Linsey offered a wry, helpless smile.
She understood Dolores’ fears; her friend’s fierce protectiveness was as familiar as it was comforting. They had been each other’s rock since childhood, making Dolores’ concern understandable.
Dolores was getting it all wrong about Collin, and she needed to fix that. To reassure her, Linsey came up with an idea on the spot.
“Dolores, what if we all have dinner together? Once you meet Collin, you’ll see how deeply he cares,” she suggested hopefully, her eyes brightening. “He’s not the bad person you think he is.”
Dolores caught the spark of delight twinkling in Linsey’s eyes and couldn’t resist joining in her laughter. “Alright, I’m in. Let’s do this!” Dolores agreed.
Rolling her eyes dramatically, she yielded, sending Linsey a look that was both mischievous and lightly scolding. She lazily swirled her coffee, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as she shook her head in playful defeat.
“It’s only been a few days since you married Collin, yet you trust him like he’s been by your side forever. Fine, I’ll believe you for now, but I’ll be watching to see if he really treats you right.”
Linsey’s smile broadened, her eyes shimmering with warmth. “Got it. I’ll talk to him about it as soon as I get back.”
The two women continued their leisurely chat, enjoying the comfort of their long-standing friendship. Linsey leaned forward with sudden interest, narrowing her eyes. “By the way, what made you come back so unexpectedly this time?”
Dolores’s gaze darted away for a fleeting moment before she masked her emotions with a casual shrug. “Nothing. Work’s been draining me, and I thought it was time for a break,” she explained with a forced nonchalance.
Linsey nodded sympathetically. Dolores had been grinding away at work for what felt like forever, never really stopping to take a well-earned rest.
“You’ve really been pushing yourself too hard,” she remarked, her voice laced with concern. “It’s time you took a break. How about next weekend we go out and just unwind?”
“Sounds perfect,” Dolores replied, her smile genuine this time. Fresh off the plane, she could already feel exhaustion creeping in-she needed to recharge.
Linsey, being considerate, let her go without dragging things out. With Dolores back in Grester, there would be countless opportunities for them to catch up in the future.
After they parted ways, Linsey made her way back to the grandeur of Vista Villa, her mind circling back to a promise she had made.
Upon arriving, she immediately sought out the butler, her voice carrying a mix of anticipation and urgency. “Has Collin stepped out today?”
With a reassuring smile, the butler responded, “Mr. Riley is currently in his room.”
Taking a moment to gather her resolve, Linsey headed toward Collin’s room. Her hand hesitated briefly before knocking gently on the door.
“Collin, it’s me,” she called out softly.
Inside, Collin had just finished a shower and was adjusting to the room’s cooler air. He caught the sound of her voice as he settled into his wheelchair. “Come in,” he replied, his voice steady and inviting.
Upon hearing his reply, Linsey gently pushed the door open and found Collin seated in his wheelchair, busily toweling off his damp hair. As she approached, a wave of fresh, moist air enveloped her, unmistakably emanating from him.
Her lips tightened nervously, and she stole a brief look at Collin, her gaze inadvertently settling on his muscular chest, partially revealed under his loosely fastened bathrobe. A rush of warmth colored her cheeks, prompting her to avert her eyes hastily. In a soft, hesitant voice, she ventured, “Collin, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Collin, meanwhile, continued with his routine, patting the towel against his hair. “I’m listening.”
Pausing briefly, Linsey broached the subject of dinner. “I was hoping you could join me for dinner with Dolores. She’s a dear friend and has heard about our marriage. She’s eager to meet you…”
As she spoke, Linsey sensed an odd tension in the air and added awkwardly, “Um, if you’re too busy, though, that’s completely okay.”
Before she could finish her thought, Collin cut in, his response swift and decisive. “I can join,” he said, leaving no room for doubt. Linsey, caught mid-sentence, paused and blinked, taken aback by his immediate acceptance.
A wave of relief washed over her, and she let out a soft sigh.
Collin’s eyes flickered toward her before he rolled to the desk, snatched up an invitation, and placed it in her hands.
