?Chapter 1081:


    The sound of Dolores’ muffled weeping pierced straight through Linsey’s chest, making her own eyes burn with unshed tears. Just this past month alone, she had watched Dolores shed countless tears over Dustin.


    Clearly, her expectations of him had been far too generous. This man, who crumbled under pressure, had been handed opportunity after opportunity to stand by Dolores these past few days, yet he had chosen inaction every single time.


    Whatever Hester demanded of him, he simplyplied without question. Whether Dustin was being genuinely filial or merely spineless remained unclear.


    The longer Linsey dwelt on it, the more her anger simmered beneath the surface.


    Her palm moved in gentle circles across Dolores’ back, each stroke meant to ease the storm of emotions.


    “Dolores, it’s okay, it’s okay. Let it out if you need to. We’re alone here, and I’m not going anywhere.”


    Linsey’s voice was barely above a whisper, and she felt the rigid tension in Dolores’ frame gradually melt away.


    Her gaze drifted downward as she turned over Dolores’ earlier words in her mind.


    If her suspicions were correct, Joanne’s appearance at the jewelry store this morning had been anything but coincidental. Since Linsey had refused to bend to Joanne’s demands earlier, the woman had likely orchestrated this encounter to provoke Dolores and force a different oue.


    Linsey had never entertained the thought of partnering with Joanne. But that didn’t give the woman license to deliberately target the people she held dear!


    Eventually, Dolores pulled back with a final sniffle, releasing her hold on Linsey. Her eyes were still tearful, but her voice carried newfound resolve. “I’ve made up my mind. I refuse to wallow in self-pity any longer.”


    Confusion flickered across Linsey’s features. “What do you mean? What are you nning?”


    Dolores straightened, her tone growing firm. “I’ve been hiding away at your ce for far too many days. Mountains of work are piling up at thepany, and I made a promise to elevate it to new heights. I won’t let myself lose momentum over some man.”


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    Linsey’s eyes sparked with sudden brightness. Dolores’s swift emotional recovery didn’t catch her off guard in the slightest. Strength had always been woven into the very fabric of who Dolores was. Without that inner steel, she never would have propelled the Davidson Group to such remarkable sess at her age.


    Linsey held an unshakeable belief that someday Dolores would rise to be one of Grester’s most formidable and respected business leaders!


    Linsey and Dolores didn’t linger outside for much longer. Soon enough, they made their way back toward Shari’s hospital room. Several bodyguards came into view as they approached the door, standing at attention.


    “Ms. Brooks, Ms. Davidson.” The head guard offered them a respectful nod.


    At the sight of them, Linsey’s face brightened with anticipation. “Has Elva arrived safely?”


    “Yes, we just brought Elva here a short while ago. Mr. Riley had something to attend to and stepped out, but he’ll be back soon,” the head guard responded.


    Linsey’s face lit up as she turned to Dolores, catching the same spark of joy reflected in her friend’s eyes.


    “Thank goodness we got Elva back safe and sound,” Dolores said. This wee news lifted the heavy weight from Dolores’ chest, and her shoulders visibly rxed.


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