Chapter 666:
Indeed, Carol bore little likeness to their parents, unlike Jeffery, who resembled Myla closely.
Reflecting on a past dinner conversation with his parents and Linsey, Jeffery felt compelled to ask, “Have you always been in the orphanage, from birth?”
When she heard his question, Linsey gave him a puzzled look, unsure why he would bring that up so suddenly.
Noticing the way she reacted, Jeffery stopped himself, only just realizing that what he had asked might have come off the wrong way. So he quickly added, “Never mind. Let’s just act like I didn’t say anything.”
It had never crossed Linsey’s mind that a man as proud as Jeffery would ever speak in such an indirect, hesitant way.
“I don’t think that’s something I need to keep to myself,” said Linsey gently. “But if I’m being honest, I don’t really have a clear answer to what you’re asking. All I know is that for as long as I can remember, I was raised in an orphanage, surrounded by a lot of other kids.”
After pausing for a moment, she continued, “Back then, I never thought I was any different from others. It wasn’t until high school, maybe college, that it hit me—everyone else had families waiting for them at home.”
A smile lit up her face. “Still, I feel like I was one of the lucky ones. The woman who ran the orphanage treated us with so much care, and I had a best friend who grew up there with me. She was like a sister. With her by my side, I never once felt like I was facing the world alone.”
Jeffery remained silent, attentively listening without interruption. As Linsey spoke, visions of her childhood days at the orphanage played in Jeffery’s mind.
He was merely piecing together scenes from the snippets Linsey shared. Jeffery pursed his lips thoughtfully before responding, “Growing up without parental protection, you worked diligently, pursued higher education, and became a designer at CR Corporation, eventually rising to a director at a young age. That’s genuinely commendable.”
His view of Linsey had shifted the day he found out she was an orphan. Since then, his respect for her had deepened.
Still, he figured that a person like Linsey probably never put much weight on other people’s opinions—especially not his, considering he was someone who had treated her poorly before.
Linsey acknowledged his words with a smile, saying, “Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Lawson. I do think my achievements are quite extraordinary.”
Her eyes drifted downward as she continued, “However, I might not stay with CR Corporation much longer.”
A flicker of regret passed through her eyes the moment she spoke. To her own surprise, she had revealed more to Jeffery than she had intended.
Jeffery was initially taken aback but quickly remembered yesterday’s revelations. “Did you only just discover that your husband founded CR Corporation?”
Linsey’s smile disappeared, and she gave a small nod. “Yes, that’s right.”
Jeffery noticed her spirits dip and immediately regretted his question. After a brief pause, he said, “He has kept this from you for too long. He’s not someone you can depend on.”
Linsey faced him, feeling an unusual impulse to share her thoughts.
