Chapter 214
214:
Linsey glanced back at her and asked, “Kylee, is there anything specific you’d like to eat? I can have the kitchen prepare it for you.”
Kylee’s eyes flickered with a hint of calculation. She reached out and patted Collin’s shoulder, her voice light and playful. “Collin, we’ve known each other for ages. I’m sure the staff here remembers what I like, don’t you think?”
Linsey merely blinked, remaining silent.
Collin’s voice remained calm and even. “You’ve been away for quite a while, Kylee,” he pointed out. “The staff has changed a few times since then. Josh is getting on in years and has a lot on his plate. It’s not really fair to expect him to remember every little detail. If you have any specific requests, just let the staff know directly.”
Josh overheard the exchange and stepped in with a gentle smile. “Indeed, Miss Russell, my memory isn’t what it used to be. Please, don’t take offense. Just let me know what you’d like to eat, and I’ll have the kitchen prepare it right away.”
Kylee’s smile didn’t falter. “Thank you, Josh,” she replied sweetly.
Collin, Linsey, and Kylee moved into the spacious living room and settled on the plush sofas. Kylee, eager to impress, launched into a series of amusing anecdotes from her recent trip abroad. Collin, however, responded with polite but detached interest.
He meticulously wiped his hands with a napkin, then picked up an orange from the fruit bowl on the coffee table and began peeling it with practiced ease. Kylee watched, her heart fluttering with anticipation. As Collin finished peeling the orange, she instinctively extended her hand, expecting him to offer it to her.
But to her dismay, Collin placed the peeled orange directly into Linsey’s outstretched hand.
“These oranges are particularly sweet today,” Collin remarked. “Try one.”
Linsey, who had been lost in her own thoughts, blinked in surprise. “How do you know?” After all, he had just returned home.
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Collin chuckled. “I had one before I left this morning,” he explained.
Linsey plucked a segment from the orange and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes lit up. “Mmm,” she hummed in satisfaction. “It really is sweet.”
She casually broke off another segment and offered it to Collin, who leaned in and took it from her fingers without hesitation.
Kylee sat on the sofa, fuming silently as she observed their easy, intimate interaction.
After a tense silence, Kylee cleared her throat, desperate to break the spell. “Oh, Collin,” she began, forcing a bright smile. “I just remembered something I wanted to discuss with you.”
“Go ahead,” Collin replied, his attention still lingering on Linsey.
Kylee feigned hesitation, glancing at Linsey. “Well…” she began, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to discuss in front of Linsey.”
Linsey looked up, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Collin’s expression darkened slightly. “Just spit it out, Kylee.”
Emboldened, Kylee finally revealed her motive for visiting. “I came here today hoping I could impose on you for a short stay. My return to the country has unfortunately attracted a lot of unwanted attention online. The paparazzi have exposed all of my properties, and even my parents’ home is constantly surrounded. I’m quite frightened to go back—I don’t want to cause them any more distress.”
She continued, “I know Vista Villa is very private and secure; the paparazzi won’t be able to find me here. I was hoping I could stay for a few days.”
Kylee sighed helplessly. “However, I wasn’t aware you were married before I arrived. Now I’m concerned that Linsey might object. Perhaps I should consider alternative arrangements. I could always stay at a hotel.”
Upon hearing this, Linsey recalled a news article she had read earlier while researching. The renowned actress Kylee had once been in a dangerous situation due to relentless paparazzi harassment. Some photographers were known to cross any line for a sensational story. It couldn’t be easy for a woman like Kylee to endure such constant scrutiny.
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