Chapter 193: Just You!
"I’ve been so unfair to you, Sam," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper now. "But I promise, from now on, it’ll be just you. Just you and . I’m done with living in the past. I want to move on, truly move on from Jas. I want to love you—you, Sam. The man you are. Not soone I’m holding on to because of soone else’s face. I want you to give
a chance. A real chance to love you, just as you are. No more pretending, no more comparisons."
Her eyes locked onto his, searching for any sign that he was truly listening, that he could forgive her. "I’ve made up my mind," she said, her voice steadier now, filled with resolve. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you—just you. As the Samuel—the Sam—I know."
Samuel sat there for a long ti, not saying a word. His mind raced, processing everything she had just told him. He didn’t know if he could ever fully understand how deep her struggle had been, but he did know one thing: She was being honest with him now. She was choosing him.
He inhaled sharply, his chest tight with emotion. Slowly, he reached out and cupped her cheek with his hand. "Zinnia," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You don’t have to apologize. I know how hard this has been for you, and I can’t say I’m perfect either. But if you can love —just as I am—then I’ll fight for us, too. I’ll be here, and I’ll do my best to be the man you deserve."
His thumb gently brushed against her skin, his eyes filled with sincerity. "No more regrets, no more pretending. I’m here for you, Zia. Just you."
Tears welled up in Zinnia’s eyes, but this ti, they weren’t of guilt or regret. They were of relief, of gratitude. She leaned into his touch, her own hand coming to rest over his. The quiet mont between them felt like everything had shifted. Like they were finally both ready to face whatever ca next.
They held each other’s gaze for a long while, their hands still intertwined. It felt like ti had stopped, leaving them in a bubble of shared understanding, of forgiveness, and of a new beginning.
But then, at the sa ti, their stomachs growled in unison. The sound echoed in the room, breaking the silence and causing them both to laugh.
Samuel chuckled softly, his eyes brightening with amusent. "I guess we’ve been too caught up in our conversation," he said with a small smile. "I should hurry and prepare dinner."
Zinnia smiled, her heart lighter than it had been in a long ti. "Let
help," she offered, eager to keep the mont of connection alive.
Samuel shook his head with a grin. "No, I’ve got it covered. You’ve done enough today. Let
take care of dinner."
Zinnia arched an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Are you sure? I could at least chop so vegetables or set the table."
Samuel chuckled again, shaking his head. "No, I can handle it. Besides, you deserve a break after everything you’ve been through today."
She smiled warmly, her eyes filled with affection. "Well, I’ll keep you company then," she said, leaning back in her chair. "But if you need anything, just ask."
Samuel leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before standing up to start preparing their al. The simple gesture sent warmth through her chest. It was monts like these—quiet, intimate ones—that made her realize just how much she liked being close to him. How much she needed him.
She watched him move around the kitchen with ease, the sa comforting precision she had grown so familiar with. As he began to cook, Zinnia felt a wave of peace wash over her. They were still finding their way back to each other, but in this mont, things felt right. Things felt like they could be okay.
"I’ll be here, Sam," she whispered to herself, knowing that this was just the beginning of their new Chapter. "I’ll be here for you, always."
Samuel moved about the kitchen with practiced ease, his hands steady as he reached for the ingredients. The rhythmic sound of slicing filled the air, blending with the gentle sizzle of the stovetop.
Zinnia sat at the table, her chin resting on her hand, watching him with a mix of amusent and curiosity. She knew he was skilled in the kitchen, but the sight of him preparing sothing simple yet thoughtful for her still ward her heart.
"You’re really set on doing this alone, aren’t you?" she teased lightly.
He glanced over his shoulder with a small smile. "It’s not every day I get to cook for you without you trying to take over."
Zinnia chuckled. "That’s because I’m usually the one who cooks."
Samuel smirked as he sprinkled so spices over the frying pan. "You should let
handle that job now."
She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Fine. But I’m starving, so please tell
we’re not waiting forever for dinner."
He glanced at her with a mock-serious expression. "Do you trust
to feed you or not?"
"Depends. What are you making?"
He turned back to the counter, his hands busy assembling a quick flatbread wrap. "Sothing simple—flatbread with sautéed mushrooms, lted cheese, and a quick salad on the side. Hungry enough for that?"
Her stomach growled in response, loud enough to make him pause and raise an eyebrow. "I’ll take that as a yes," he said, amused.
"Fine, fine. I trust you," she relented with a laugh. "But don’t keep
waiting too long."
The scent of warm, toasted flatbread filled the kitchen as Samuel layered a mix of mushrooms and onions, cooked down with garlic and a hint of balsamic vinegar, onto the bread. He topped it with shredded mozzarella, folded it over, and pressed it lightly onto the hot pan to crisp up.
Zinnia leaned forward, watching him work. "You’re seriously showing off now."
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