Chapter 521
521:
Meanwhile, after finishing their shopping, Linsey and Dolores headed to a nearby restaurant for a meal.
“Linsey, I still don’t trust Carol’s intentions. You need to be careful—don’t walk right into a trap,” Dolores twirled her fork in her spaghetti, her tone serious.
Linsey shared the same suspicion. She nodded, but the thought dampened her appetite.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be cautious.” She hesitated before adding softly, “Honestly, I don’t interact with Carol much. She’s a Lawson—we come from completely different worlds. We only talk about design, nothing more.”
Dolores scoffed. “That’s what I’m worried about. A spoiled rich girl like her could easily make things difficult for you. Don’t be too obedient. Don’t just follow her orders blindly.”
Dolores’ concern made Linsey smile. “You don’t have to fuss over me. I’ll be just fine.”
Shifting the focus, she asked, “By the way, I haven’t checked in on you. How have you been?”
As she spoke, she poured soup into her bowl, too preoccupied to notice the brief flicker of sadness that crossed Dolores’s face.
“What could possibly be wrong? I’m doing great.” Dolores kept her voice light, her lips curving into a smile. She didn’t want to burden Linsey with her troubles. There were two reasons for that. First, Linsey was expecting. If she shared what was on her mind, Linsey would undoubtedly worry and drain herself over it.
As she thought of the other reason, a trace of sorrow flickered in Dolores’s eyes. If things fell apart, Linsey wouldn’t be caught in the fallout.
Linsey’s voice was gentle. “You shouldn’t push yourself too hard. No matter how demanding work gets, nothing matters more than your well-being.”
Dolores let out a soft chuckle. “If I slow down, who’d hold everything together?”
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Linsey felt warmth spread through her chest. Reaching across the table, she took Dolores’ hand, her tone sincere. “You don’t always have to carry everything alone. Let me be there for you too.”
Dolores arched an eyebrow, her gaze playfully shifting to Linsey’s belly. “Let’s revisit that idea after the baby arrives.”
She then nudged a dish toward Linsey. “Eat up. You said you were starving, but you’ve barely touched anything.”
Linsey exhaled with a small smile. “I was hungry a moment ago, but now, I don’t know why I’ve lost my appetite.”
Before Dolores could respond, Linsey’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, and immediately, a soft, radiant smile spread across her face.
Dolores didn’t even need to ask. “Let me guess—Collin?”
Linsey’s eyes twinkled. “Yep.”
As if something had just clicked, she quickly added, “Oh! I can’t let him find out I went to the hospital for a check-up today. This stays between us.”
After reminding herself and Dolores, she finally picked up the phone.
“Linsey, where are you?”
The second she heard Collin’s voice, an odd sense of unease settled in her chest.
“I’m out having lunch with Dolores. Why?” she responded softly.
Collin chuckled. “You didn’t answer quickly—I thought you were napping.”
Linsey pursed her lips. “You think I sleep that much? It’s already past noon. How could I still be in bed?”
Then, she teased, “What’s with the sudden call? Didn’t we talk last night?”
There was a brief pause before Collin’s deep and affectionate voice came through. “I just miss you, sweetheart.”
Heat crept up Linsey’s neck, and within seconds, her cheeks flushed. Across the table, Dolores remained quiet, but her amusement was evident—she was enjoying how flustered Linsey had become.
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