?Chapter 989:


    He turned sharply to Linsey, his expression hardening. “Linsey, I agreed to your care, not his.”


    Linsey met his gaze but didn’t answer right away, weighing her words carefully.


    Under her thoughtful silence, all the arguments Gorman had rehearsed seemed to dissolve before they could reach his lips, leaving him unexpectedly tongue-tied.


    After a moment, Linsey spoke with quiet sincerity. “Gorman, I’m truly grateful for everything you’ve done, and Collin is too. You’re still healing, and whether it’s out of gratitude or friendship, I need to be here until you’re well again.”


    She paused, ncing at Collin before continuing, “Collin and I may not be remarried yet, but we’re no different from any other couple. We belong together. When you help me, you’re helping him too, and when he cares for you, it’s the same as me doing it.”


    Collin felt his earlier frustration melt awaypletely at her words. Gorman’s eyes remained fixed on Linsey for what felt like an eternity before he finally looked away, unable to hold her gaze any longer. Something flickered across his averted face, emotions shifting like shadows beneath the surface.


    The truth settled over him with brutal rity. Linsey’s words weren’t just an exnation but a deration that she and Collin were bound together, inseparable once more.


    As understanding washed over him, Gorman slowly bowed his head and let out a bitterugh that held no humor.


    All these years of trying, of hoping, and still he couldn’t win her heart. Yet Collin only needed to whisper a few tender words to have Linsey return to his side without a second thought.


    For days, Gorman had been trying to convince himself to let Linsey go. Yet, he simply couldn’t release his grip on hope, always nursing a stubborn sense of what might have been.


    He kept torturing himself with possibilities—if, years ago, when he first encountered Linsey, he had swept her away without hesitation, perhaps he would be the one standing by her side now, not watching from the shadows.


    Linsey studied Gorman’s sorrowful expression, her heart stirring with genuine sympathy for his quiet suffering.


    Softening her voice, she suggested, “Gorman, how about we help you wash your hair properly? You’ll feel so much more refreshed with it clean.”


    Those words caught Gorman off guard, leaving him momentarily frozen in realization. Only then did it hit him—while recovering in the hospital, aside from a few quick wipes, he hadn’t really had a proper wash.


    No mirror was needed to picture the state of his hair; he could feel the mess just by running a hand through it.


    Normally, he wouldn’t have cared much about his appearance. Today, though, with Linsey standing right there, every unruly strand seemed magnified.


    Embarrassment crept up on him the longer he considered it, his cheeks turning noticeably red.


    Without waiting for his response, Linsey wasted no time and headed straight for the adjoining bathroom.


    As she walked, she tossed a request over her shoulder. “Collin, I’ll get some warm water ready. Can you help adjust Gorman so we can wash his hair?”


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