Chapter 448

 448:
“What happened?” Her heart pounded with sudden concern. She was sure she had tapped his uninjured arm.
Tension knotted in her stomach as she leaned forward to examine the spot she had hit. “Show me.”
Yet, as she stretched out her arm, Collin’s features softened into a mischievous grin, and he swiftly captured her wrist in his grasp. His affectionate eyes locked onto hers.
Linsey’s pulse raced. Breaking from her momentary trance, she gathered her wits and scowled, her irritation laced with disbelief. “Collin, you’ve duped me once more!”
Her expression, a mix of annoyance and playful exasperation, only made Collin cherish this unexpected glimpse of her spirited side even more. Linsey, usually so composed, now sparkled with an infectious energy that drew a genuine, admiring smile from Collin. His striking features softened, making him all the more captivating. This man possessed an almost unfair level of attractiveness.
Even as she recognized his playful antics, Linsey found it exceedingly difficult to harbor any real anger toward him. With this thought, she released a half-exasperated, half-amused sigh. Collin quickly responded, tenderly caressing her cheek in a comforting gesture. “Alright, I admit it—I was wrong.” His tone lacked any real remorse.
“You hardly sound apologetic,” Linsey retorted, her arms folded across her chest as she adopted a stern expression. “For a moment there, you really had me worried. I feared I might have accidentally struck your injured arm.”
As he realized his joke had genuinely alarmed her, Collin’s demeanor shifted to one of earnest concern. “I promise not to tease you like that again. Please, don’t be upset, okay?”
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The genuine remorse in his apology swiftly dissolved Linsey’s irritation. Their conversation soon resumed its playful tone before steering back to more serious matters.
“The Lawson family inviting you is notable, but I’m far more concerned about your arm. The banquet will be crowded—what if someone accidentally bumps into you?” Linsey expressed her worries.
Collin offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t fret, I’m nearly healed. The banquet isn’t for a few more days. With ample rest at home, I’ll be in fine form. Besides, it’s crucial I attend this banquet, and I’d like you to be there with me.”
Linsey blinked in surprise. As he spoke, Collin took her hand, his grip firm. “I’m going to use this banquet to show everyone in town that Linsey’s husband is no failure,” he said, emphasizing each word.
Linsey’s eyes flickered, her heart swelling with a mix of surprise and warmth. She hadn’t expected him to have such a plan. The weight of his conviction settled in, and she realized arguing wouldn’t change a thing. He had already made up his mind.
“Alright, I’ll go with you,” she said after a moment of thought. The Lawson family’s banquet was a big deal, and going with Collin would be good for both of them.
Collin, finally hearing the words he had been hoping for, let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Suddenly, a piece of gossip from work popped into Linsey’s mind, and she said out of curiosity, “By the way, I heard the founder of CR Corporation will be at the Lawson family banquet too. Dustin is the public face of the company—he must have met the founder already.”
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