Chapter 456

 456:
A gentle smile touched her lips as she turned to Linsey and took her hand warmly. “Thankfully, fate must have finally listened to my prayers and brought you into his life. I couldn’t have asked for a better granddaughter-in-law.”
The sincerity in Ivy’s voice didn’t go unnoticed. Linsey met her gaze with quiet determination. “Ivy, I promise you—I’ll take good care of Collin.”
Ivy and Linsey finished flipping through the thick photo album. Hours passed as Ivy and Linsey continued talking, their connection deepening with every shared memory and conversation. Collin, watching them from the side, realized with some amusement that he had been entirely left out.
As night deepened, Linsey suddenly recalled something and turned to the servant. “Prepare the guest room upstairs. It has a great view and a balcony. Ivy will love it.”
Before the servant could acknowledge the request, Ivy gently waved a hand. “That won’t be necessary. I won’t be staying here. I’ll be heading to the Grester Nursing Home later tonight.” Her words caught both Linsey and Collin off guard.
Linsey’s brows knitted together. “Ivy, why? You’re home now. Why would you go to a nursing home instead?”
Collin, just as unwilling to accept it, immediately spoke up. “Grandma, no matter how comfortable the nursing home is, it can’t compare to being here with family. Let the servants handle the room. It’ll be ready in no time.”
Ivy’s heart warmed at their sincerity, but her decision remained unchanged. “I appreciate the thought, but everything has already been arranged. Before I came back, I made plans to stay there. My accommodations are set.”
She paused briefly, then flashed them both a playful smile. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to disrupt your married life. I think I’d much rather go to the nursing home, meet new people, and enjoy my time there.” No matter how much the couple tried to convince her, Ivy remained firm in her decision to stay at the nursing home.
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With no other choice, Collin and Linsey eventually relented, though both silently hoped they could find a way to bring her back home later. Not long after, Ivy left.
That night, even after settling into bed, Linsey couldn’t shake the lingering sense of reluctance. Turning to Collin, she murmured, “Honey, I really like Ivy. We should visit her often at the nursing home. I want to make sure she’s happy.”
Collin watched her, amusement flickering in his eyes. He couldn’t help but smile at how earnestly she was already planning visits. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, wrapping an arm securely around her waist.
His warm breath brushed against her ear, sending an unexpected shiver down her spine. Suspicion crept into her expression as she instinctively leaned away. A faint flush crept up her cheeks. “What are you up to?”
Collin held Linsey close, chuckling softly. “Making Grandma happy isn’t too hard, is it? Now that you’ve mentioned it, I suppose I should put in some effort.”
Linsey blinked, a little confused. “What do you mean?”
Collin’s voice turned playful. “Didn’t you hear what Grandma said? She’s eager for a great-grandchild.”
Linsey’s eyes widened as she immediately understood, her face flushing with embarrassment. She tried to pull away from Collin’s embrace.
“You’re being cheeky again!” she protested, her voice a little strained. “Stay away from me!”
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