So now, faced with this extravagant gift, she was completely thrown off balance.
Collin’s anticipation shattered at her reaction, and his expression darkened. “You’re my wife. Buying you something nice-is that really so unacceptable?”
Linsey looked torn, frustration tightening her grip on the box. “Collin, we’re drowning in debt, and you’re spending money on a gemstone necklace?”
She exhaled sharply. “Besides, even if I keep it, when would I ever wear something like this? Am I supposed to show up at work with a giant gemstone around my neck? It’s way too flashy.”
Her voice softened, but the concern in her eyes remained. “If I take it, it’ll just sit in a drawer collecting dust. Why don’t you return it? You should be saving money to pay off the debt.”
For a moment, Collin was at a loss for words. He hadn’t expected Linsey to still be so fixated on his so-called debt, especially now. He didn’t know whether to be touched by her concern or let out a bitter laugh.
But since he was the one who had spun this lie, he had no choice but to keep it believable.
“I have a way to handle the debt. You don’t need to worry about it,” he reassured her.
Linsey let out a quiet sigh and spoke gently. “Collin, don’t be like this. I know you mean well, and I appreciate it. Once the debt is paid off, you can buy me something like this. I’d be happy to accept it then.” Her expression grew resolute. “But right now, I just can’t. I have to think about us-and our future.”
A dull ache settled in Collin’s head. For the first time in years, he truly understood what it meant to shoot himself in the foot. His voice tensed. “You really don’t want it?”
“That’s right! I mean it. I really don’t want it! Just take it back to wherever you bought it.” Linsey folded her arms. “You should still be able to return it.”
Collin didn’t answer. A few seconds passed in silence before, without a word, he tossed the box into the nearby trash can, his face unreadable.
“Hey! What are you doing?” Linsey gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief.
He met her stunned gaze, his voice calm but unwavering. “If you don’t want this necklace, then it’s nothing but trash. I’m not returning it.”
A jolt of panic shot through her. She quickly retrieved the box from the bin, relieved to see it had only landed on discarded documents and wasn’t ruined.
“Collin, you-” She stopped herself before blurting out the words circling her mind. He was being ridiculous.
She swallowed back her frustration and tried again. “This necklace is expensive! How could you just throw it away?”
Collin’s expression didn’t waver. “If it’s something you don’t like, then it’s worthless. No different from garbage.”
Linsey clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to flick his forehead just to see if he was thinking straight. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stay calm.
She couldn’t scold him; he had put in the effort to pick out a gift for her, and she had rejected it outright.
If their roles were reversed, she would probably feel hurt, too. After a moment of contemplation, she finally relented. “Collin, since this necklace is a gift from you… shouldn’t you help me put it on?”
Collin gazed at the warmth in Linsey’s tender smile, and an unexpected stir tugged at his heartstrings. For reasons beyond his grasp, a flicker of unease danced through him at that moment.
Nothing ever seemed to faze him; he remained indifferent to everything and everyone. Life had always been peaceful and predictable for him, stretching back to the earliest days. Yet, Linsey’s presence was like a burst of sunlight, illuminating his gray, monochrome existence.
“Sure, let me help you with that,” he responded, his voice softening-a rare deviation from his usual frosty tone. He fought to quell the unfamiliar flutter within him as he spoke.
Linsey’s smile widened, and she gracefully handed him the necklace box before turning and lowering herself in front of him. Collin had been looking up at her from his seated position in the wheelchair since she entered the room. Now, at eye level, he could see the delicate swirl of hair at her crown and the way her lustrous locks cascaded gracefully down her back.
His breath caught in a silent gasp. His eyes traced the line of her spine, veiled by her flowing hair, before he reluctantly set the box down on the desk with a soft click. Unseen by Linsey, the slight sound caused her eyelashes to flutter, a subtle testament to the quiet tension between them.
The next thing she knew, the dazzling gemstone necklace was right before her. The radiant jewel rested elegantly against her collarbone, its brilliance enchanting as it caught the light.
