Chapter 206:
After freshening up, Linsey deliberately avoided the walk-in closet where Collin was getting ready and rushed downstairs. The memory of his piercing stare made her heart race. There was something about him—an air of authority that clung to him effortlessly, as if he were accustomed to wielding power.
Had she not known about his disability and his strained standing within the Riley family, she might have easily mistaken him for a man of great influence.
Linsey paused, a playful thought crossing her mind. Perhaps this was what it felt like to be truly smitten. She was falling for Collin, and naturally, she saw him through rose-tinted glasses.
A short while later, Collin joined her downstairs.
“Goodness gracious, Mr. Riley!” one of the maids exclaimed. “What happened to your lip?”
Linsey’s heart raced as her gaze flickered toward Collin’s face. A faint mark at the corner of his mouth confirmed her suspicion—she had definitely bitten him.
Did she really bite him that hard?
Sensing her eyes on him, Collin turned his head toward her.
Linsey quickly diverted her gaze, pretending to focus on her breakfast, feigning indifference.
This wasn’t her fault, was it?
She had already admitted she was a bit clumsy in situations like this. Collin, noticing her unease, couldn’t suppress a smirk. “It’s nothing,” he said casually to the housekeeper. “Just a little scratch from a feisty kitten. Nothing serious.”
The maid blinked, confusion crossing her face. “Sir, we don’t have any cats, do we?”
“A stray,” Collin replied smoothly. “It scratched me and then bolted.”
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“Oh, I see. That’s quite a naughty stray,” the maid commented, completely oblivious to the true culprit.
“Indeed,” Collin agreed with a nod. “Playful and troublesome—quite impossible to catch.”
Linsey’s face turned crimson with embarrassment.
That infuriating man! She fumed inwardly. How could he describe her like that?
She quickly finished her breakfast and stood up, making a show of leaving for work.
“Wait,” Collin called out, stopping her in her tracks.
She turned back, her voice hesitant. “What is it?”
“I’ll have someone drive you to work,” he said firmly.
“There’s no need for that. I can go by myself,” Linsey replied hastily, shaking her head.
Collin, however, was adamant. “No. Today… it might not be the best idea for you to drive yourself.”
Linsey frowned, confused. “Why not?”
Collin paused, then glanced pointedly at her legs. “Are you sure about that? Your legs seemed a bit wobbly when you got up just now.”
Collin’s words sent another wave of heat to Linsey’s cheeks, her blush deepening.
He wasn’t mistaken—her legs had felt a bit wobbly when she had gotten out of bed.
She thought she had masked it well, but Collin had clearly seen through her facade.
Frustration bubbled up inside Linsey as she glared at Collin, her voice laced with annoyance. “How come you’re perfectly fine, and I’m the one…” She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence, then added stubbornly, “I don’t need a ride anyway!”
