Chapter 1248:
“Linsey, I remember you had a fiancé not long ago. You two were practically glued together. So how did you become Collin’s wife in less than a month?” Huntley spoke casually, but his eyes kept drifting toward Collin. “If I’m not mistaken, Collin got married the same day you were supposed to marry your fiancé, isn’t that right?”
Only Ivy knew the full truth—that Collin had forced Linsey into the marriage. She had even helped hide it from the rest of the Riley family. But Huntley didn’t believe her. He felt there was more to the story.
Knowing Collin’s reckless nature, Huntley wouldn’t put it past him to crash Linsey’s wedding and take her by force. Now, he was trying to draw the truth out of Linsey, hoping to make Collin look bad and stir Alfredo’s anger enough to make him act.
Nothing pleased Huntley more than seeing Collin humiliated and punished. To him, Collin was a stain on the family name. But what happened next caught him off guard.
Linsey calmly rose to Collin’s defense. “I married Collin by choice.”
Collin had been eating quietly, pretending to ignore everything. But when he heard Linsey’s soft reply, he looked up. His eyes flickered with surprise, and his brows lifted slightly.
Linsey was clever. She saw through Huntley’s attempt to corner them. Without rushing, she met his stare and began to speak with ease.
“Collin and I have known each other for a long time. I even confessed to him once, but he turned me down. That’s how I ended up with my ex. On my wedding day, I caught my fiancé cheating. So I walked away. Coincidentally, I ran into Collin. He told me his fiancée had also left. After talking for a while, I suggested we get married.”
Then, with a composed smile that masked her true emotions, she added, “Our marriage was a mutual decision. It also saved the family from embarrassment on what was supposed to be Collin’s big day. Any more questions?”
Huntley had thought Linsey would be easy to rattle—sweet, innocent, and naïve. But her sharp tongue and steady poise left him speechless.
For a moment, he couldn’t think of what to say.
Lᴀtєst chαptєrs ιn g𝒶l𝑛ovеℓ𝑠.𝑎𝓂
The mood at the table shifted.
Then Ivy stepped in to ease the tension. “That’s enough. Let’s not dwell on the past. Linsey and Collin are meant to be, and I like her very much. There’s nothing wrong with this marriage.”
With Ivy speaking so firmly, Huntley had no choice but to let it go and quietly continue eating.
After the meal, Alfredo, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke. His voice was cold and commanding. “Come to the study later. We need to talk.” He didn’t say a name, but Collin knew the words were meant for him.
If it were Huntley, Alfredo would have addressed him directly. That was how deep Alfredo’s dislike for him ran. Just saying Collin’s name seemed to disgust him.
Collin was used to it. He gave a slight nod, his face unreadable.
Once dinner came to an end, the Riley family at the table quietly scattered, each slipping away to manage their own affairs. Alfredo and Collin headed upstairs for a private conversation, Fernanda scooped up the cat and disappeared into her room for some pampering, and Huntley found a quiet spot elsewhere to take a call. Meanwhile, the staff moved quickly, clearing away plates and tidying up the dining room.
One by one, everyone had something to keep them busy, leaving Linsey as the only one with no clear task.
