Chapter 897

 897:
Wearing a polite smile, she said, “I hope I’m not intruding. I heard you’re engaged to Gorman, and I wanted to stop by and offer my congratulations. I even brought a few gifts for the occasion.”
Haven then gestured gracefully toward a table, where a selection of carefully arranged presents awaited.
Linsey barely glanced at them. “Thank you, Ms. Walton,” she said coolly.
Linsey’s tone remained courteous, but something in her manner seemed off, and Haven could feel it.
Still, remembering what Gorman had told her beforehand, she carried on in a gentle tone. “Funny how life works, isn’t it? It’s almost like fate decided we should meet.”
Linsey looked Haven in the eye, her voice steady. “And what makes you say that?”
With a poised smile, Haven replied, “Collin and I are planning to get married later this year, if everything goes as expected.” For a split second, Linsey’s expression faltered.
Haven caught it instantly, and her smile stretched just a bit wider. With deliberate subtlety, Linsey allowed a trace of sorrow to seep into her expression. Her gaze dropped slightly, and the sadness behind her eyes felt genuine, even if it wasn’t.
For a moment, even Haven was caught off guard by the emotional weight in Linsey’s face.
Though she sneered inwardly, Haven put on an innocent face, feigning confusion, and tilted her head as she asked sweetly, “Ms. Brooks, aren’t you going to wish Collin and me well?”
𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖈𝖐𝖊𝖉 𝖘𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖈𝖊: ⳑ𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝘀․𝗰𝗈𝗺
Linsey shifted her gaze away, her voice edged with a chill tone. “Is my blessing really necessary?”
Without waiting for a response, she added flatly, “If there’s nothing else, Ms. Walton, I think I’ll excuse myself. I’ll head upstairs.” She turned to leave, not bothering to wait for permission.
But before she could step away, Gorman’s voice floated in from the doorway, casual, yet loaded with intent. “Linsey, your guest just got here, and you’re already trying to send her off?”
Though Linsey’s expression stayed composed and frosty, her mind was anything but calm. This was exactly what she had anticipated. Gorman had clearly run out of patience.
She didn’t doubt for a second that Haven’s visit had been carefully arranged by Gorman.
Linsey understood exactly what Gorman expected from her, and she was more than willing to play along. Maybe, just maybe, putting on a convincing performance would buy her the opportunity she needed to break free.
With her back still turned to the sound of Gorman’s footsteps drawing closer, Linsey took a silent breath and prepared herself. By the time Gorman reached her, Linsey had already summoned tears. Her eyes shimmered, and her gaze held a quiet sorrow.
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