?Chapter 1044:


    When he responded, his voice carried that unmistakable resonance Dolores knew by heart. “It’s fine.”


    The words hit Dolores like a physical blow. Reality crashed over her in merciless waves.


    Her boyfriend stood there with his mother, selecting jewelry for another woman to wear.


    They were choosing a gift specifically intended for Joanne to wear as Dustin’spanion at his birthday celebration.


    The full picture crystallized with brutal rity.


    So Dustin had already made arrangements for his birthday, while she had been naively nning an entire day of romantic activities for just the two of them.


    Dolores’s thoughts spiraled into chaos, but her survival instincts kicked in first. She needed to escape this ce immediately.


    Just as she pivoted toward the exit, her name sliced through the air.


    “Ms. Davidson?” Joanne’s timing proved devastatingly perfect, trapping Dolores mid-flight. “Hester, Dustin, surely I’m not mistaken? Isn’t that Ms. Davidson, the CEO of Davidson Group?”


    The sharp stato of Joanne’s heels against the polished floor sent prickles of dread across Dolores’s scalp.


    “Ms. Davidson, what a wonderful surprise!” Joanne’s voice practically sparkled with manufactured enthusiasm.


    Trapped, Dolores drew a steadying breath and turned to face her tormentors. When her eyes met Dustin’s, she found his gaze clouded with unreadable emotions—dark and conflicted.


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    Recognition flickered across Hester’s features, followed immediately by barely concealed irritation.


    Yet with Joanne watching expectantly, Hester smoothly adopted an expression of polite unfamiliarity.


    “Oh?” Hester curled her lips into a faint smile. “Joanne, how do you know Ms. Davidson?”


    The moment those words reached her ears, Dolores felt a sharp pang in her chest.


    How did Joanne know her?


    Everything started the day she turned to Dustin for help when Linsey and Collin went missing. Ever since then, she and Dustin had been meeting in secret whenever they could.


    After each meeting, Dustin would head to a specific location to meet Joanne, carefully creating the impression that he had been with her all day.


    Joanne was well aware of what was happening between her and Dustin. Hester didn’t like her, though.


    If Hester ever uncovered the truth—that she and Dustin had been meeting all this time—then…


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