“There’s also something I need to discuss,” he began, his voice even but firm. “Tomorrow, my father is celebrating my half-brother’s birthday. I want you there with me.”
Linsey’s heart skipped a beat, her composure faltering. “Tomorrow? But… I haven’t had a moment to plan anything!”
The prospect of meeting Collin’s family for the first time since their wedding sent a jolt of anxiety through her.
Collin observed her distress, his expression softening. “Don’t worry, everything’s arranged. I’ve even picked out a dress for you,” he assured her, his tone comforting yet commanding.
However, his gaze then sharpened, focusing intently on her. “But where is the necklace I gave you? Why aren’t you wearing it?”
Linsey froze for a moment, her fingers instinctively grazing her neck as her eyes widened slightly in surprise. It was uncanny how Collin had noticed such a detail.
“This necklace is worth so much. I couldn’t shake the nervous feeling whenever I wore it outside, so I took it off the second I got home,” she murmured, her voice a low, uneasy whisper.
It was more than just the fear of loss that troubled her. The gemstone at the heart of the necklace was a masterpiece of cut and clarity, its luster barely contained even beneath layers of clothing. To avoid unnecessary trouble, she opted to keep it out of sight.
Collin’s gaze lingered a moment longer before he pulled it back, a subtle relief washing over him. He had harbored concerns that she disliked the gift. Knowing this wasn’t the case, he relaxed.
“It’s not a big deal, and it complements you beautifully. There’s really no need to be so cautious,” he noted with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Linsey’s heart skipped a beat. This reassurance from Collin made it even clearer that the necklace was not the billion-dollar gemstone piece auctioned last night. After all, how could he speak so nonchalantly about something so immensely valuable, especially when he was still staggering under a mountain of $100 million in debt?
Yet, she couldn’t deny the necklace’s worth and her desire to cherish it properly.
“It’s fine. I’ll reserve it for truly special occasions. Something this luxurious doesn’t really fit into my daily work life,” she remarked thoughtfully.
Seeing her resolve, Collin decided not to push the matter further and simply nodded, acknowledging her decision.
After a brief moment, Collin caught a glimpse of Linsey lingering out of the corner of his eye. He paused, his curiosity piqued, and inquired with a slightly raised brow, “Is there something else you need?” As he shuffled through the stack of documents cluttering his desk, he kept a subtle watch on Linsey’s every move, although he pretended to be absorbed in his work.
Linsey noticed that he had carelessly tossed the towel he used for drying his hair to the side, his locks still damp and tousled. Concern etched into her features as she said, “Aren’t you going to dry your hair? You might catch a cold or wake up with a headache if you sleep like that.”
Collin shrugged nonchalantly, brushing off her concern. “It’s too much hassle,” he muttered, his voice laced with indifference. “I’ll be fine…”
However, before he could fully dismiss the matter, he looked up and met her eyes, catching the gentle reproach in her gaze. A flicker of realization crossed his face-he had promised her earlier that day to take better care of himself.
With a soft, resigned sigh and a click of his tongue, Collin set aside the documents. He reached begrudgingly for the towel once more.
“Let me help you,” Linsey offered softly, her voice suddenly bold and firm. Empowered by a surge of courage, she stepped forward without hesitation, took the towel from his hands, and positioned herself behind him. Her fingers were gentle yet firm as she began to pat his damp hair dry.
Collin tensed momentarily, then relaxed under the soothing strokes of Linsey’s hands, a quiet sense of comfort settling between them as she tended to him with quiet care. A subtle, unexplainable warmth bubbled up in his chest.
“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Linsey encountered a fleeting moment of discomfort but swiftly recaptured her poise. With tender care, she dabbed the dampness from Collin’s cropped hair, her touches soft and deliberate.
In the serene room, they both instinctively lowered their breaths, allowing only the soft whispers of the towel grazing his hair and the occasional shuffle of pages being turned by Collin to pierce the silence. His short hair was a welcome simplicity compared to her own, making the task at hand quicker for her.
Soon, his hair was nearly dry.
“Got a hairdryer? It’ll be quicker and better with warm air,” she suggested.
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.