“In the bathroom,” he responded without looking up from his work.
Linsey fetched the hairdryer and skillfully finished the job. Only when his hair was completely dry did she stow the hairdryer away.
Her gaze lingered on his focused face as he carried on with his late-night tasks. “You always stay up working. Do you even get any sleep?”
Finishing his signature on a document, Collin looked up, his expression unruffled. “I’ve grown accustomed to insomnia,” he admitted calmly.
Linsey’s eyes flickered with understanding-so that was the reason behind the dark shadows beneath his eyes.
Hesitantly, she offered with a smile, “If you don’t mind, Collin, I can give you a head massage. It could help you relax and sleep well tonight.”
“Massage?” Collin quirked an eyebrow, his expression a mix of skepticism and curiosity as he turned towards Linsey. “Wait, you actually know how to do that?”
Linsey nodded, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of pride and challenge. “Oh, absolutely. You’d be surprised how good I am at this.”
Collin’s gaze drifted to the towering stack of documents cluttering his desk, his hesitation palpable.
Linsey’s voice softened, coaxing gently, “You and Dolores are relentless, always buried in work. But remember, the work will always be there. You both need to step back and breathe a little.”
A light, disbelieving chuckle escaped Collin. “I have pretty bad insomnia. If this doesn’t help me sleep, you can forget about trying next time.”
“No problem at all,” Linsey replied with a confident smile, her belief in her skills unwavering.
Thus reassured, Collin let Linsey guide his wheelchair to the edge of the bed.
She had initially moved to assist him further, but Collin, with a swift, graceful movement borne of years of necessity, shifted onto the bed himself. Linsey paused, struck anew by his adeptness. She knew that living with a disability demanded resilience and adaptability, traits Collin had clearly honed over the years.
This realization deepened Linsey’s respect and empathy towards him, as she saw the silent strength it took for him to navigate life so independently.
Collin lay sprawled across the bed, his eyelids fluttering shut with a weary sigh. “Go ahead,” he murmured.
Linsey rolled the wheelchair to the foot of the bed before settling down beside him. She leaned over, her fingers brushing against his temples with a tender, deliberate touch. Her massage was gentle yet firm, perfectly calibrated to soothe without overwhelming.
As Linsey’s skilled fingers worked their magic, Collin felt the day’s stress melt away.
The room was filled with a delicate, sweet aroma-not the cloying scent of expensive perfume, but something pure and subtly floral, distinctly Linsey. It was comforting and pleasant, enhancing the serenity that enveloped him.
Slowly, the tension that had knotted his muscles for too long began to unravel under Linsey’s persistent care. Collin’s consciousness faded, lulled by the rhythmic pressure and the tranquil ambiance.
Before long, he succumbed to a deep, peaceful sleep, his breathing evening out into a calm, steady rhythm.
Noticing the shift in his breathing, Linsey gradually slowed her movements before finally pulling her hands away.
Without a word, she watched him sleep, his serene expression bringing a warm smile to her face. While he was asleep, Collin’s features relaxed, the usual stern facade replaced by a gentle, vulnerable calm.
With a careful, almost reverent motion, Linsey reached for a blanket resting nearby. She draped it over him gently, ensuring he remained warm.
With a final glance, she switched off the bedside lamp and walked away in silence.
The next morning, the bedroom was bathed in a soft glow as warm sunlight streamed through the window, gently illuminating the bed where Collin lay deeply asleep, blissfully unaware of the morning hustle. Suddenly, the serene silence was shattered by the shrill ring of the phone on the bedside table.
Collin was woken up, his eyes snapping open. He scowled, his irritation palpable as he snatched up the phone.
“Who is it?” he grumbled, his voice thick with sleep and annoyance.
There was a brief pause on the other end before Dustin responded, his voice tinged with surprise, “Collin, where are you? Weren’t we supposed to meet this morning to discuss the details of the acquisition? Why aren’t you here yet?”
Collin’s mind raced as he momentarily froze, the weight of the forgotten appointment dawning on him.
He glanced at the clock and cursed under his breath for oversleeping. “I’m home. Just come and get me. I’ll be ready in a few,” he said, his tone brisk.
“Alright, I’m on my way,” Dustin replied, a note of resignation in his voice.
After ending the call, Collin threw back the covers and leaped out of bed. He rushed through his morning routine, and by the time he was dressed, his usual composed and aloof demeanor was firmly back in place.
Shortly after, Collin exited the villa and slid into Dustin’s car. As the door thudded shut, Collin sensed Dustin’s inquisitive eyes on him.
He slightly knitted his eyebrows, fiddling with his cufflinks. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Dustin chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “Well, look at that-a rare moment in history. You’re actually late?”
He nudged Collin playfully, his tone light and teasing. “Don’t tell me some enchanting romantic escapade held you up?”
Collin’s response was sharp, his brow furrowing deeply as he huffed, “Cut the nonsense, Dustin.”
He knew Dustin was implying that he had been intimate with Linsey. But truth be told, they hadn’t had sex yet, and he was determined not to let anyone, not even Dustin, joke about it.
Dustin’s face fell, his playful smirk fading into a look of mild disappointment. He hadn’t anticipated Collin’s complete lack of sexual enthusiasm. In Dustin’s eyes, Linsey was the epitome of allure, with a figure that could easily ensnare anyone’s desires. Yet here was Collin, her own husband, seemingly immune to her charms. To Dustin, this was hardly a shock-typical Collin, always the stoic. Had Collin actually succumbed to Linsey’s beauty, Dustin would have been taken aback.
Switching topics with a flicker of curiosity lighting up his face, Dustin leaned in closer. “By the way, that necklace you gave Linsey last night-how did she react? She must have been thrilled, right? Such a stunning piece it was.”
Collin shook his head with a hint of disbelief, his voice tinged with exasperation. “No. At first, she thought it was outrageously expensive and flat-out refused to accept it. I even had to threaten to toss it before she reluctantly agreed to keep it.”
Dustin’s eyes widened in shock. “Seriously? A woman who thinks jewelry is too expensive?”
He squinted thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. “Maybe Linsey is just playing hard-to-get, you think?”
“No, that’s not it,” Collin replied, pressing his lips into a thin line. “She’s genuinely concerned about me squandering money and not being able to clear my debt.”
This revelation left Dustin utterly dumbfounded. “Debt? What kind of debt are you talking about?”
As Collin laid out the outrageous 100-million-dollar debt he had made up, Dustin burst into hearty laughter, clutching his stomach. “I can’t believe it, Collin… Who would have thought you’d be the one to mess things up like that?”
Regaining his composure, Dustin leaned in, a playful smirk playing on his lips. “You know, if Linsey ever uncovers your lie, you’re going to be in deep trouble. From what I’ve seen, the more innocent they are, the harder they fall when they discover a betrayal. And Linsey? With her personality…”
Collin’s expression darkened at Dustin’s words. A frown creased his brow as he mulled over the implications. “She won’t find out,” he declared with a hint of defiance.
After a brief pause, he added more quietly, “And even if she does, she won’t really care.”
“You’re playing with fire, man,” Dustin warned, shaking his head disapprovingly. “You’re still a beginner in matters like these. Take my advice-come clean to her at your first opportunity, or you might end up regretting it.”
Collin’s frown deepened, his gaze dropping to the floor as he contemplated Dustin’s advice. After a moment of heavy silence, he murmured, “I see your point. I’ll think about it.”
Meanwhile, at the office, Linsey sneezed out of nowhere, catching herself off guard.
She scrunched her face in displeasure, hastily reaching for a tissue to dab at her nose. A niggling suspicion that someone might be slandering her wormed its way into her thoughts.
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.