?Chapter 1001:


    With theatrical resignation, he spread his hands in mock surrender. “If my presence troubles you so deeply, feel free to make your exit. Linsey’s perfectly capable of attending to my needs.”


    Collin’s expression remained stone-cold as he delivered his cutting response. “In your dreams.”


    “Alright, I just said one thing, and you two are already arguing.” Linsey approached with a steaming bowl of chicken soup, setting it carefully on the overbed table before pressing a spoon into Gorman’s palm. “Here, maybe some food will finally shut you up.”


    Gorman epted the spoon with a grin, but it didn’tst long. He looked up and said, “Linsey, I’d rather eat the food you picked out. Let’s send Ms. Ellis’s delivery to Collin.”


    “Stop fussing and just eat,” said Linsey, already thumbing through her phone. “I’ll call the restaurant and ask them to send the meals I ordered back to the house for Zenia and Zander. We’ll stick with what Joanne brought.”


    With a shrug and a trace of resignation, Gorman murmured, “Guess I’ll have to settle for this stuff.”


    Linsey didn’t bother replying. Once she finished the call, she looked over at Collin and said, “Come on, eat.”


    Night had already crept in, and Collin had spent the whole afternoon looking after Gorman.


    They ended up eating quietly, the hospital room filled with nothing but the sound of clinking utensils.


    Linsey didn’t eat much. When she finally set her cutlery down, there was still a decent amount of food left on her te.


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    Without saying a word, Collin reached over and polished off her leftovers like it was second nature.


    That made Linsey chuckle. “If I knew you’d want more, I wouldn’t have changed the delivery address. The kids could’ve just eaten Glenda’s dinner instead.”


    Collin gave a small smile and shook his head. “No worries. I’m good.”


    Gorman saw everything. The warmth between them wasn’t lost on him, and his expression turned somber. Even the way he chewed slowed down.


    As they wrapped up the meal, Collin stood and began clearing the table. That was when Linsey remembered the look Joanne had earlier and said, “Joanne showing up like that had nothing to do with Collin.”


    Gorman froze for a beat, then realized she was throwing his earlier jab right back at him.


    Still tidying up, Collin looked pleased and addressed Linsey. “I knew you’d believe me. No way you’d let someone’s lies get in your head.”


    Gorman was the “someone” he referred to.


    Annoyance made Gorman’s chest feel tight, and he turned to her. “Linsey, you must’ve seen how she kept ncing at Collin when she walked in with Dolores and Dustin.”


    Taking a calm sip of water, Linsey set her ss down. “Yeah, I noticed. Honestly, her look at Collin was just curiosity—same as when she checked you and Dustin out. There wasn’t anything special about it.”


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