?Chapter 831:


    Linsey, however, stayed quiet. She hadn’t looked at Collin once.


    Then Haven spoke, her voice soft butced with meaning. “I haven’t had the pleasure of hearing thisdy’s name yet. She’s been quiet since the beginning. As Ms. Davidson’s capable assistant, shouldn’t she speak up a little more?”


    Dolores looked over and smiled faintly. “Why don’t you introduce yourself first? After all, you’re the one Mr. Riley brought along.” Hearing that, Dustin sighed and rubbed his face, his eyes closing briefly.


    He wasn’t surprised. Dolores never missed a chance to poke at Collin.


    Collin quietly set down his utensils, his tone still polite. “This is Haven Walton. She recently returned from abroad.”


    Dolores gave a knowing smile. “Mr. Riley and Ms. Walton seem quite close.”


    Haven’s lips curled into a sweet smile. She was ready to agree, but Collin cut in before she could speak. “My grandmother is close with the Waltons. She asked me to help show Haven around.”


    His tone was even, but there was no mistaking the message. Then he nced at Linsey.


    Her face remained steady and unreadable—as if none of it concerned her.


    That flicker of indifference hit Collin hard. A shadow passed through his eyes, and there was a trace of bitterness in his smile.


    He wanted to exin more, but Haven’s presence held him back.


    ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? — ????????????: ????????????????﹒??????


    If she caught on, she mightsh outter—when he wasn’t there to protect Linsey.


    After everything that happened four years ago, Collin couldn’t afford to take that risk.


    So he didn’t reveal Linsey’s identity as Aurora. He didn’t even say her name.


    Haven fell silent. Her smile stiffened as she realized what had just happened—Collin was distancing himself from her right in front of everyone.


    The sting of it was sharp and humiliating.


    Just earlier, even Dolores had assumed she was Collin’s girlfriend.


    Dolores raised a brow, her voiceced with sarcasm. “Oh? I thought you two were a couple.”


    Haven, eager to keep Collin from saying more, quickly answered, “We’re just friends.”


    A quiet voice broke through the moment. “How can that be true?” Linsey cut in. “Didn’t Mr. Riley spend 2.7 billion at a charity auction to buy the Star of the Desert for Haven? That doesn’t sound like just friends to me.”


    Dolores froze. She was stunned—not just by the insane price of the ne, but by the fact that Linsey, who had been silent, chose to speak up now.


    She wasn’t the only one surprised. Dustin’s eyes widened too. He turned to Collin and asked in a hushed voice, “You bought a ne for Haven? For 2.7 billion? Why didn’t you tell me?” Linsey’s words left Collin momentarily speechless.


    Haven, on the other hand, blushed deeply. “Collin only bought the Star of the Desert for my birthday. It’s the most touching gift I’ve ever received,” she said with a bashful smile.


    .


    .


    .