For years, she had poured all her love, all her dreams, into Felix, believing he could give her the warmth of a real family.
But reality had been cruel.
She had wasted five years on him-five years that had taught her the hard way that Felix would never be the man she had hoped for.
No matter what, she would never go back to him.
If he dared to show up in her life again, she wouldn’t hesitate to put him in his place, just like today. And if words weren’t enough, she wouldn’t hold back from taking action.
Her threats hadn’t been just for show.
Just then, her phone rang, snapping her from her thoughts.
She glanced at the caller ID-Collin.
“Hello.” She answered, already making her way toward the mall exit. Collin’s voice was steady as he said, “It’s late. Why aren’t you home yet? Still caught up with work?”
Linsey adjusted her bag on her shoulder and answered softly, “I’m at the mall. Something came up and delayed me. I’m heading back now.” He didn’t press for details. Instead, he said, “Send me the mall’s address. I’ll send a car for you.”
Surprised by the offer, she instinctively replied, “That’s not necessary. I can just take the bus home.”
For a moment, there was silence on the other end. When Collin finally spoke, his tone was heavier.
“It’s dark. It’s not safe for you to be out alone.”
She glanced through the glass doors of the mall. The streets outside were dimly lit, shadows stretching across the pavement.
Realizing he had a point, she didn’t argue further. A small, involuntary smile tugged at her lips. “Okay.”
When she had first moved into Vista Villa, Collin had been distant-cold, almost indifferent. But now, he was showing concern for her.
Maybe things between them were beginning to change.
Not long after they ended the call, a message popped up on her phone. The car had arrived.
She stepped outside, heading toward the roadside parking area. Before she got close, a small crowd caught her attention. Several girls were huddled together, chatting excitedly.
“The window rolled down for a second, and I swear, the guy inside is ridiculously handsome!”
“Not just that-his whole aura is something else.”
“Am I the only one staring at the car? I looked it up, and even if I worked my whole life, I don’t think I could afford it…”
“There are so many rich people in Grester. I wonder who he is. I’ve never heard of him before.”
Linsey’s eyes drifted toward the sleek car they were admiring. It was the one Collin had sent. The license plate matched the one in his text.
Her heart skipped a beat. Was Collin here?
Linsey approached the car, aware of the curious gazes following her every step. She lightly tapped on the rear window.
The door swung open swiftly, revealing Collin’s figure.
“I saw him! I saw him again! He’s even more handsome up close!” Another excited whisper rose from behind her.
“That gorgeous woman and that stunning man-they have to be a couple, right? They look perfect together!”
“Forget their love story. I’m more jealous of their wealth.”
For once, Linsey found her sharp hearing to be a curse. The murmurs made her uneasy, so she quickly slipped into the car and shut the door, shutting herself away from the prying eyes and chatter.
Inside, she turned to Collin. The soft glow from the car’s interior light illuminated his face. A laptop rested on his lap, his fingers lightly tapping the keyboard as he remained immersed in his work, seemingly indifferent to the commotion outside.
“Drive,” Collin instructed.
“Yes, Mr. Riley,” the driver responded, and the car smoothly merged into the flow of traffic.
Linsey hesitated to speak, not wanting to interrupt him.
Yet, she couldn’t stop herself from watching him-his sharp features, his unwavering focus.
Collin had always been perceptive to people’s gazes, and naturally, he noticed her lingering stare.
If it had been anyone else, he would have ignored it and continued working.
But something about Linsey’s eyes felt different, as if her gaze carried an invisible hook, lightly tugging at something inside him, keeping him from concentrating. Unable to disregard it any longer, he finally turned to her.
“Why are you staring at me?”
She blinked in surprise, not expecting him to catch on so quickly. A bit flustered, she reasoned that as his wife, it wasn’t strange for her to look at him.
Holding onto that thought, she steadied herself and replied, “I was just curious. Why did you come yourself? I thought you were only sending the driver.”
Collin let out a short, cold chuckle, as if he found her words amusing. “What’s wrong? Am I not allowed to pick up my own wife?” His tone was distant, matching his usual aloofness.
Yet, beneath the indifference, Linsey caught a trace of something else-something that felt an awful lot like concern.
So, Collin was finally acknowledging her as his wife.
That realization brought an unexpected flicker of joy. Then she remembered the shopping bag in her hand and quickly added, “Oh, I got you something. Try it on when we get home and see if you like it.”
Collin’s gaze shifted to the bag she held, curiosity flickering in his eyes. So she hadn’t just been out to pass the time-she had gone to the mall specifically to buy something for him.
A small, barely-there smile tugged at his lips, though it vanished just as quickly.
“Alright. We’ll see when we get home,” he replied, keeping his tone deliberately casual.
Linsey’s eyes lit up. “Okay. Let’s go home.”
She was in high spirits, unaware that elsewhere, two people were in a completely different mood.
Felix and Joanna stood frozen outside the mall, still in disbelief. Just moments ago, they had watched Linsey climb into a luxury car and drive off.
Even now, with the car long gone, they remained rooted to the spot, stunned.
Linsey had gotten into another man’s car. Seriously?
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.