Her throat tightened, and she swallowed hard, her pulse hammering in her ears. This was happening-so fast, so suddenly.
Yet, strangely, not a trace of hesitation or rejection stirred within her.
A quiet, almost thrilling anticipation unfurled in the back of her mind. After all, they were married. Wasn’t this natural? Why should she push him away?
Her fingers trembled slightly as she slowly closed her eyes, offering silent consent.
Collin’s already unsteady breath grew even more uneven at the sight.
His grip on her chin tightened just a fraction, his thumb brushing against her soft skin. The faint, unintentional stroke sent the lightest shiver through her-an unfamiliar, feather-light sensation that tingled down her spine.
His dark eyes deepened with something unreadable, something heavy. Leaning in, he closed the distance between them, their breaths colliding-warm, uneven, charged with an undeniable heat. Their lips were a mere breath away-when a sudden, sharp knock shattered the moment.
Linsey had been holding her breath, already on edge.
The abrupt sound jolted her, her heart lurching violently. Like a startled rabbit, she sprang to her feet-too fast, too careless. Her lips accidentally collided with Collin’s chin in the process. A sharp sting shot through her, and she let out a soft cry, instinctively pressing her fingers to her mouth.
Her eyes stung as she covered her lips, putting instant distance between them. She looked up at him, grievance clouding her gaze, her expression pitiful.
Collin’s face darkened in an instant.
Who had the audacity to interrupt at such a critical moment?
As he noticed how Linsey had instinctively backed away, his irritation spiked even further. His voice dropped into a cold, clipped tone. “Who is it?”
Outside the door, there was a tense pause before the cautious tone of Collin’s subordinate pierced the silence. “Mr. Riley, there’s a pressing matter I need to discuss with you.”
The subordinate couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. His thoughts raced. Was Mr. Riley out of sorts because of the long hours? Why did his voice seem so strained?
On the other side of the door, Linsey’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. The study was Collin’s sanctuary, a place where he immersed himself in his work, and she had just interrupted him. The realization that she had possibly hindered his tasks made her stomach twist with regret.
“Well… you should get back to your work. I’ll… go prepare something for you to eat. You can enjoy it whenever you’re free,” she stammered, her words faltering under the weight of her unease.
Before Collin could respond, Linsey spun on her heel and dashed away, her heart pounding.
The subordinate, still waiting outside, jumped as the door suddenly swung open. He stood frozen, momentarily caught off guard, not expecting that his boss would open the door for him. But his surprise deepened when he saw who it was.
“Mrs. Riley, what brings you here?” he blurted out, his voice laced with bewilderment.
As far back as he could remember, Collin’s study was a fortress of solitude, strictly off-limits to outsiders. Even the servants, tasked with tidying the room, were required to schedule their duties well in advance. Oddly enough, Linsey, despite being Collin’s wife for mere days, was free to move in and out of the study without restriction.
Attempting to maintain decorum, Linsey found herself at a loss for words. Her eyes, darting anxiously, shimmered with the vestiges of recently withheld tears, revealing her inner turmoil.
After a palpable pause, she nervously bit her lip and told the subordinate that Collin was inside before retreating hastily.
The bewildered subordinate stepped into the study, his gaze immediately colliding with Collin’s stern, contemplative visage looming behind an imposing desk. Unbeknownst to him, his intrusion had ruined the moment. The image of Linsey’s reddened eyes haunted him briefly, sparking a cascade of speculation. Could there be tension between the couple?
Collin’s temperament was notoriously erratic, and though they were married, Linsey was still a relative stranger to his deeper intricacies. To the subordinate, it seemed plausible that Collin, in a moment of harshness, had wounded her spirit. His limited interactions with Linsey painted her as a soul of kindness and warmth-a sharp contrast to Collin’s occasional coldness.
The more he pondered, the more his empathy for Linsey deepened, stirring a blend of concern and curiosity. No matter the reason, when Collin’s mood turned dark, it was always his subordinates who bore the brunt of it.
The subordinate exhaled a quiet, resigned sigh, his thoughts churning with concern over the report he was about to deliver.
“What is it? Out with it,” Collin demanded, his voice tinged with evident irritation.
The subordinate, pausing momentarily to muster his courage, extended an ornate invitation with both hands. “Mr. Riley, please have a look at this.”
Collin snatched the invitation, unfolding it swiftly. As he scanned its contents, a cold, sardonic smile crept across his features.
