel nodded firmly. "We don’t stop until we find out the truth."

With a final glance, Timmy left the office, leaving Samuel alone with his thoughts. James. Alive. The thought spun in his head, over and over.

His mind immediately shifted to Zinnia. She deserved the truth, but how could he tell her? How could he tell her that the man she once loved might still be alive?

The thought of it—of her finding out—made his stomach churn. It would break her. He shook his head. No, he couldn’t tell her. Not until he had real answers. Zinnia had been through enough—losing James, their uncertain engagement, the pressure from both families. He couldn’t pile this on top of everything.

Samuel took a deep breath, steeling himself. He would protect her from the truth until he knew more. Until he was certain.

---

Meanwhile, Zinnia woke up to the soft morning light streaming through her bedroom curtains. She stretched, feeling the gentle warmth on her skin, then got out of bed and headed for a quick shower. The warm water helped shake off the last bits of sleepiness, and soon she was dressed and ready for the day.

As she walked into the kitchen, her eyes lit up at the sight of the breakfast Samuel had left for her. It was simple but thoughtful—whole-grain toast, avocado slices, scrambled eggs with spinach, and a bowl of fresh fruit.

A smile spread across her face as she reheated the food. Samuel had made her breakfast again. She grabbed her phone and quickly typed a message, "Thank you for breakfast! It looks delicious."

She sat down and took a bite just as her phone buzzed with Samuel’s reply: "You’re welcome, my Goddess Zia."

Zinnia blinked in surprise, then laughed to herself. "Goddess Zia?" she muttered, amused. The nickname caught her off guard, but in a pleasant way.

She typed back, teasing him: "So, you know what my fans call me now? I never thought you’d call me that too!"

Samuel’s response came quickly: "Well, you’re like a superstar, right? Is it okay if I’m your number one fan?"

Zinnia chuckled, shaking her head. This side of Samuel—the playful, light-hearted side—was new to her. But she liked it.

She decided to play along. "Oh really? Then what should I call you, Mr. Heartthrob? I bet you’ve got a lot of fans too."

Her phone buzzed with Samuel’s reply: "I doubt it. I only care about impressing one person."

Zinnia smiled, warmth spreading through her as she read his words. She replied: "I’ll take your word for it, Mr. Number One Fan."

They continued messaging, the playful exchange bringing a lightness to Zinnia’s morning. She wasn’t used to this kind of banter with Samuel, but it felt good—easy, natural.

After a few moments, she realized something. She didn’t know if Samuel had a nickname. "Do you have a nickname?" she asked. "What do your friends call you?"

His reply came after a pause: "Not really. Most people just call me Samuel."

Zinnia was surprised. "No nickname? Not even Sam?"

"Nope," he responded. "But what about you? Do you have one?"

She thought for a moment. "Not really. Everyone just calls me Zinnia, except for my fans. They call me Zia_L."

There was another pause before Samuel replied: "Then I’ll call you Zia from now on."

Zinnia smiled at the thought. "Okay, but what should I call you then? Sam? Sammy? Sam-Sam?"

She could almost picture Samuel’s reaction as she read his reply: "You can call me whatever you want."

Zinnia giggled to herself. "Okay, Sam it is!"

The light-hearted conversation continued, lifting her spirits. For a while, it felt like there were no complications between them—just two people enjoying each other’s company.

---

Later that day, Samuel sat in his office, the playful banter of the morning feeling like a distant memory. Now, his focus was on the documents spread out before him, his mind consumed by what Timmy had revealed.

James. Alive. The thought echoed in his mind, growing heavier with each passing second.

"They knew," Samuel muttered under his breath. "They knew he was alive all this time."

His hands clenched into fists, his determination growing. He wouldn’t let them win. He wouldn’t let them destroy the future he was trying to build—with Zinnia by his side.

But first, he had to uncover the truth.