Chapter 240

 240:
He clenched his jaw, then released her, his concern growing that she might catch a cold from lying on the damp grass.
Without a word, Linsey sat up quickly, her movements sharp and purposeful. When she looked back at him, their eyes locked for a moment. She noticed the cautious uncertainty in his expression.
She didn’t leave, as she could have. Instead, she helped him to his feet, guiding him back to his wheelchair with gentle assurance.
“Let’s go inside and get that cleaned up,” she said, her voice calmer now.
By the time she wheeled him into the living room, her nerves had settled, though the weight of the evening still hung in the air.
She retrieved the first aid kit, her hands steady as she carefully examined the wound on his arm.
It wasn’t until she had the wound in front of her that she realized how badly she had bitten him.
A knot of unease twisted in her chest. Her anger had been overwhelming, and in the heat of the moment, she had put everything into that bite.
The bite was deeper than she thought. It made sense now why the blood kept coming.
As she carefully cleaned the wound, she felt a subtle shift—his eyes were on her.
For a split second, she froze, caught off guard. Quickly, she turned her attention back to his arm, feeling the heat rise to her face.
After dressing Collin’s wound, Linsey studied his face, searching for any sign of discomfort.
Was he some kind of painless miracle? The cut had been deep, and the blood loss should have made him wince, but instead, he barely flinched.
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com is your fiction sanctuary
He only let out a soft breath, as though it were nothing. Caught in her thoughts, she stared at him.
Collin noticed her gaze and, with a subtle smile, asked, “What’s going on, Linsey?”
She blinked, snapping back to reality, and raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure nothing’s off with how you feel pain?”
He took a brief pause before answering, his voice steady. “I’ve been through worse. This is nothing.”
As he spoke, she couldn’t help but recall the rough treatment he had endured from his family. It made sense now—his pain tolerance was extraordinary. A wave of sympathy washed over her.
After a moment, she glanced around, changing the subject. “Where’s Kylee?”
Collin responded casually, “She complained about her leg hurting, so I had someone take her to the hospital.” He hesitated for a beat before adding, “She won’t be back tonight.”
Linsey froze, surprised. “Why not?”
“I made other arrangements for her,” he said, his tone serious as he met her gaze. “Linsey, please don’t misunderstand. I promise, I’ll stay away from Kylee from now on. Can you stop being angry with me?”
Before Linsey could respond, he quickly added, “It’s not just Kylee. I’ll keep my distance from all other women, too.”
A playful grin tugged at his lips as he continued, “From now on, only you, Linsey, get to be close to me.”
Linsey found herself frozen for a moment, captivated by the warmth of his smile.
Although Collin’s words echoed what Felix had once said, there was a sharp contrast. Back then, when Felix had learned of her concerns, he hadn’t comforted her. Instead, he had blamed her for being unreasonable.
But Collin… Collin didn’t judge her or dismiss her feelings. He made her a promise—one that felt both sincere and unwavering.
.
.
.