When Love is a Question Mark-Chapter 21: The news

Chapter 21: The news
As Samuel stepped out of his room, he saw Zinnia emerging from hers. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the air between them thickened with unspoken questions.
Samuel wanted to ask her about James. If she had loved someone else, why had she agreed to marry him? Though they were only engaged and not yet married, why had she stayed with him for the past three years, despite the mockery from his so-called friends?
Did he have the right to be angry about this sudden revelation? His emotions were tangled—he felt lost.
Zinnia hesitated, her eyes holding questions of their own. Samuel opened his mouth to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. He didn’t know what to say, how to confront her, or even how to face his own feelings.
He was drowning in confusion.
Zinnia broke the silence first. "Samuel, are you okay?"
Samuel nodded stiffly, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I’m fine," he said, his voice flat and cold.
Zinnia looked unconvinced but didn’t press further. "If you need to talk..."
"Thanks," Samuel cut in quickly. "But I’m fine."
He wasn’t fine. Not even close. But he couldn’t bring himself to admit it—not to Zinnia, not to anyone.
They both stood there, the silence heavy with all the things they weren’t saying. Finally, Samuel cleared his throat and took a step back. "I’ve got to go. There’s... something I need to take care of."
Zinnia nodded, her expression unreadable. "Okay. Take care."
As Samuel walked away, he could feel Zinnia’s eyes on his back, but he didn’t turn around. He couldn’t. Not until he had answers to the questions swirling in his mind. Not until he figured out what this all meant for him—and for them.
After Samuel left, Zinnia’s phone rang. Seeing her mom’s name on the screen, she answered the call.
"Mom," she said.
"Sweetie, are you okay? Come home right now," her mom urged, her voice filled with worry.
"Huh?" Zinnia was surprised by the urgency in her mom’s voice.
"Just come back here, okay?"
"Okay, Mom," Zinnia replied, puzzled.
"I’ll wait for you. Take care," her mom said before ending the call.
Zinnia felt uneasy as she drove back to her parents’ house. Her mom greeted her with a hug, and her dad patted her head.
"Sweetie, we’re here for you. Just stay here for now," her mom said, concern etched on her face.
"Mom, Dad, what’s going on? Why are you reacting like this?" Zinnia asked, her voice trembling.
Her mom looked at her, eyes glistening with tears. "You don’t have to hide it anymore. We already know about James."
Zinnia’s heart skipped a beat. "James? What do you mean?"
Her dad stepped forward, his voice gentle. "We’ve heard the news. James Lucas is back. We know how close you were to him."
Zinnia’s mind raced. "I—I didn’t know. I just found out now. Is he really back? Is he alive?"
Her mom nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. "The news said so... Whatever decision you make, we’ll support you. But wait! Alive? What do you mean?"
Zinnia felt overwhelmed. "Where did you guys hear the news?"
"It’s trending online right now. You can look it up on the internet," her dad said, showing her his phone screen with the news headline on it.
Zinnia stared at her father’s phone, shocked as she read the headline: "James Lucas, the true heir of Lucas Realty Group and Zinnia Lopez’s childhood sweetheart, returns." Her hands trembled as she scrolled through the article, seeing old photos of her and James from high school. They looked so happy back then, but now all she felt was confusion and fear.
"Is this real? Is James really alive?" Zinnia’s voice was barely a whisper, her eyes filling with tears.
But all the pictures were old. There were no recent photos of James. Was he really alive? She questioned again, doubt creeping inside her.
Her mother, Elena, gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "We don’t know, sweetie. But that’s what the news is saying." Elena, always elegant in her bright-colored dress, had the same soft brown eyes as Zinnia, eyes that now looked at her daughter with deep concern.
Her father, Ricardo, who stood beside her, nodded. "It’s all over the internet, Zinnia. We thought you should know." His voice was calm, but his usually polished demeanor couldn’t hide the worry in his brown eyes.
"Did Samuel know about this?" Zinnia asked, more to herself than to her parents. She thought back to the way Samuel had looked earlier—pale and distant. Was this why?
Elena gave her a worried look. "Is something wrong between you and Samuel? You don’t seem yourself."
Zinnia shook her head, trying to hold back her tears. "I don’t know, Mom. Earlier, I wanted to ask him about dinner with you and Dad, but... he seemed so off. I think he’s already seen the news."
Ricardo sighed softly, placing a reassuring hand on Zinnia’s back. "You need to talk to him, Zinnia. This isn’t something you can keep to yourself."
Elena nodded in agreement. "We’re here for you, whatever you decide. But you need to be honest with Samuel—and with yourself."
Zinnia felt overwhelmed. "What if he asks me about James? What if he’s angry?"
Ricardo looked at his daughter with a steady gaze. "Then you tell him the truth. He deserves to know how you’re feeling."
Zinnia’s voice wavered. "What if this changes everything? What if Samuel doesn’t want to stay with me?"
Elena pulled Zinnia into a warm hug. "Sweetie, whatever happens, we’re here for you. This is a lot to deal with, but you’re strong. You’ll get through it."
Ricardo added, his tone gentle, "Remember, you’re not alone in this. We’re right here with you."
Zinnia nodded, trying to take comfort in their words. "Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad. I’ll talk to Samuel... I just don’t know what’s going to happen."
Elena smiled softly, her usual warmth shining through. "Just take it one step at a time, Zinnia. You don’t have to figure everything out today."
Ricardo gave her an encouraging nod. "And remember, we’re always here if you need us."
Zinnia smiled weakly, feeling a bit more grounded by their support. But as she drove back to the place she shared with Samuel, the weight of the situation settled heavily on her again. She had to talk to Samuel, had to be honest with him. But the fear of what might happen was overwhelming.
When she thought about James, her heart ached with memories of their past. But now those feelings were tangled with guilt—guilt for Samuel and for what might happen next. Did she still love James? What did that mean for her relationship with Samuel?
As she parked outside their home, her heart pounded. She knew she couldn’t avoid this conversation, but the uncertainty was almost paralyzing. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself of her parents’ support. She needed to be strong, to face this head-on, no matter how much it scared her.
Only then could she figure out what the future held—for her, for Samuel, and for the lingering memory of James.