Collin’s large, skilled hands cradled the ends of the necklace, his movements precise as he secured it behind her neck. Even with her hair acting as a soft barrier, Linsey could feel the comforting warmth of his palms against her skin.
As the clasp clicked securely into place, the weight of the necklace settled gently, almost caressingly, around her neck.
Instinctively, she tilted her head forward slightly, a faint itch tickling her skin-uncertain if it was the sudden adornment at her neck or Collin’s close proximity causing the sensation.
With the necklace in place, Linsey thought that was the end of it and prepared to stand. But before she could move, she felt her hair being gathered up with a gentle, deliberate touch. Collin leaned in closer, his presence cool and commanding, enveloping her in an unspoken promise of care.
Her heart fluttered, skipping a beat. It wasn’t until he meticulously lifted her hair from beneath the necklace and draped it over her shoulders that she was jolted back to reality. Flustered, Linsey quickly reached up to adjust her hair, her movements betraying her inner turmoil.
“Thank you,” she murmured, her breath hitching slightly as she attempted to get up. Yet, in that very moment, her legs betrayed her, growing numb and buckling beneath her weight. She teetered precariously on the edge of a fall.
He was quick to react, his reflexes sharp. Stretching out his arms, he caught her just in time, pulling her close into the safety of his embrace. Linsey’s eyes widened in shock, a soft gasp escaping her lips as she found herself suddenly pressed against him, her knee awkwardly hitting the wheelchair.
Thankfully, Collin’s wheelchair was exceptionally designed, its seat cushioned and forgiving. Had it been otherwise, her knee would have surely suffered a bruise. But such concerns vanished as quickly as they came, her attention entirely consumed by the man who held her.
Up close, Linsey could see the subtle blush staining the skin behind Collin’s ears, a stark contrast to his usual composure. His hold on her was both firm and protective, a surprising gentleness in his strength.
She found herself caught in his gaze, clear and penetrating, as a wave of warmth rushed over her. Despite the turmoil within, Collin managed to maintain a semblance of calm. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, loud enough to muffle his thoughts.
With effort, he tore his gaze away from hers, it drifting to the necklace that now lay against her chest. It adorned her perfectly, as if it were crafted solely for her.
The necklace, opulent and meant for the grandest of occasions, seemed to find its true home against Linsey’s modest attire. It complemented her radiant face and the unguarded purity in her gaze, enhancing her natural charm in a way that seemed almost destined. Indeed, no one else could carry the essence of that necklace quite like Linsey.
“It’s beautiful. And it’s perfect for you,” Collin murmured.
His voice was steady, devoid of any dramatic inflection, yet laced with an unmistakable sincerity.
A flush crept up Linsey’s neck, spreading to her cheeks.
Collin thought the necklace suited her.
Did that mean, in his eyes, she was even more dazzling than the gemstone itself?
The thought sent a jolt through her, making her body tense, her posture subtly stiffening.
Collin lifted his gaze to her once more, his eyes dark and unreadable. The moment he noticed the faint flush coloring her cheeks and the corners of her eyes, his throat tightened.
A smoldering intensity flickered in his gaze-something deep and unshakable.
Without warning, he let go of her arm, his fingers shifting to gently cup her chin, his grip firm but careful. His gaze dropped, locking onto her slightly parted, soft lips.
A nervous breath hitched in Linsey’s throat. She reflexively grasped the fabric of his shirt, gripping it tightly.
His dark, unguarded stare sent her pulse racing, stealing the air from her lungs. But after yesterday-after she had nearly misread the situation in the car-she forced herself to stay levelheaded, unwilling to let her imagination run wild.
“Is something wrong? Is my hair messed up again?” she asked, summoning her courage.
His lips parted slightly, his voice dipping into a husky rasp. “No. It’s not that. I just think you’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his words slow, deliberate. “And suddenly… I want to kiss you.”
His breath skimmed her skin, so light it was barely there.
Linsey’s eyes widened, her breath stalling. Had she misheard him? But the moment her gaze locked onto his intense, unwavering eyes, she knew he wasn’t joking.
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.