Chapter 417:
As Linsey made her entrance, Collin’s expression turned sour. “What are you doing here?”
He quickly shot a disapproving look at his assistant, who had followed her. “Haven’t I made myself clear—”
“You instructed him to keep this from me, correct?” Linsey interjected sharply.
The assistant, sweating heavily, responded in a helpless tone, “Mr. Riley, Mrs. Riley intimidated me. She threatened to crash into the wall if I tried to stop her. I had no choice.”
Shock crossed Linsey’s face as she spotted the blood trickling down Collin’s arm and reached out tentatively. “You’re hurt!”
At her touch, Collin winced, causing Linsey to withdraw her hand quickly, startled.
Tears began to well up in her eyes from the shock.
“How did you get hurt? Can you still move your arm?”
Her voice trembled as she clenched her teeth. “I need to know who’s responsible for this. Explain everything to me!”
She regretted ever forcing Collin from the room, thinking if only she had known.
The sight of her tears forming made Collin’s heart twist.
He tenderly brushed the tears aside and murmured, “Don’t worry, I’m alright. You don’t have to cry.”
From a distance, Gorman observed their interaction, annoyance brewing inside him.
Why? Why did things have to be this way?
Why did Collin receive Linsey’s concern when he was hurt?
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And what about him?
When Linsey arrived, she hadn’t even glanced his way.
As Gorman reflected more on the situation, his bitterness grew. He was determined not to let their interaction slide.
“Stop this pathetic display,” Gorman scoffed. “Collin has only himself to blame. What is there to pity?”
Linsey turned at his voice, only now realizing Gorman was there. Her face fell into a scowl. “Not you again, Gorman! You orchestrated this, didn’t you? Setting up Collin tonight was your doing!”
Gorman, already agitated, responded with a sharp chuckle. “Really, Linsey? Blaming me now? He was the one who instigated this!” Pointing to his shoulder, Gorman continued, “He stormed in and assaulted me for no reason! Look at this injury—it’s gotten worse. Can’t you see?”
Linsey remained unconvinced that Collin would initiate a conflict without cause. She brushed off Gorman, turning her attention to Collin for his side of the story.
However, Collin offered no defense. He simply reassured, “Leave it to me. It’s late. You should head home.”
With a derisive snort, Gorman questioned, “Really? And how do you plan to manage that? Remember, no lawyer in town tops Frederic. You might as well start preparing for prison.”
Once Collin was out of the way, Gorman could pursue Linsey without hindrance.
Soon, he believed, Linsey would come to him willingly.
