Marrying A Secret Zillionaire: Happy Ever After Novel

Chapter 1263: Life had already taught her plenty about jealous childhood friends. Felix's old friend, Joanna, used to pull these tricks, and now she was getting the same treatment from Collin's childhood sweetheart, Kylee. Linsey honestly wondered what she had done to deserve all this drama. Whenever Joanna played the innocent victim and Linsey defended herself, Felix never took her side. He would only scold her instead. She figured Collin would probably act just like Felix-unable to see through such games. That thought left Linsey annoyed.

Facing Collin, she said coldly, "I didn't stop her from coming in. She ran into me on purpose. That's the truth. Believe me or not, it's your choice." She turned to leave, intent on heading upstairs. Just as she moved past, Collin reached out and caught her hand. His answer came right away. "I believe you." The words stunned Linsey. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. Never in her life did she expect Collin to take her side over his childhood friend. Shock painted Kylee's face.

"Collin, you're saying you don't believe me?" Holding on to Linsey's hand even tighter, Collin glanced at Kylee. Instead of answering directly, he shifted the conversation. "So, what brings you here today?" Kylee clearly didn't want to let it go and clung to her innocent act. "Collin, you've known me forever. You should know I would never hurt anyone. Why would I push Linsey for no reason..." Collin cut her off, the impatience in his tone now unmistakable. "If you have nothing important to say, then you should go." The message was crystal clear-a dismissal.

Kylee's heart sank with a sharp pang of hurt, but she knew Collin's temperament well enough not to push further. Swallowing her wounded pride, she cleared her throat and managed to speak through the tightness in her voice. "Actually, I came here to deliver something." Reaching into her designer Hermes bag, Kylee extracted an elegant invitation card and extended it toward him. "My birthday celebration is coming up in just a few days, and I'm throwing a grand banquet at Century Hotel.

I'd love for you to be there, Collin." Fresh updates loaded gαℓησνs․cøm Collin accepted the invitation card with casual indifference, his striking features betraying no emotion whatsoever. "Fine." Kylee then turned to Linsey, holding out a second invitation card with barely disguised contempt. "Normally, someone of your... background wouldn't qualify for an invitation to my birthday banquet. But since you're Collin's wife, I suppose I can make an exception out of respect for him." From the instant they had met, Linsey had felt the waves of disdain rolling off Kylee in almost tangible waves.

Something hot and inexplicable ignited in her chest. Rather than reaching for the invitation card, Linsey met Kylee's condescending gaze head-on. "How thoughtful of you, Kylee. But you're absolutely right. Someone like me has no business in your elite circles. Since we clearly move in different worlds, I won't force myself where I don't belong." Kylee had fully expected Linsey to snatch up the invitation card with pathetic gratitude. This bold defiance caught her completely off guard, nearly shattering her composure.

Though she genuinely despised the idea of Linsey attending her banquet, every aspect of her carefully crafted plan depended entirely on Linsey's presence. Kylee's brow creased as conflicting thoughts warred in her mind. She was torn between her wounded pride and her desperate need for Linsey to attend. The problem was, her ego simply wouldn't allow her to lower herself to actual persuasion. . . .