Before the butler could respond, Linsey stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she blinked groggily, still lost in the haze of sleep. When her blurry vision cleared and landed on Collin, she paused, confused for a moment, still processing the situation.
Collin’s breath hitched unexpectedly, his heart skipping a beat as he caught sight of her. Her innocent, sleepy expression made her look almost… endearing.
For a brief moment, he was caught off guard by the softness of his own thoughts, a surprising warmth spreading through him.
As if to snap him out of his daze, Linsey fully awakened, her face lighting up as she threw the blanket off her, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Collin, you’re finally back! I have something so important to share with you!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with anticipation.
Collin’s mind immediately raced back to the reports his subordinates had shared over the past few days.
He knew Linsey had been busy, but he had no clue what she was up to. His thoughts darkened as he considered the possibility that she was about to announce her departure.
The butler had said she made dinner. Maybe it was her final gesture of care-something to soften the blow of her leaving.
Collin’s lips curled into an inward sneer.
She was really deluding herself.
He didn’t need her concern. It was completely unnecessary.
If she wanted to leave, the sooner, the better.
With a cold, unreadable expression, he asked, his voice flat,
“What important thing?”
Linsey rose from her seat but didn’t answer right away. Instead, she looked at him with a gentle smile and said,
“It’s getting late. Let’s eat first. You’ve been working nonstop; you must be starving.”
Collin opened his mouth to refuse, but as his gaze met Linsey’s bright, hopeful eyes, his words faltered.
He exhaled sharply, steeling himself for this to be the last time he indulged her.
“Alright.”
He washed his hands quickly and followed Linsey to the dining table, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in the sight before him-an elegant spread of dishes, flickering candlelight casting soft shadows, wine glasses glimmering, and roses scattered artfully across the table. Linsey flashed him a bright smile, gesturing for him to sit. Then, she took a lighter and lit the candles with a flourish.
“So?” she asked, her voice playful. “How’s my candlelit dinner? Up to standard?”
Collin stood frozen for a moment, caught off guard by the effort she had put in.
His lips pressed into a thin line, and with an air of stiffness, he asked,
“Why prepare a candlelit dinner?”
“It’s romantic,” Linsey replied matter-of-factly, her eyes gleaming with sincerity. “We’re married. Isn’t it normal to add a bit of romance every now and then, to spice things up?”
The soft glow of the candlelight danced over her face, making her look even more captivating, her smile full of life and charm.
In the quiet of the moment, Collin felt a flicker in his chest, his heart skipping an unexpected beat.
He clenched his fists, his emotions warring inside him, then abruptly reached for the wine and drained his glass in one swift motion.
Linsey blinked, momentarily stunned by his sudden action.
“You haven’t eaten yet. Please, have some food first.”
With a soft laugh, she placed food carefully onto his plate.
“I know you prefer lighter flavors, so I made some dishes I thought you’d enjoy. Let me know if they suit your taste.” Her excitement was palpable as she eagerly watched him take his first bite.
“How is it?” she asked, her voice tinged with hope.
Collin glanced at her and muttered,
“Not bad.”
Linsey’s heart fluttered with excitement. For someone like Collin, she felt that receiving such a compliment was already a victory.
She watched him take a few more bites before she finally spoke up, her voice soft yet full of anticipation.
“Oh, I got some good news.”
Collin’s fork paused midair, his chewing slowing down as his attention shifted toward her.
Linsey took a deep breath and continued,
“I found a job. I passed the interview today, and I’ll be starting tomorrow. The salary’s decent, and I can finally help ease some of your burden, so you won’t have to carry everything on your shoulders.”
For a brief moment, surprise flickered across Collin’s face.
It never crossed Collin’s mind that the immense debt he had casually fabricated would weigh so heavily on Linsey.
What struck him even more was how genuinely determined she seemed to face it with him.
He fixed his gaze on Linsey, sitting across from him, trying to look past her cheerful smile, searching for any trace of uncertainty beneath the surface.
Perhaps it was all just a front.
How could there possibly be a woman so selfless, willing to help him without expecting anything in return? In the soft glow of the dim lighting, Linsey remained blissfully unaware of the shift in his expression.
Her spirits were high from the success of her new job at CR Corporation, and she was too excited to notice his internal conflict.
She reached for the red wine on the table, matching Collin’s earlier move, and downed it in one swift motion.
But unlike Collin, who remained composed, she immediately broke into a cough, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as her face turned a shade of pink.
“Why is this wine so strong?” She stuck her tongue out, making a playful face.
“You can’t handle your drink?” Collin asked, his gaze cool as he observed her discomfort.
Linsey shrugged lightly, her laughter escaping in a small, embarrassed breath.
“I don’t usually drink, but tonight’s different. We’re celebrating, right?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.