Chapter 139
139:
Linsey’s thoughts quickly drifted back to the heated moments from earlier. Embarrassed and irritated, she stamped her foot down on Collin’s, hoping to release some of her frustration. She knew he couldn’t feel anything below his knees, so it was a harmless way to let off steam. But to her surprise, he gasped sharply, causing her to freeze in shock.
“Are you alright?” Linsey rushed over to Collin, her face etched with worry. After a moment of stunned silence, she asked in confusion, “Are you in pain? Can you feel anything in your feet?”
Collin’s heart skipped a beat. He realized he had accidentally revealed something he shouldn’t have. Linsey hadn’t actually stepped on his foot that hard. But in a moment of spontaneity, he had instinctively decided to tease her, briefly forgetting that he was still pretending to be unable to walk.
He furrowed his brows slightly, unsure of how to explain this to her. Should he tell her the truth now? But if Linsey found out, it would only put her at greater risk.
Linsey, unaware of his inner turmoil, noticed his conflicted expression and suddenly had a realization. Her face lit up with excitement. “You can feel something! Does this mean there’s hope for your legs to heal?” She grinned, grabbing his hands earnestly. “Collin, it seems like there’s a chance you might be getting some feeling back in your legs!” Linsey didn’t overthink it. She simply assumed Collin was just as surprised as she was by the unexpected sensation. After all, he had been struggling with his disability for so many years, it was only natural that he would long to stand on his own two feet again.
Collin looked at the uncontainable joy on her face, and his emotions became incredibly complicated. He knew without a doubt that her happiness stemmed entirely from her concern for him. However, there were too many urgent issues to deal with, and he had no choice but to continue the charade.
Pressing his lips together, he regained his composure and offered a small smile. “It’s just a faint sensation. Don’t get your hopes up just yet. My doctor once mentioned there was a possibility I could recover, but it’s been almost ten years, and there hasn’t been any real improvement. So, I try not to get my hopes up.”
Linsey’s smile wavered, and she softly said, “I understand.” A pang of sympathy resonated within her, but she recognized that the weight of this burden must be far heavier for him than for herself.
Therefore, she resolved to steer clear of the subject, unwilling to inflict further distress upon him. With this intention in mind, she summoned a smile and said gently, “It’s alright. Go attend to your work.”
Collin nodded in acknowledgment, bid her farewell, and, with the assistance of his assistant, settled into the car before swiftly departing. Observing the car vanish into the horizon, Linsey felt a spark of hope rekindle within her heart. Perhaps, one day, Collin would indeed be back on his feet.
Fueled by this resolve, she made up her mind to seek out Collin’s doctor and delve into the intricacies of his condition. Wasting no time, she returned to the villa and inquired with Josh about the doctor’s contact details and whereabouts.
To her astonishment, she discovered that the doctor attending to Collin’s legs was none other than Dominic—the very same doctor she had encountered during her prior hospitalization. Swiftly collecting her belongings, she hailed a taxi and headed straight for the hospital.
However, as fate would have it, just as she set foot inside the hospital, a middle-aged woman came hurtling toward her, resulting in a harsh collision. A cry of pain escaped her lips as she looked up to find the woman sprawled across the floor.
Disregarding her own discomfort, she hurried to the woman’s aid. “I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed. “I really didn’t mean for that to happen. Are you alright?”
“Oh, dear! Just my luck!” The middle-aged woman, her face etched with a sickly pallor, frowned in displeasure. Then, unleashing a torrent of expletives, she shrieked, “Are you blind? What in the world is wrong with you?”
Still muttering under her breath, she unceremoniously propped herself up using Linsey’s arm.
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