Collin didn’t even glance at the wine glass on the table. His voice was cool and indifferent. “Not a good time.”
Dustin blinked, then suddenly burst into laughter. Leaning in slightly, he lowered his voice and muttered, “Why? You’ve gotten too used to playing the role of a disabled man? Relax. This bar is full of my people-there’s no way your stepmom planted any spies here.”
“It’s not that,” Collin replied casually, but before he could stop himself, Linsey’s bright, smiling face flashed through his mind.
“What?” Dustin frowned, confused. “Then what is it?”
Just then, his eyes landed on Collin’s outfit, and a flicker of amusement crossed his face.
“Wait a second-what’s going on with you today? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear anything like that. Your wardrobe is basically all dark and boring, but your jacket and shirt don’t match that usual style.”
Collin, surprisingly, didn’t seem the least bit annoyed by Dustin’s over-the-top reaction. Instead, a rare trace of warmth flickered in his usually cold eyes. “I’m wearing the clothes my wife picked out for me. You got a problem with that?”
Dustin’s curiosity instantly sparked, and he leaned forward with excitement. “Wait-are you talking about Linsey? Well, well, I didn’t think things would move this fast between you two! You’re already wearing the clothes she picked for you?”
After a brief pause, something seemed to click in his mind, and his expression turned playful. “Hold on-I saw you in a different outfit earlier today. Don’t tell me you changed because you were, you know, in the middle of something… and I interrupted?”
The moment the words left his mouth, Dustin put on an exaggeratedly remorseful face and started apologizing without pause. “Man, I’m really sorry for ruining your perfect evening!”
Collin’s expression hardened, and his voice carried a sharp edge. “Shut up. Stop jumping to conclusions. There’s nothing going on between us.”
Dustin, having known Collin for years, wasn’t the least bit intimidated by his harsh tone. Instead, he smirked and said, “Well, not yet-but who knows? Things could change.”
He took a slow sip of his drink before adding casually, “I mean, you only rushed into marriage to grant your grandma’s wish, right?” Raising an eyebrow, he gave Collin a knowing smile. “She always thought you were too closed off and wanted you to settle down, start a family, and actually be happy. Honestly? I think Linsey’s a great match for you.”
Collin had lost his birth mother when he was young. After his father remarried, his stepmother-a venomous woman who saw him as nothing more than an obstacle-had gone so far as to orchestrate a car accident that nearly cost him his legs. To protect himself, he had feigned disability, letting those who wished him harm lower their guard. If he hadn’t, he might not have survived. For years, the only person in the Riley family who had ever stood by him was Ivy, but she had her limitations. That was why, once he reached adulthood, he had secretly built CR Corporation from the ground up.
As the company flourished, Collin finally had the power to leave the Riley family-but he couldn’t bear to abandon Ivy, the only one who had ever cared for him. She had long hoped to find him a kind and dependable woman who could stand by his side.
At first, he had rejected them all. To him, women couldn’t be trusted. They might pretend to sympathize with his past, but none would willingly marry a man who was both powerless and supposedly disabled.
But this year, Ivy’s health had taken a sharp downturn. The doctors warned that she didn’t have much time left. To give her peace of mind, he had finally relented and agreed to marry-hoping she could see him happy with a family before she was gone. Yet, fate had other plans. His original bride had fled, and that twist of events had led to his unexpected marriage to Linsey.
Lost in thought, he sat in silence.
Dustin, watching him closely, sighed and said, “Look, man, stop overcomplicating things. Just try to get closer to Linsey-see where it goes. And hey, once you have a kid, your grandma can finally rest easy. Makes sense, doesn’t it?”
Collin had considered this before, but his answer remained firm. “I married to fulfill my grandma’s wish, yeah-but I’m not going to treat it like it’s nothing.”
His tone grew serious as he continued, “Whether Linsey wants this or not, marriage isn’t a game. My wife needs to know who I am and accept that-otherwise, what’s the point?”
Dustin mulled it over before something clicked in his mind. “So, you’re testing Linsey? She has to pass before she’s worthy of being your wife?” Then, with a smirk, he added, “And what if she fails?”
Before he could say anything else, Collin shot him a warning look.
Catching the hint, Dustin quickly adjusted his words. “Alright, alright. Do your little test. But what if she finds out who you really are and doesn’t accept it?” He leaned back with an amused chuckle. “What then? Gonna toss her out just like that?”
His grin widened as he continued, “I hear you two have been getting along pretty well lately. You sure you’d be that heartless?”
Collin’s expression darkened as he tried to picture Linsey rejecting him. If she ever looked at him with disdain, would it bother him? The faint sting in his chest answered that question before he could stop it.
