Chapter 218
218:
Meanwhile, Collin and Kylee arrived at a DVD store with a simple, classic façade.
“It’s like stepping back in time,” Kylee mused aloud, a wistful smile gracing her lips as she gazed around the quaint little shop. “Do you remember, Collin? This is where we first met, all those years ago.”
Collin’s expression remained impassive. “I remember,” he replied simply.
Kylee bent down and picked up a classic movie DVD from one of the shelves, a nostalgic glint in her eyes. “Back then,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper, “I was convinced we’d get married someday. But then…”
Collin’s expression remained unchanged, his voice flat. “The past is the past, Kylee.”
Tears welled up in Kylee’s eyes as she turned to face him, her voice trembling with emotion. “We were supposed to get married, Collin,” she reminded him. “But then… you had that terrible accident.” Her gaze flickered towards his legs, a silent reminder of the tragedy that had changed their lives. “When my parents found out… they forced me to break off the engagement. They took me away, far away. Collin, do you still blame me for leaving?”
Her expression and voice were filled with remorse as she desperately tried to explain herself. “I truly didn’t want to leave. I felt so guilty, so heartbroken.”
She took a deep breath, her voice barely a whisper. “I often wonder, if the accident hadn’t happened, would we be married by now? Would we have a family?”
“Kylee,” Collin interrupted, his voice firm but gentle, “I’ve never blamed you for any of it.”
Kylee lowered her eyes. “Collin, I know that if it weren’t for your support, I wouldn’t have achieved any of this.”
Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked at him, her voice filled with admiration and sympathy. “Everyone in town dismisses you, Collin,” she said, her voice breaking. “They call you the black sheep of the Riley family. But I know you, I know how capable you truly are. They’ve all misunderstood you, and it breaks my heart to see how they’ve treated you.”
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A pained expression washed over Kylee’s face, and deep down, she was filled with regret.
Had it not been for Collin’s disability, she would have been his wife ages ago.
She knew she could never marry a man who had seemingly lost everything, especially one confined to a wheelchair. For years, she had shamelessly kept Collin as a fallback option, convinced that his feelings for her remained unchanged.
Before returning to the country, she had resolved that if she couldn’t find a man superior to Collin, she might as well secure him for herself. After all, Collin was the founder of CR Corporation, a man of significant wealth and influence.
She had never anticipated that he would secretly marry someone else!
Thoughts of Linsey ignited a spark of jealousy and resentment in her.
“Alright, alright, let’s not dwell on the past any longer. You’re absolutely right—it’s over and done with. Besides, you’re a married man now. It’s not appropriate for me to reminisce about such trivial matters.”
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Kylee dabbed at the corners of her eyes, feigning a tear or two, and asked with feigned curiosity, “By the way, does Linsey know about your true identity?”
“Not yet,” Collin replied.
Kylee’s smugness grew upon hearing his response.
She was convinced that Collin’s feelings for Linsey were merely a fleeting infatuation, nothing serious.
Reassured, she gathered her courage, offered a timid smile, and boldly reached for his hand.
In that case, she saw no harm in seizing this opportunity to strengthen their bond.
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