Chapter 436:
“Why does Collin get chicken soup?” he seethed.
The question burned in Gorman’s mind. He recalled a time in a small fishing village abroad—injured, in pain, waiting for the chicken soup Linsey had promised. The thought was infuriating. Why did he always seem to lose to Collin?
Sensing his boss’s growing frustration, Danny bowed his head, not daring to say a word. Time stretched until Linsey finally arrived, her steps steady and measured. She stopped in front of him and asked irritably, “What’s wrong with you?”
Gorman exhaled heavily. “My heart…”
“Gorman, if you’re not going to talk sense, I’m leaving.”
Realizing she was serious, Gorman quickly spoke up, his voice tinged with jealousy. “Why does Collin get chicken soup, and I don’t? Have you forgotten that I’m also a patient?”
Linsey met his gaze and replied matter-of-factly, “Collin is my husband, so of course, I take care of him. You, on the other hand, have an entire team looking after you. Can’t one of them make you some chicken soup?”
Gorman latched onto a single phrase: “Collin is my husband.” The words stoked the anger simmering in his chest. His jaw tightened, and he lashed out, “Linsey, are you trying to drive me mad?”
Linsey offered a measured smile. “You’re overthinking things, Gorman. I have no intention of upsetting you. I genuinely hope you recover soon.” If he recovered quickly, she wouldn’t have to deal with him for much longer. Unfortunately for her, he didn’t see through her true intentions. Instead, he mistook her words for genuine concern.
The next moment, his mood lifted, and a satisfied smile spread across his face. “Alright. With you taking care of me, I’ll be back on my feet in no time.”
He wanted Linsey to see that he was far stronger than Collin. After an arm injury, Collin had grown weak. Gorman, on the other hand, had taken a stab wound to the shoulder, suffered significant blood loss, and endured countless stitches. Unlike fragile Collin, he was built to withstand anything.
As she saw Gorman’s mood improve, Linsey’s own demeanor relaxed slightly. She stepped closer and eyed his shoulder. “Did it hurt last night? The doctor said the pain might worsen at night.”
At her words, Gorman’s expression softened, and his eyes locked onto hers. He was certain now. She still cared. Otherwise, why would she remember the doctor’s exact words?
Gorman swiftly adopted a look of distress, unabashedly displaying his vulnerability. “My shoulder is killing me! It’s been like this since last night. I can only stay flat on my back, completely immobilized. I haven’t been able to sleep for nights.”
In that instant, Gorman’s usual boasting about his strength slipped from his memory. He knew he couldn’t always appear invincible in front of the woman he admired. Sometimes, a touch of vulnerability could indeed win Linsey’s compassion.
And Gorman’s assumption proved correct.
Linsey, noticing the dark circles beneath his eyes, believed his claim. She had seen the severity of his injuries firsthand, and the doctor had warned that the pain could worsen at night. The thought that she may have inadvertently caused Gorman’s pain made Linsey feel increasingly remorseful.
