Chapter 184

 184:
Seeing the concern in Ella’s eyes, Linsey offered a reassuring smile. “Ella, don’t worry about me. I’m not alone; there’s no need to be afraid.” She turned to Collin with a smile. “After all, my husband is here. He’ll protect me,” she said.
Collin’s lips curved into a slight smile. He reached out and took her hand, his grip firm. Turning to Ella, he promised, “Ella, don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to Linsey.”
Seeing the sincerity in Collin’s eyes, Ella felt some of her anxiety dissipate.
Linsey glanced at the closed door. “Ella, we can’t just sit here and do nothing. Now that those thugs are gone, we need to call the police before they come back.”
Ella sighed, her expression troubled. “It won’t do any good. I’ve called the police before, but they didn’t lift a finger. I even tried contacting the media, but the reporters were all paid off. Nothing ever came of it.”
As Ella spoke, her gaze drifted towards the group of children huddled in the courtyard.
The earlier commotion had frightened them, and several teachers and volunteers were trying to soothe their frayed nerves, keeping them away from the classrooms for now.
“Those thugs keep showing up and causing trouble. A while back, they scared off several families who were interested in adopting, and now many of our volunteers are too terrified to come back.” Worry etched deep lines on Ella’s face, making her appear older than her years. “I know their game. They’re deliberately trying to shut us down. If I can’t stop them, these children will be shipped off to who-knows-where. They’re so young… if they leave here, who knows what will become of them?”
The thought of those vulnerable children filled Linsey with a sense of helplessness and anger. “Isn’t there anything we can do to fight back? Is there no one in town who can stand up to the Wade family?”
Ella let out a heavy sigh. “We’re just small potatoes, Linsey. All we can do is try to hold on as long as possible.”
Linsey, dissatisfied with the lack of options, looked down, her frustration growing.
Find your next story at gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s．𝓬o𝗺
Just then, Collin’s calm, steady voice cut through the tension. “Perhaps I can be of assistance.”
Linsey turned to him, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
Collin met her gaze, his expression serious. “If you trust me, I’ll do everything I can to resolve this situation.”
Linsey hesitated. She instinctively doubted that even someone as resourceful as Collin could truly challenge the Wade family.
After all, she was well aware of his precarious position within the Riley family. Despite the Rileys having more clout than the Wades, Collin wasn’t exactly a favorite son. What could he realistically do? However, considering the dire straits the orphanage was in, Linsey couldn’t think of any other viable options.
“Are you sure about this, Collin?” Linsey asked softly, her voice laced with concern. “I don’t want you to get caught in the crossfire.”
Collin offered her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”
As she gazed into Collin’s eyes, a wave of calm washed over Linsey.
At that moment, an inexplicable sense of peace settled over her.
Perhaps Collin could actually resolve this problem.
“Alright,” Linsey said, a faint smile gracing her lips. “I trust you.”
Collin wasted no time. He immediately pulled out his phone and made a few calls, dispatching some of his men to the orphanage. “Keep an eye on things for the next few days. Make sure those thugs don’t cause any more trouble.”
Ella’s eyes welled up with gratitude. “Linsey, Collin, thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me, and to the children. Thank you.”
.
.
.