Zinnia dipped her brush into a palette of soft yellows and oranges, starting with the sun in the corner of the canvas. Each stroke was deliberate, bringing warmth and light to the scene. Her focus was unwavering, but she occasionally glanced at the screen, catching the comments pouring in.
"I'm starting with the sun because it represents brightness and life," Zinnia explained, her voice calm and steady.
Her brush moved with careful strokes, bringing the sun to life with soft yellows and oranges. She glanced at the screen, noticing the growing excitement.
"Sunflowers are a great idea," Zinnia said, mixing a vibrant yellow. "They'll go perfectly with the sun."
As she painted tall sunflowers, the chat lit up with excitement.
"Those sunflowers are gorgeous, just like you!"
"We love you, Goddess Zia!"
The screen filled with messages of love and admiration. Timmy noticed the shift and glanced at Samuel, expecting him to join in. But Samuel just smiled softly, his eyes filled with a mix of pride and something deeper.
"She's amazing," Samuel murmured, almost to himself. "No man deserves her, not even me."
His voice was low, tinged with sadness. Timmy felt a pang of sympathy, understanding the weight of Samuel's unspoken feelings. He wished Samuel could be honest with Zinnia instead of hiding behind his cold exterior.
Zinnia continued painting, unaware of the turmoil in Samuel's mind. She added a small grasshopper to the garden, her brush moving with gentle precision.
"Here's our tiny grasshopper," Zinnia said with a light laugh. "I hope it doesn't eat the flowers!"
Her laughter filled the room, making the fans even more enthusiastic. The screen was now filled with hearts and comments of admiration.
As she began adding the flowers—roses, lilies, peonies, and cherry blossoms—Zinnia focused on bringing the garden to life.
"This one's special," she said softly, dipping her brush into bright pink and red. "The zinnia flowers will go right here, in the heart of the garden. They're strong and resilient, just like all of you."
Her brush moved with precision, creating a cluster of vibrant zinnia flowers. The fans erupted in praise, filling the chat with love.
"We love you, Goddess Zia!"
"You're amazing, Zia!"
Timmy watched the flood of comments, his eyes darting to Samuel. But Samuel remained still, his fingers resting on the keyboard. The smile on his face was bittersweet, reflecting the emotions he kept hidden.
With a heavy sigh, Samuel turned away from the screen, unable to join in. Timmy could only sigh too, feeling a deep sense of empathy. He wished he could help bridge the gap between Samuel and Zinnia, but he knew it wasn't his place.
The livestream continued, with Zinnia painting and chatting with her fans, her focus entirely on the art and the connection she shared with her followers. In that moment, it seemed like nothing else mattered—except for the beautiful garden coming to life on her canvas.
Zinnia was finishing up the final touches on the garden, her brush adding delicate details to the zinnia flowers. The fans were still pouring in love and admiration.
"Your painting is so beautiful, Goddess Zia!"
"We're so lucky to have you!"
Zinnia smiled warmly at the comments. "Thank you, my Little Flowers. You all inspire me every day."
As she took a step back to admire her work, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to the camera with a playful grin.
"And of course, a special shoutout to our Mr. Sunshine! You bring so much light and warmth to this fan club, just like the sun in this painting."
Samuel's eyes lit up at her words, his earlier melancholy vanishing in an instant. His face broke into a wide smile, brighter than Timmy had ever seen.
"She mentioned me again!" Samuel couldn't help but beam, his mood instantly lifted.
Timmy chuckled softly, seeing his boss so genuinely happy. The change was like night and day. "Yes, Sir. She sure did."
Zinnia gave a little wave to the camera. "I couldn't have done this without all of you. Thank you for your constant support. I hope this garden brings you as much joy as you bring me."
With one final flourish, she signed her name at the bottom of the canvas and blew a kiss to the camera.
"Until next time, my Little Flowers. Stay bright, stay beautiful."
As soon as the livestream ended, and Zinnia mentioned Mr. Sunshine, Samuel's expression lit up. But the moment it was over, his face turned cold again. He glanced at Timmy, his voice firm. "Let's go. The clients are still waiting, right?"
Timmy blinked, trying to adjust to the sudden shift. "Yes, sir, they're still in the boardroom," he replied, quickly straightening up.
"Okay, let's go," Samuel said, already moving toward the door without another word.
Timmy followed, his mind still processing how quickly Samuel could flip the switch between emotions. It was almost like watching two different people.
---
The next day, Samuel woke up to the relentless beeping of his phone. He groaned, rolling over in bed, hoping the noise would stop. But the beeping only grew louder, dragging him out of his half-asleep state. Annoyed and still groggy, he reached for his phone, squinting at the bright screen as his eyes struggled to adjust.
The group chat was blowing up with new messages. His heart sank as he opened the chat, already dreading what he might see. His worst fears were confirmed as he began reading through the messages.
"Wow, Samuel, I didn't know you were such a loser!" one of the first messages read, making his stomach churn.
"Thought it was Zinnia who was obsessed, but turns out it's you who's the pitiful one!" another joked, the words hitting him like a punch to the gut.
"Samuel, look at you now—just a placeholder for the real guy," someone else chimed in, the mockery stinging.
"The true heir is coming back," one message taunted. "James Lucas—he's the real deal. And he looks just like you!"