Chapter 231: Bridging the Gap

The question caught Samuel completely off guard. His eyes widened, and his usual composed demeanor faltered for a moment. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out immediately. Instead, he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply.

"Yes," he finally admitted, his voice firm yet laced with nervousness. "I am Mr. Sunshine."

Zinnia’s breath hitched at the confirmation. She had suspected it, but hearing it directly from him was still a shock.

"I’m sorry," Samuel continued, his voice filled with guilt. "I should’ve told you sooner. To be honest, I think I’ve liked you since our blind date. But I didn’t know how to confront my feelings. I was so scared of messing things up... and I ended up hurting you instead."

He looked down, his usual confidence replaced with genuine regret. "I thought being Mr. Sunshine would let me support you without complicating things, but honestly, it was because I was too scared to confront my own emotions. I’m so sorry, Zia—for everything. For keeping that from you and for all the times I pushed you away."

Zinnia stood still, processing his words. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the vulnerability he rarely showed. Without a word, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest.

Samuel stiffened for a moment, surprised by the gesture, but then he relaxed, his arms encircling her gently.

"Let’s be honest with each other from now on," Zinnia said softly, her voice muffled against his chest.

Samuel’s throat tightened, and he nodded, his voice steady despite the emotions swirling within him. "Yes," he said, his arms tightening around her. "No more secrets. I promise."

They stood there for a while, wrapped in each other’s embrace, the world around them fading into the background.

Samuel leaned back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. "Thank you," he said softly, his voice filled with gratitude.

Zinnia smiled up at him, her fingers lightly brushing his sleeve. "For what?"

"For giving me a second chance," he replied.

"You better make the most of it," she teased, her tone light but filled with affection.

Samuel chuckled, the weight on his chest lifting. "I will," he promised, his voice earnest.

As they walked to the car hand in hand, there was an unspoken understanding between them. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but they were finally facing it together, with no more walls or secrets between them.

Inside the car, Samuel glanced at Zinnia, his hand still holding hers. "You know," he said, a small smile playing on his lips, "I always thought Mr. Sunshine was the best way I could show you how much I care. But now I realize I want to be the person who stands beside you, not just someone who hides behind a screen."

Zinnia’s heart softened at his words. "You already are," she said quietly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

---

When they arrived at the restaurant, Lily and Timmy were already seated at a table by the window.

Lily spotted them first. Her face lit up, and she waved enthusiastically, her arm moving in wide, cheerful arcs. "Over here!" she called out, her voice carrying over the soft hum of conversation in the room.

Timmy glanced up from his menu and gave a small, awkward wave, his usual calm demeanor momentarily disrupted. He shifted in his seat, clearly more self-conscious than Lily about drawing attention.

As they made their way to the table, Zinnia and Samuel exchanged a quick glance, a shared understanding passing between them. Everything was starting to fall into place—the wedding plans, their own relationship, and even the budding connection between Timmy and Lily.

"Hey, you two," Zinnia greeted as they reached the table. "Sorry if we kept you waiting."

"Not at all!" Lily replied brightly, motioning toward the empty seats. "We just got here a few minutes ago. Sit down! Timmy was trying to convince me to order for everyone, but I told him we should wait."

Timmy cleared his throat, looking slightly flustered. "I just thought it’d save time," he muttered, avoiding Lily’s teasing gaze.

Samuel smirked as he pulled out a chair for Zinnia. "Well, we’re here now. So, what looks good?"

Lily leaned forward, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "Everything! But I think we should start with appetizers. They have this amazing bruschetta—I promise, you’ll love it."

As the conversation flowed, Zinnia couldn’t help but notice the subtle way Timmy glanced at Lily when he thought no one was watching. It was clear something was blooming between them, and it brought a quiet joy to her heart.

As they ate, Samuel leaned back slightly in his chair, glancing over at Timmy and Lily with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"Well," Samuel said, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, "It looks like you two have a great afternoon ahead." His teasing tone was unmistakable. "Zinnia and I will be busy with our photos, so I guess that leaves you with plenty of time to... relax."

Timmy shifted in his seat, his face turning an even deeper shade of red. "Relax, yeah," he muttered, avoiding eye contact.

Lily, on the other hand, met Samuel’s gaze with a confident smile. "Don’t worry, we’ll make the most of our free time. And we’ll be ready to handle whatever you throw at us for the wedding," she quipped, shooting a quick glance at Timmy, who was now fidgeting with a tissue.

Zinnia stifled a laugh, nudging Samuel under the table. "You’re terrible," she whispered, her eyes dancing with mirth.

Samuel shrugged, his smirk widening. "It’s harmless fun," he replied, his voice low enough for only her to hear.

As lunch progressed, the conversation shifted to wedding details and upcoming plans. However, Samuel couldn’t help but notice the subtle glances exchanged between Timmy and Lily. It was clear they were both looking forward to their own plans for the afternoon, and Samuel found himself silently rooting for them.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read