?Chapter 1094:


    Linsey gave a small smile. “Fine, I’ll ept the praise.”


    The moment felt warm and rxed, their exchange flowing effortlessly. But a sudden phone ring pierced the calm.


    Linsey nced at the unfamiliar number shing on her screen, shrugged, and answered.


    Instantly, Joanne’s rough, usatory voice barked through.


    “Linsey, how dare you snatch Jeffery’s role as CEO? What exactly are you trying to do?”


    Linsey froze briefly before steadying herself. “Ms. Ellis, you’re quite well-informed. My appointment as CEO was finalized just this morning, and here you are, reaching out to check on me hourster.” She paused, her voice sharpening. “Or rather, you’re worried about Jeffery, aren’t you?”


    Collin’s expression darkened as he overheard, frustration simmering at Joanne’s relentless interference.


    She had already threatened Linsey once, and now this abrupt call to challenge her?


    He couldn’t fathom how Joanne had even gotten her number.


    Joanne’s voice dripped with venomous resentment. “Linsey, it’s bad enough you stalled on my offer, but to brazenly steal Jeffery’s rightful ce as CEO is unthinkable! I’m warning you—step down and hand the Lawson Group’s leadership back to Jeffery, or you’ll regret it!” After her heated tirade, Joanne’sbored breathing filled the line, punctuated by the sound of her swallowing hard.


    Linsey, catching the erratic edge in Joanne’s tone, pieced it together and let out a dryugh. “Joanne, did you know? Some people get calm and quiet after a drink. Then there’s you—sloshed and stirring up chaos, making unhinged calls and spewing nonsense.”


    No wonder Joanne’s voice was so raspy; she was clearly intoxicated.


    Her fixation on Jeffery was intense—his resignation from Lawson Group seemed to rattle her more than it did him.


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    “Linsey, you know nothing about it!” Joanne’s voice spiked into a shout before dropping to a hushed, fervent whisper. “Everything I’ve worked for over the years was to stand by Jeffery’s side, to help him elevate Lawson Group to new heights…”


    Linsey’s eyes lowered, her tone steady and measured. “Honestly, Joanne, you don’t need to tie yourself to a man to prove your worth. Grester is a big ce, full of thrivingpanies. Why define yourself as someone’s partner instead of standing on your own?”


    Joanne scoffed bitterly. “Because I love Jeffery, and I’m the only one in this world who’s truly worthy of him.”


    The conversation was looping back to this exhausting dead end.


    Linsey sighed, her patience thinning. “Joanne, let me make this crystal clear onest time. Jeffery is married to Alicia, who’s carrying their child. He doesn’t even recall who you are. All your so-called efforts? They’repletely futile.”


    A chilling silence followed.


    Just as Linsey thought Joanne had ended the call, her voice returned, icy and threatening. “Linsey, since you keep rejecting my terms, you’ve cut off every option I had. Now I’m cornered.”


    Linsey’s brows knitted. She was perplexed by Joanne’s insistence on ming her. “So what? Are you nning to kill me like Haven did?”


    At her words, Collin’s expression turned grave, a cold intensity radiating from him as if he were ready to storm Joanne’s doorstep and detain her himself.


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