Steven leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but thoughtful. His gaze landed squarely on Samuel.
"But before we move forward," Steven said, his voice carrying weight, "I have one condition for you."
Samuel raised an eyebrow, his tone curious but cautious. "What is it, Dad?"
Steven clasped his hands together on the table, leaning forward slightly. "I want you to propose to Zinnia first."
The words hung in the air, unexpected and heavy. Samuel blinked, unsure if he had heard him correctly. "Huh? What do you mean, Dad? You just said earlier that—"
Steven raised a hand to stop him mid-sentence. His voice remained steady, but there was a subtle warmth in his tone. "Yes, there's no need for you to be married to get the 30% shares I own in the company. But still, I want you to propose to Zinnia before we announce your full takeover."
