?Chapter 1031:


    Linsey absorbed this revtion, pieces of the puzzle clicking into ce regarding their shared academic history abroad. The painful irony wasn’t lost on her. While Joanne still carried the me of her feelings for Jeffery, he had allowed her memory to fade intoplete obscurity.


    Linsey surmised that from the very beginning, Joanne’s affection had been a quietly harbored secret, unrequited and unspoken. Otherwise, there would be no exining how Jeffery could have erased her so thoroughly from his memory.


    “I was the first one to meet Jeffery. It’s disgusting how Alicia used cheap tricks to wedge herself in. One day, he’s going to drop her—just wait,” Joanne said, her voiceced with confidence as she tilted her chin.


    Without missing a beat, Linsey flicked her gaze away, unfazed. “Then be patient. When Jeffery finally gets tired of Alicia, maybe you’ll get your shot.”


    “Ugh, you—” Joanne sputtered before catching herself. Her tone softened, lessbative now. “Linsey, let’s not waste time on this back-and-forth, alright?”


    Her eyes briefly shifted toward the apartment building, a subtle flicker of calction crossing her face. “I’d stay and chat, but if my guess is right, your precious friend should be showing up any minute now.” The mention hit its mark—Linsey’s eyes darkened, just slightly. Joanne noticed the shift and slowly curled her lips into a sly smile, triumph flickering behind her eyes.


    “You and Dolores go way back—what, twenty years? And yet you’re just going to stand by while the man she loves marries someone else?” Joanne said slowly, as if drawing out the temptation. “You know I couldn’t care less about Dustin. But you? If you help me get closer to Jeffery, I’ll pull a few strings and get Hester on Dolores’ side. Seems like a pretty sweet trade.”


    Linsey’s breathing hitched ever so briefly. Her hands clenched at her sides, her body betraying the calm expression she tried to hold. Joanne had a knack for reading people, and Linsey’s barely noticeable shifts in expression told her everything she needed to know. She could tell without a doubt—Linsey was beginning to crack.


    Choosing to wrap things up, Joanne said, “I get that you don’t feel much warmth toward the Lawson family, but they hold you in high regard. Jeffery still carries the weight of what he did to you, and he’s not the only one. Whoever ends up marrying into that family won’t change your position, so why not think about forming a partnership that benefits us both?”


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    She ended with a quiet, knowingugh and gave Linsey a smug little wave. “See you around, Linsey. Hopefully, by the next time we talk, you’ll have made the smart call.”


    Linsey remained rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on Joanne’s retreating silhouette until it faded into a distant blur. It wasn’t until a familiar voice, tinged with urgency, broke through the fog in her mind that Linsey jolted back to awareness. “Linsey!”


    Dolores gripped Linsey’s shoulders, her hands warm and steady, as if trying to physically pull her out of her thoughts.


    “Huh?” Linsey blinked, then forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Sorry, did you say something?”


    A breath of relief escaped Dolores as she studied Linsey’s face. “I’ve been calling you forever. What were you even thinking about?”


    One nce at Dolores, and Linsey made her decision—Joanne’s maniption would stay a secret.


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