When Love is a Question Mark-Chapter 264: Back Home

The airplane landed with a soft thud, and Zinnia felt her heart quicken as the wheels touched the ground. She clutched her bag tightly, her thoughts swirling.

After weeks of being away, all she could think about was getting home—and seeing Samuel. She had waited so long to return, imagining their reunion, but a small voice in her head reminded her not to expect too much.

As soon as the plane taxied to a stop, Zinnia was one of the first to get up. She grabbed her carry-on, her steps hurried as she made her way through the terminal. The moment she stepped outside, the familiar air of her home country filled her lungs. It was comforting, yet something felt missing.

A taxi ride later, Zinnia stood in front of the house she and Samuel shared. Her hands trembled slightly as she fumbled for her keys. She unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping inside. The house was quiet—eerily quiet. The kind of quiet that made her chest tighten.

"Sam?" she called out, her voice echoing slightly in the empty space. "Sam, are you home?"

There was no response. Her footsteps sounded louder as she walked further inside, the silence pressing down on her. She glanced around the living room. Everything was neat, almost too neat, as if no one had been there for days. Her heart sank, but she tried to shake the feeling off.

Maybe he’s upstairs, she thought. She picked up her luggage and carried it to her room first. Dropping it by the door, she paused to collect herself before heading toward Samuel’s room.

Her steps were cautious as she approached his door. She knocked softly at first, then louder. "Sam? Are you in there?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope.

Still no answer.

Biting her lip, she hesitated before turning the doorknob. The door creaked open, revealing a room that looked untouched. The bed was perfectly made, the surfaces dust-free, and everything was in its proper place. It was as if no one had lived there for weeks. The sight made her stomach twist.

Zinnia stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of Samuel. But there was nothing—no clothes lying around, no personal items out of place. The emptiness hit her harder than she expected.

She stood there for a moment, her mind racing. Did Sam not go home here? she wondered, her chest tightening. She remembered the call she had received from him just a few days ago. His voice had been calm, reassuring. He had told her to focus on her father’s recovery and not to worry about him.

But now... it didn’t add up. If he wasn’t staying here, where was he?

"Where are you, Sam?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. She sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands gripping the edge tightly. Her thoughts swirled. Why didn’t he tell me he wasn’t staying here? She felt a pang of guilt. Had she been too focused on her father to notice that something was wrong?

Her mind went to all the possibilities. Was he staying at the office? With a friend? Or... had he chosen to stay away from her? The thought stung, and she quickly pushed it aside.

Zinnia stood up, pacing the room. She needed answers, but she didn’t know where to start. She grabbed her phone from her pocket and stared at it for a moment. Should she call him? Or would that make things worse?

Taking a deep breath, she dialed his number. The phone rang once, twice, and then went straight to voicemail. Her heart sank further.

"Sam," she said softly, her voice shaky as she left a message. "I just got home, and... you’re not here. I just... I want to know where you are. Please call me when you get this."

The uncertainty gnawed at Zinnia as she paced the quiet house. She couldn’t sit still. Samuel wasn’t home, and his phone went straight to voicemail. There had to be a reason. Samuel had always been dedicated to his work—maybe he’s at Lucas Realty Group, she thought, grasping at the possibility.

Grabbing her bag and keys, she hurried out of the house and into her car. The drive to the Lucas Realty Group main office felt longer than usual. Her mind raced with questions and uneasy thoughts. The company was Samuel’s life—if he wasn’t at home, surely he had to be there.

When she finally pulled up in front of the building, her heart sank. The towering glass structure that had always been a symbol of power and prestige was eerily quiet. There were no cars in the lot, no bustling employees rushing in and out. And then she saw it: a large notice posted on the front gate.

"Closed for operations until further notice."

Zinnia froze, staring at the sign in disbelief. The words didn’t make sense. Closed for operations? Her mind reeled. How could this have happened? She stepped closer, gripping the cold metal gate as she read the notice again, hoping she had misunderstood.

"This can’t be right," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible over the sound of passing cars. "How come I didn’t see any news about this? Lucas Realty Group... closed? No. I didn’t expect this. I never expected this."

Her pulse quickened as the weight of the situation began to settle in. She pulled out her phone, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through news apps and social media. There was nothing. No headlines, no announcements. It was as if the closure had happened in complete secrecy.

Zinnia dialed Samuel’s number again, her heart pounding as the phone rang once, twice, and then—voicemail. She groaned in frustration. "Sam, where are you?" she whispered under her breath. Her throat tightened as she tried to keep her emotions in check.

Desperate for answers, she tried Timmy’s number next. The line rang, but like Samuel’s, it went unanswered. "Not you too, Timmy," she muttered, her frustration mounting. She redialed his number, but it was the same outcome.