Chapter 1372:
There was something about that look in his eyes—it always put her on edge, filling her with an uneasy sense of what might come next. As expected, he said, “While I was gone, did you go to my grandma and talk shit about me behind my back?”
A dry laugh escaped her. “Mr. Riley, what makes you so sure I’ve been talking shit about you?”
“I saw it myself,” Collin answered, his voice clipped and cold.
“You!” Heat rushed back into Linsey’s voice, her fists curling tight at her sides. If it weren’t for the memory of him saving her life once, and the fact that Ivy stood watching, she might have slapped Collin right then to snap him out of it.
The truth was, Ivy had been the one to strike up the conversation, and she had made it clear more than once that there was nothing between her and Collin. Even without…
Even without knowing every detail, Collin should have had enough sense to realize she wouldn’t have recognized his grandmother without an introduction.
A mix of irritation and disappointment churned inside Linsey.
Had she seen this coming, she would have lingered at the hospital entrance a few more minutes. That way, she could have dodged Collin altogether and spared herself the frustration. The tension in the corridor thickened.
Stepping forward, Ivy spoke quickly in Linsey’s defense. “No, you’ve got it wrong, Collin. I was the one who went to her.”
Collin’s expression didn’t change. “And why exactly did you approach her?”
Before she could answer, the door to a nearby hospital room swung open, and someone stepped out.
Dolores had planned to get a bit of fresh air after feeling trapped inside all morning.
Stretching her arms, she noticed the small group gathered in the hallway. Her gaze stopped on Linsey, and a smile spread across her face. “Linsey!” she called out, her voice bright with surprise.
𝒍𝒂tｅ𝒔t 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏 gαlnovels.ｃοm
The sound drew everyone’s attention in an instant.
Collin’s eyes flicked toward the girl in the hospital gown, a glimmer of surprise breaking through his composure.
So Linsey wasn’t here to see Gorman—she was visiting a girl?
The moment Linsey spotted Dolores, her face broke into an unguarded smile, and she turned away from Collin without hesitation.
“Sorry, Mrs. Riley,” she said, turning to the older woman. “My friend came out to see me. If we’re done, I’ll head over to her.”
“Of course. Go on,” Ivy responded warmly.
Linsey ran toward her friend with a bright smile, and they slipped into the hospital room.
Ivy’s gaze followed her until she disappeared, then she let out an admiring sigh. “What a delightful girl.”
“In what way?” Collin asked, genuinely puzzled.
“She’s pretty, well-mannered, and has the sweetest voice. Far more adorable than you,” Ivy teased.
Her tone softened into a hint of reproach. “If I hadn’t stumbled upon the fact that you two know each other, were you planning to hide it from me forever?”
