Chapter 463
463:
Dustin’s face lit up as he elbowed Collin. “Oh, that’s right! Ivy got something for Linsey. What are you waiting for? Go grab it.”
Linsey’s eyes widened with excitement. “Seriously? Ivy got me a gift?” She squeezed Collin’s hand, excitement bubbling over. “Let me see! I haven’t even had the chance to get Ivy anything yet. Guess I’ll need to make a trip to the mall soon. I wonder what she’d like…”
Dustin smirked, satisfied with how smoothly he had steered the conversation in a safer direction.
Meanwhile, Collin took in Linsey’s cheerful expression, a flicker of guilt twisting in his chest. He gave a small nod. “It’s in the car. I’ll have someone bring it in for you.”
Linsey, delighted by the gift, spent a long time admiring it before finally setting it down—almost reluctantly.
Collin watched her closely, realizing something he hadn’t considered before. Growing up in an orphanage, she probably wasn’t used to receiving gifts. Aside from Ella, the warm-hearted head of the orphanage, who else had ever done this for her? The thought struck a deep chord.
In that quiet moment, Collin made a silent promise—to cherish her, protect her, and make sure she never had to feel that kind of emptiness again.
Unaware of the emotions stirring in him, Linsey carefully tucked the gift away and turned to Dustin with a bright smile. “Are you staying for dinner? The kitchen should be just about done.”
Dustin let out a light chuckle. “Thanks, Linsey.”
“No need to thank me. I really appreciate how much you look out for Collin.” Linsey shook her head, her smile warm.
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At that, Dustin shot Collin a playful glance before nudging him with his elbow. “Hear that? Your wife really cares about you.”
His words weren’t just teasing—they carried an unspoken reminder. Collin needed to take Ivy’s advice seriously and tell Linsey the truth. After all, someone as sincere as Linsey was rare.
Collin met Dustin’s gaze, understanding the weight behind his words. He gave a small nod. “Yeah… my wife takes good care of me.”
Linsey stood up, cradling the gift in her hands. “Alright, you two, go wash up. Dinner’s almost ready. I’ll go put this away first.”
As she headed upstairs, Collin watched her go, a deep sigh escaping him. The weight in his chest only seemed to grow heavier.
Dustin raised an eyebrow. “Why are you still so wound up? The Lawson family banquet is days away. Take it easy.”
Collin lowered his gaze, his voice quieter than before. “The closer it gets, the worse it feels. If she’s just angry, I can handle that. But what if she walks away? What if she leaves me for good?”
Dustin blinked, caught off guard by the sheer weight of Collin’s words. Sure, Linsey had every right to be upset—but disappearing entirely? That felt a little dramatic.
Collin was overthinking things. Yet, seeing how much Linsey meant to him, Dustin couldn’t blame him for the fear gnawing at his mind.
Still, the thought of Collin unraveling if things ever went south sent a shiver down Dustin’s spine. He didn’t even want to imagine how that would look.
After dinner, Dustin left. Outside, the night sky stretched endlessly, its darkness speckled with shimmering stars.
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