The officers, unaffected by his threats, remained composed. The lead officer simply said, “Take him into custody.”
At his command, several officers stepped forward and quickly subdued Huntley.
“Let me go! Let me go!” Huntley struggled desperately, but the alcohol in his system made him weak and helpless. He was quickly handcuffed and taken away.
In the hospital room, Linsey was already awake, watching the news on television.
“Recently, police in Grester solved a kidnapping case. The suspect, Felix Wells, pleaded guilty and confessed that Huntley Riley was the mastermind.”
Linsey was slightly surprised, wondering if it was simply a coincidence. She picked up her phone and opened her social media app, quickly finding conversations about the case.
“Stop guessing, everyone. The mastermind is Huntley, the second son of the powerful Riley family.”
“Be careful, OP. This post might be taken down soon.”
“There’s no need for concern. With Huntley behind bars, it appears justice has prevailed. You can rest easy now.”
“Precisely. Now that the matter is resolved, even the influential Riley family can’t circumvent the legal system.”
“Perhaps it’s just my intuition, but I suspect Huntley must have antagonized a very influential person to face such consequences.”
“It’s inconsequential. Kidnapping is a grave offense, and there are no justifications. I heard the victim was a woman, and she must have suffered immense trauma.”
As Linsey read through the online comments, she still struggled to accept the reality of the situation. Had Felix truly confessed? It seemed entirely out of character for him. She placed her phone aside, her mind wandering back to the night Collin had rescued her. She vividly recalled seeing several figures accompanying him.
Was it possible that Collin had somehow orchestrated Felix’s confession? But how was Huntley’s arrest connected to all of this?
Before she could fully process these thoughts, Collin entered the room, propelling his wheelchair. Noticing the worried expression on her face, he inquired with concern, “Is everything alright?”
She gazed at him, observing his composed demeanor. She couldn’t resist asking, “I saw the news reports. Were you responsible for Felix’s confession? And Huntley’s arrest as well?”
Collin rolled his wheelchair closer to Linsey’s bed, a questioning look on his face. “You think I’m capable of such a feat? My involvement was limited to directing Felix to the police station. The subsequent events unfolded due to their own investigation. It seems Felix couldn’t withstand the interrogation.”
Linsey’s suspicion lessened when she heard his explanation, although a subtle unease remained within her.
“Huntley is implicated in this as well. If your family discovers the full extent of what transpired, won’t they retaliate against you, perhaps even attempt to coerce you?” Linsey voiced her concerns.
Collin noticed the worry etched on Linsey’s features and felt a surge of warmth. He reached for her hand, holding it gently. His voice carried a warmth that filled the space between them, offering comfort. “Don’t worry. As your husband, it’s my job to protect you. Just focus on your recovery. I’ll handle the rest.”
Linsey looked up, her heart skipping a beat as she took in Collin’s reassuring presence. She nodded slightly, her smile tentative yet trusting. “Alright. I trust you completely.”
Locking eyes with her, Collin paused, the weight of her trust pressing upon him. He found himself reluctant to meet her gaze again. Her complete faith in him was clear, but he was burdened with secrets he could not share. He longed to be transparent with her, but the threat of impending crises always seemed to snuff out that possibility. The menacing presence of Gorman, lurking in the background, was a constant threat. Revealing too much to Linsey could endanger her as well.
He couldn’t tell her the truth, not yet. Taking a deep breath, he gripped her hand a bit tighter. Despite the secrets, he resolved to compensate in other ways. As long as she remained safe at his side, he was ready to pay any price.
Two days later, Linsey’s patience with the hospital had worn thin.
“Collin, I need to be discharged,” she said.
Collin responded immediately, “No, you’re not yet fully recovered.”
Linsey’s resolve was firm. “I’ve been here long enough. I need to get back to work.”
She was still in her probationary period, and any further delays could risk her position. Though her boss, Coen, had granted her a few days off after securing a crucial order, she could not afford to delay her return any longer. The project for Anthea wouldn’t complete itself.
