?Chapter 1096:


    Her pulse raced as the thought sank in, and she rose abruptly. “I’m going to Dolores’.”


    Collin stayed close. Without pressing for details, he backed her decision fully, his steady presence easing her mounting panic.


    Under the cover of the night, Collin drove Linsey to Dolores’ residence. She kept dialing Dolores’ number during the ride, each unanswered call fueling both her hope for her friend’s safety and her dread of hearing a voice signaling trouble.


    After what felt like an endless drive, the car finally pulled up outside Dolores’ apartment building.


    Just at that moment, Linsey’s phone call was answered.


    Her breath hitched in her throat, a wave of regret crashing over her for letting Dolores go home alone that day.


    “Linsey, what’s going on? Why so many calls? And why did Collin send his team here?” Dolores’ voice,ced with confusion but growing clearer, cut through the buzzing in Linsey’s ears. Relief flooded Linsey, her racing heart finally slowing.


    Dolores was safe.


    The tension that had gripped her left her thoughts muddled, but one truth shone through: Dolores was unharmed.


    “Linsey, take a deep breath—Dolores is fine,” Collin said softly, his hand gently patting her back, his voice a steady anchor.


    He could guess the source of her panic—Joanne’s earlier call had likely included a threat against Dolores.


    “Linsey, are you alright?” Dolores’ tone sharpened with concern upon hearing Collin’s words. “Collin, why isn’t she talking? Did you mess things up with her again? I swear, if you pull another stunt like four years ago, I won’t let you off!”


    Collin ignored Dolores’ train of thought, focusing instead on soothing Linsey.


    Linsey, tickled by Dolores’ protective outburst, let out a soft chuckle. She leaned forward in the passenger seat, her chest still tight from the ordeal.


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    “Dolores, I’m fine—just needed a second to catch my breath,” she said, blinking with a faint smile. “Collin and I are downstairs at your ce. Hang tight, we’reing up.”


    Dolores, still puzzled, couldn’t fathom why Linsey and Collin had shown up at her house in the dead of night, nor why Collin’s men were stationed at her door.


    Minutester, Linsey and Collin sat on the couch in Dolores’ living room. Dolores set down two sses of water, eyeing them with a mix of curiosity and confusion. “Okay, what’s the deal? Why the hugemotion? I was dead asleep when those guys started banging on my door, and then I saw a ton of missed calls on my phone. It jolted me wide awake.”


    Linsey flushed with embarrassment. “So you were just sleeping? I thought…”


    She managed a bitter smile. “Why did you go to bed so early? You’re usually a night owl! And why didn’t you pick up my calls?”


    Dolores blinked innocently, shrugging. “I put my phone on silent.”


    Linsey’s frustration bubbled up, nearly stealing her breath again.


    “Here, drink this,” Collin said, handing her a ss of water.


    Linsey took a few sips, herposure returning, and sighed. “It’s not wrong to silence your phone at night, but today was just bad timing. Thank goodness you’re okay.”


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