When Love is a Question Mark-Chapter 232: Afternoon Walk

By the end of the meal, Samuel leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Alright," he said, addressing Timmy and Lily. "Enjoy your afternoon, you two. But remember—you’re both still responsible for making sure this wedding goes off without a hitch." His tone was teasing but carried a note of sincerity.

Timmy nodded quickly, his usual confidence still absent. "Of course. No distractions," he said, though his tone made everyone at the table chuckle.

As they prepared to leave, Zinnia placed a hand on Samuel’s arm, her voice soft as she whispered, "You really are enjoying this, aren’t you?"

He grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Maybe a little too much," he admitted. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

She shook her head, her smile lingering. "I’ll let it slide—for now."

As Zinnia and Samuel stood to leave, Samuel adjusted his jacket and offered his hand to Zinnia. She took it, her fingers sliding naturally into his as they turned toward the door.

"We’ll leave you two to enjoy the rest of your afternoon," Samuel said, glancing back at Timmy and Lily with a knowing smirk. "But remember, you’re both on duty to make sure this wedding is perfect."

Timmy gave a nervous chuckle, nodding quickly. "Of course. We’re on it," he said, though his tone drew a soft laugh from Zinnia.

Lily waved them off with her usual cheer. "Have fun at the shoot! We’ll hold down the fort here."

As Samuel opened the door for Zinnia, she leaned closer to him, her voice low but teasing. "You’re having way too much fun with this, aren’t you?"

He grinned down at her, his eyes warm. "Can you blame me? I never thought teasing Timmy could be this fun. No wonder he loved teasing me before."

She shook her head, smiling despite herself. "Just don’t overdo it."

With that, the two stepped out, leaving Timmy and Lily behind in the cozy glow of the restaurant.

Timmy fidgeted slightly, glancing toward Lily, who had propped her chin in her hand and was watching him with a curious, almost amused expression.

"So," she began, breaking the silence, "where do you plan to spend your time off? And don’t tell me you’re just heading home to review spreadsheets."

Timmy blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uh... no, not spreadsheets," he said with a nervous laugh. "I was thinking of taking a walk, maybe. There’s a park nearby I want to visit."

Lily tilted her head, studying him with an intrigued smile. "A park, huh? That’s... unexpected."

"Why’s that?" Timmy asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"I don’t know," Lily replied, her tone teasing. "You just seem like the type who’d spend his free time reading business articles or checking emails."

Timmy chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I guess I like surprising people."

Lily leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "Mind if I tag along? I’m curious to see what kind of park you enjoy."

Timmy hesitated, his usual composed demeanor faltering. "You want to come with me?" Deep down, he hoped she would tag along, but he was worried she might find the park boring.

"Why not?" Lily said with a shrug. "I’ve got nothing better to do, and I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better."

Timmy’s lips curved into a small smile. "Alright," he said after a moment. "I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have some company." Deep down, though, he was overjoyed at the thought of spending time alone with her.

"Great!" Lily said, standing and grabbing her bag. "Lead the way, Mr. Park Enthusiast."

Timmy laughed softly as he stood, shaking his head. "You’re really something, you know that?"

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Lily said with a grin, falling into step beside him as they left the restaurant.

The park wasn’t far, and the walk there was filled with light conversation. Lily pointed out interesting sights along the way, her lively energy drawing Timmy out of his usual reserved shell.

When they reached the park, Timmy led her to a quiet path lined with trees. The sound of leaves rustling in the breeze and birds chirping created a serene backdrop.

"This is nice," Lily said, looking around. "I can see why you like it here."

Timmy nodded, his expression softening. "It’s peaceful. Helps me think." Inside, he thought this was the perfect place to spend time with her. It was quiet, with only a few people around, and in a crowded place, Lily’s beauty would surely draw too much attention. Here, he could enjoy her company without distractions.

Lily glanced at him, her smile growing thoughtful. "You know, I think this is the first time we’ve spent time together outside the country. It feels... different."

"Good different or bad different?" Timmy asked, his tone light.

"Good different," Lily replied without hesitation. "You’re a lot more relaxed than I expected. I like it."

Timmy looked at her, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. "You’re not what I expected, either," he admitted. "You’re... easy to talk to."

Lily laughed, nudging him playfully. "Don’t sound so surprised! I’m a delight, Timmy."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, you kind of are."

They walked in comfortable silence for a while before Lily spoke again. "So, what’s something you’ve never told anyone at work?"

Timmy raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want to know?"

"Curiosity," Lily said with a shrug. "Come on, spill. It’s only fair since I’m spending my free time with you."

Timmy thought for a moment, then smiled. "Alright. I used to play the guitar when I was younger. I even considered going to music school."

Lily’s eyes widened in surprise. "Really? I never would’ve guessed. Do you still play?"

"Not as much as I’d like to," Timmy admitted. "Work keeps me busy."

"Well," Lily said with a mischievous grin, "you’ll have to play for me sometime. No excuses."

Timmy laughed, the tension he usually carried in his shoulders easing as he walked beside her.

---

Samuel and Zinnia arrived at the outdoor venue for their prenup photos. The location was breathtaking: a sprawling garden filled with vibrant flowers, cascading fountains, and an elegant gazebo draped with white chiffon.

The photographer and the crew were already bustling about, setting up equipment and adjusting the lighting to perfection.