Chapter 79:
Collin lifted his gaze slightly, his expression sharp and unreadable. “Since when did you start hesitating to speak? If you have something to say, just say it.”
The subordinate straightened and replied at once, “When I came in earlier, I noticed Mrs. Riley seemed upset. Her eyes were red—like she’d been crying. You just got married. If there’s any misunderstanding between you two, it’s best to clear it up quickly before it turns into something worse.”
Collin’s eyes narrowed. So, his subordinate had the nerve to bring up what had just happened?
If this guy hadn’t barged in and interrupted them earlier, what misunderstanding could there possibly be?
“I see. You can go now,” Collin said, his tone carrying a hint of thinly veiled irritation.
The subordinate had served under Collin for years and had long learned to pick up on the subtle meanings behind his every word and movement. His pulse quickened slightly, and without another word, he swiftly exited the room.
Once the study fell silent again, Collin finally had a chance to gather his thoughts. His mind drifted back to the moment when Linsey had accidentally bumped into his chin and cried out in pain.
It hadn’t hurt him in the slightest, but thinking about her delicate skin, he couldn’t help but wonder if she was still hurting. He guessed that even if she was, she probably wouldn’t admit it. After a brief pause, he pushed aside his work, turned his wheelchair, and decided to check on her himself.
Meanwhile, Linsey was still feeling awkward about what had happened earlier. She had imagined her first kiss countless times before—romantic, dreamlike, something straight out of a fairytale. Never in a million years did she expect it to end up like this—awkward, incomplete, and completely ridiculous. Her first kiss was over before it had even begun!
As she stepped into the living room, the butler immediately noticed something was off. “Mrs. Riley, is everything all right? You don’t look too well.”
Linsey froze for a second before snapping out of her thoughts. She instinctively touched her face and quickly replied, “I’m fine.”
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The butler misread her reaction, assuming she was frustrated over failing to convince Collin to take better care of his health. He gave her a warm, understanding smile and reassured her, “Mrs. Riley, don’t take it to heart. Mr. Riley has always been stubborn when it comes to his health. We’ve all tried to persuade him to take better care of himself, but none of us have ever succeeded. It’s nothing personal—he’s just like that.”
Linsey, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment, refocused her thoughts. She had to make food for Collin. That was what mattered right now. All that other stuff—the flustered emotions, the chaos, the lingering awkwardness—she lightly shook her head, pushing them aside, and made her way to the kitchen.
Just as she did, Collin emerged from the study. His gaze flicked to the butler as he asked, “Who were you just talking about? Who’s the one that always ignores advice?”
When she heard Collin’s voice, Linsey spun around, startled. “Collin, why are you out here?”
Even in his wheelchair, his presence commanded attention as he approached her. A faint trace of amusement flickered in Collin’s eyes at her reaction. He raised an eyebrow and spoke in an unhurried tone. “You told me to take better care of my health. I figured you had a point, so I decided to come out for breakfast. Why? Do you have a problem with that?”
Linsey felt the heat rise to her cheeks again as memories of what had happened in the study rushed back. Noticing her hesitation, the butler smiled and spoke up first. He looked at Collin apologetically and said, “Mr. Riley, I misspoke earlier. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
Collin wasn’t particularly concerned about the butler’s words. What unsettled him was the thought of Linsey hearing too much about his past. He had no intention of letting that happen, so he cut the conversation short. “It’s fine,” he said coolly.
