Chapter 1326:
Collin caught a glimpse of that smile—and a surge of irrational anger welled up in his chest.
He hadn’t forgotten the way she had quietly slipped out onto the balcony last night to take a call. And now, here she was again, chatting cheerfully on the phone first thing in the morning. Linsey wasn’t the type to spend hours on calls. The conclusion was obvious to him—she must be talking to that guy again. The so-called “Cute Guy.”
The more he thought about it, the more his temper flared. Interrupting her mid-call, he snapped, “Linsey, do you think I don’t exist?”
His voice was sharp, accusatory. He couldn’t believe she had the audacity to laugh so freely—with another man—right in front of him.
Linsey looked at him, her expression calm but tinged with annoyance. His sudden outburst over something so trivial caught her off guard.
Was a simple phone call really worth this kind of overreaction?
However, she sighed inwardly, biting back her irritation. Today was his birthday. She would let it slide.
She wrapped up the call and said evenly, “Alright, I’m hanging up. Happy?” Without giving Collin a chance to respond, she turned and walked straight into the bathroom.
When she emerged, the room was empty.
Assuming Collin had gone out, Linsey didn’t think much of it. She changed clothes, grabbed her phone and bag, and headed out.
What she didn’t know was that Collin hadn’t left at all—he was on the balcony, quietly taking a call.
Just as he slid the door open to return inside, he saw Linsey walking out of the house with purpose. And suddenly, dread hit him like a punch to the chest.
Was she planning to run off with that guy?
The mere idea made Collin’s heart pound. There was no way he would let that happen. If she was really leaving him for another man, he would deal with the situation himself—no matter what it took.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his keys and followed.
Meanwhile, Linsey, completely unaware she was being tailed, was in high spirits.
She arrived at the mall, her mind focused on finding the perfect gift for Collin. After strolling through several shops, she stepped into a sleek flagship boutique known for high-end men’s accessories.
The modern space was quiet and elegant. When a sales associate approached, Linsey politely signaled that she preferred to browse on her own.
As she moved between displays, contemplating what he might like, a familiar voice called out behind her. “Linsey.”
She looked up, instantly recognizing the speaker—and her expression turned to stone. “What a coincidence.”
There was no coincidence. Felix had been looking for her. He had hired someone to track her down and rushed here as soon as he had her location. Without warning, he reached for her hand, desperation etched across his face. “Linsey, please. You have to help me…”