Seeing her unwavering commitment to her job, Collin felt a mix of admiration and helplessness. “How critical is your job that your company can’t function without you? If that’s really the case, it doesn’t bode well for their future.”
Linsey bit her lip, wrestling with whether to disclose her secret. She worked for CR Corporation, the very company to which he owed a significant debt. She worried that revealing this truth might bruise his pride, so she had kept her employment at CR Corporation hidden from him.
“I really need to go back, okay?” Linsey insisted, her voice laced with urgency.
Collin exhaled slowly, his concern evident. “What kind of work is it? Maybe I can help out a bit.”
Linsey paused, considering her words carefully. She decided it was safe to mention her client as long as she steered clear of revealing her employer. “It’s just an important client,” she finally said.
As she spoke, a memory flashed through her mind. She recalled seeing Collin’s car leave Anthea’s villa on her first visit there.
“By the way, Collin, how do you know Anthea Blakely? She’s my client this time, and I think I saw your car at her villa,” she added.
Collin was visibly taken aback, the connection catching him off guard. He managed to maintain his composure as he explained, “My late mother and Anthea were old friends. I was just paying her a visit that day.”
Linsey was surprised by this revelation. She knew that Collin’s biological mother had passed away many years ago and decided not to delve deeper, not wanting to stir up painful memories.
Just as she was about to steer the conversation away, Collin looked at her intently. “People say Anthea has close ties to the founder of CR Corporation. Are you trying to use her to gather information about the founder?” he asked.
Linsey waved her hands, quick and dismissive. “That’s not true. I really am not that much of a gossip.”
Feeling a bit helpless, she found it puzzling that both Anthea and Collin would think she was eager to learn who founded CR Corporation. Eager to clear any misunderstanding, she offered, “Besides, if my curiosity was that piqued, why would I bother asking Mrs. Blakely, who barely knows them, when I could just ask you?”
“Ask me? Why?” Collin felt his pulse quicken, wondering if Linsey was onto something.
Softly, she looked at him and suggested, “Well, you mentioned your massive debt to CR Corporation. With such a hefty sum, you surely must have met the founder. I’d think if I were them, I’d keep tabs on you now and then to ensure you hadn’t fled.”
Collin was silent, taken aback by her logic. The issue of the debt seemed to linger longer than he had hoped. Desperate not to be seen as a failure, he quickly fabricated another tale. “Linsey, about that debt… I’ve nearly cleared it. No need for you to worry.”
“That quickly? You’ve settled it?” Linsey’s eyes sparkled with surprise. “Collin, clearing $100 million is no minor feat!”
His chest swelled with a strange pride. But why did he feel proud? The debt was fictitious. Tamping down his feelings, he insisted, “Enough now. You should rest.”
Linsey blinked, remembering her responsibilities. She declared firmly, “I’m heading back to work. We’re not drowning in debt anymore, but that doesn’t mean we can slack off. Collin, try to stop me again, and I’ll be really upset.”
Her determination was clear, and Collin gave in. “Alright. Let’s sort out your discharge first. If you feel unwell, tell me immediately.” If that were the case, he would take her straight back to the hospital. He was determined not to let her take unnecessary risks.
Linsey saw through his protective stance but felt confident in her recovery. Her injuries were minor, after all.
Finally, she made her way back to the office, ready to resume her duties.
When Linsey returned to the office, her colleagues immediately surrounded her, their faces etched with concern. “Linsey, how are you feeling?”
“Are you OK? What happened? Coen made it sound quite serious a few days ago.”
Linsey hadn’t disclosed her kidnapping, and the police had kept the victim’s identity under wraps. Hence, her colleagues naturally assumed she had been ill. It seemed Coen had likely exaggerated the story since she had clinched Anthea’s order, showing how much he valued it.
“I’m fine now, thanks, guys,” Linsey replied, offering her colleagues a reassuring smile.
“That’s good to hear.”
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.