But emotions couldn’t cloud his judgment. A few peaceful days together didn’t mean he could fully trust her.
“Collin, hey-” Dustin waved a hand in front of his face. “You’ve been zoning out all night.”
Collin blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. Then, as he recalled Dustin’s earlier question, his tone cooled. “Stop prying into things that don’t concern you.”
Dustin raised an eyebrow. “How does it not concern me? I’m your best friend. Your love life is my business.”
Clearly done with the conversation, Collin turned his wheelchair with a sharp motion. “If there’s nothing urgent, I’m leaving.” Without another glance, he rolled away.
Dustin remained in his seat, watching Collin disappear into the crowd. Leisurely swirling his drink, he murmured to himself, “Collin always thinks he’s in control, like everything is just another calculated move. But love isn’t something a guy who’s never been in a relationship can predict.”
A scene of Collin and Linsey interacting played in Dustin’s mind, and he let out a knowing chuckle. “I’ve got a feeling Collin’s gonna end up wrapped around Linsey’s little finger.”
Taking a sip of his wine, he leaned back, but his amusement was soon replaced with concern.
With how tight-lipped Collin was, it would take ages for anything to happen between him and Linsey. As Dustin set his glass down, a thought struck him. If Collin kept dragging his feet, someone had to step in.
For the sake of Collin’s future happiness, Dustin decided he would give the two of them a little push. If all went well, the heir to CR Corporation might just be on the way soon. And naturally, that child would call him godfather-or maybe even mentor.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He was ready to set his plan in motion immediately.
Meanwhile, Linsey sneezed. It felt like someone was talking about her behind her back. Then, recalling what had happened at the mall earlier, she shook the thought away. It didn’t matter. Felix and Joanna weren’t worth a second of her time.
Though it was only her first day at work, the day had worn her out. After taking a shower, she crawled into bed and was fast asleep in no time.
The next morning, before her alarm even had the chance to go off, her phone buzzed with an incoming call. Without bothering to open her eyes, she grabbed her phone and groggily answered. “Hello? Who’s this?”
A familiar voice rang out. “It’s me, Linsey.”
Her sleepiness vanished in an instant. Annoyance flared in her voice. “Felix? What the hell do you want? Didn’t I spell it out for you yesterday? You really want to get put in your place again?”
Linsey’s shift in tone was so unmistakable that Felix couldn’t help but pause, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. He spoke seriously. “Come on, Linsey, I didn’t call to argue. I just want us to meet and talk things through.”
A mocking laugh escaped Linsey. “What is there to talk about? Wasting my time with these calls!” She was about to hang up, but Felix quickly interjected, his voice urgent. “Linsey! Tell me-did you really get married? Or is this just some twisted way to get back at me?”
Linsey couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of his question. Her tone dripped with sarcasm as she responded, “Felix, what makes you think I still care about you? People like you never know what humility is.”
She then added, “And as for my marriage, I was pretty clear about it yesterday. I bet after you and Joanna got kicked out by security, you stuck around the mall, hoping to bump into me, right? Well, if that’s the case, you probably saw my husband-he was the one who picked me up yesterday.”
Felix’s eyes widened in disbelief as the scene from the day before replayed in his mind. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. A rush of anger surged through him, clouding his judgment.
“Linsey, that so-called husband of yours-he’s just a cripple, isn’t he?” Felix spat, each word laced with venom.
The moment the insult left his lips, Linsey’s expression darkened. Her eyes flared with fury, and she snapped, “Felix, I’m warning you-watch your mouth when you’re talking about my husband!”
Her anger was palpable, but to Felix’s surprise, the tension in his chest began to ease. A low chuckle escaped his lips as he leaned back, unfazed. “You’re right, I saw you get into his car yesterday. And I’ve already looked into his background.”
Felix paused, letting the silence hang for a moment, before he slowly and mockingly said Collin’s name. “Collin Riley-the neglected eldest son of the Riley family. Years ago, he was in a car accident that left him paralyzed. And to top it off, his father and stepmother don’t even care about him. Linsey, how could you waste your time on someone so… useless?”
His voice dripped with derision as he added, “You really went all out just to make me jealous, huh?”
The words struck Linsey like a slap. She sat up sharply in bed, her anger sparking with a fierce intensity. “Felix, shut your damn mouth! My husband is far better than a scumbag like you!”
Without waiting for his response, she continued, “Collin is kind, thoughtful, and he takes care of me-something you clearly know nothing about. Since I married him, my life has been nothing but comfortable! He’s far superior to someone who abandoned his bride on their wedding day!”
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.