Chapter 1182:
Reality crashed over Felix like cold water. He lunged forward, rage blazing in his voice as he shouted at Collin. “You deranged cripple! How dare you pull such a crazy stunt right in front of everyone!”
His voice cracked with fury. “I’m the one who’s supposed to marry Linsey!” Without hesitation, he charged straight at Collin.
Swift as shadows, the bodyguards intercepted him. They seized his arms and drove a brutal kick into his ribs, sending him crashing to the floor.
“Felix!” Horror filled Linsey’s scream as she fought against her captors, desperate to reach him. “Are you okay?”
Pain wracked Felix’s body as he lay sprawled on the cold marble. Every breath felt like fire, and words refused to come. Heartbreak consumed Linsey completely.
She rose to her feet, fury blazing in her eyes. “You villain, I will never marry you!”
“Is it because of him?” Collin drew a gun with casual ease, his smile never faltering. “If he were dead, would you agree to a different groom?”
Ice flooded Linsey’s veins at those words.
Felix believed it was all an empty threat. Fighting through the agony, he struggled to his feet and glared defiantly. “Who do you think you are? If you dare…”
His words died unfinished. Thunder cracked through the air as Collin’s gun roared, sending a shot straight into the ceiling above.
Screams erupted from the terrified guests as they clutched their heads and scrambled for the exits in pure panic.
Fear turned Felix’s legs to jelly, and he collapsed back to the floor. The next instant, Collin leveled the smoking barrel directly at Felix’s forehead. A wicked smile spread across his lips.
“Please don’t kill me!” Terror finally convinced Felix that Collin meant business. His voice broke as he begged for mercy.
“Don’t shoot!” Desperation drove Linsey forward without thought. She threw herself in front of Felix, her teeth clenched as the words tore from her throat. “Collin, if you promise not to hurt Felix, I’ll marry you!”
Those words made Collin’s eyebrow arch with interest. Surprise flickered across his face. Linsey appeared so fragile, yet she showed no fear of his weapon.
Since she offered to negotiate, he saw no reason to refuse her terms. After all, marriage was his only goal—something to satisfy Ivy’s demands. Taking a life would only complicate matters unnecessarily.
Decision made, Collin gestured to his men surrounding Felix. “Let him go.” The black-suited bodyguards stepped back instantly, forming two perfect lines.
Relief flooded through Linsey as she turned to help Felix to his feet. What she didn’t expect was for him to scramble away from her in terror.
“Felix! Felix!” Alarm filled her voice as she called after him.
But no matter how desperately she called, Felix acted as though he couldn’t hear her. He fled without a single backward glance. Within moments, he had vanished completely from sight.
Linsey stood frozen in place, ice spreading through her veins. They had promised to face everything together, yet when it mattered most, he abandoned her without a second thought.
Shock held Linsey captive as she stared at the empty space where Felix had disappeared. Her mind reeled in complete confusion.
Just then, a cruel voice cut through her daze. “This is the groom you wanted to protect? Doesn’t seem like much of a man.”