“Huntley’s grand birthday gala?” he sneered, his eyes shimmering with scorn.
Huntley Riley, his half-brother, shared the same father with him, born to Fernanda Riley-Collin’s ambitious stepmother. Over the years, Fernanda had maneuvered with relentless cunning, orchestrating plots to secure Huntley’s position as the favored heir. Her efforts often involved undermining Collin at every turn.
This invitation, bearing the Riley family crest, signified a grand celebration in honor of Huntley, the golden child. This tradition, deeply rooted in the family’s dynamics, underscored the blatant favoritism that Huntley enjoyed.
Interestingly, this was the first year the Riley family had extended Collin an official invitation, perhaps fearing that his absence might embarrass them at such a high-profile event.
Collin’s subordinate maintained a respectful stance as he said, “The person delivering the invitation also mentioned that your family expects you to attend your brother’s birthday party with your wife. They specifically said… your father and Fernanda are looking forward to meeting your new bride.”
“Is that so?” Collin let out a cold chuckle, his expression unreadable. He wasn’t naive enough to believe that the Riley family had suddenly developed an interest in his marriage out of genuine concern.
“They must have caught wind of Haven running off and my abrupt wedding. Now, they’re just seizing the opportunity to have a good laugh at my expense.” With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the invitation onto his desk, his tone laced with indifference. “Since they’re so eager to meet my wife, then let them. Make the arrangements.”
“Understood,” the subordinate said, turning to leave.
But after a brief hesitation, he recalled the way Linsey had looked earlier-her red-rimmed eyes, the trace of distress on her face. He hesitated only for a second before speaking up. “It’s not my place to interfere in your personal matters, but… there’s something I feel I should mention.”
Collin lifted his gaze slightly, his expression sharp and unreadable. “Since when did you start hesitating to speak? If you have something to say, just say it.”
The subordinate straightened and replied at once, “When I came in earlier, I noticed Mrs. Riley seemed upset. Her eyes were red-like she’d been crying. You just got married. If there’s any misunderstanding between you two, it’s best to clear it up quickly before it turns into something worse.”
Collin’s eyes narrowed. So, his subordinate had the nerve to bring up what had just happened?
If this guy hadn’t barged in and interrupted them earlier, what misunderstanding could there possibly be?
“I see. You can go now,” Collin said, his tone carrying a hint of thinly veiled irritation.
The subordinate had served under Collin for years and had long learned to pick up on the subtle meanings behind his every word and movement. His pulse quickened slightly, and without another word, he swiftly exited the room.
Once the study fell silent again, Collin finally had a chance to gather his thoughts. His mind drifted back to the moment when Linsey had accidentally bumped into his chin and cried out in pain.
It hadn’t hurt him in the slightest, but thinking about her delicate skin, he couldn’t help but wonder if she was still hurting. He guessed that even if she was, she probably wouldn’t admit it. After a brief pause, he pushed aside his work, turned his wheelchair, and decided to check on her himself.
Meanwhile, Linsey was still feeling awkward about what had happened earlier. She had imagined her first kiss countless times before-romantic, dreamlike, something straight out of a fairytale. Never in a million years did she expect it to end up like this-awkward, incomplete, and completely ridiculous. Her first kiss was over before it had even begun!
As she stepped into the living room, the butler immediately noticed something was off. “Mrs. Riley, is everything all right? You don’t look too well.”
Linsey froze for a second before snapping out of her thoughts. She instinctively touched her face and quickly replied, “I’m fine.”
The butler misread her reaction, assuming she was frustrated over failing to convince Collin to take better care of his health. He gave her a warm, understanding smile and reassured her, “Mrs. Riley, don’t take it to heart. Mr. Riley has always been stubborn when it comes to his health. We’ve all tried to persuade him to take better care of himself, but none of us have ever succeeded. It’s nothing personal-he’s just like that.”
Linsey, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment, refocused her thoughts. She had to make food for Collin. That was what mattered right now. All that other stuff-the flustered emotions, the chaos, the lingering awkwardness-she lightly shook her head, pushing them aside, and made her way to the kitchen.
Just as she did, Collin emerged from the study. His gaze flicked to the butler as he asked, “Who were you just talking about? Who’s the one that always ignores advice?”
When she heard Collin’s voice, Linsey spun around, startled. “Collin, why are you out here?”
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.