Chapter 1121:
Startled, Joanne quickly suppressed her anger and replaced it with her usual fawning smile. “Hester, is something the matter?” she asked sweetly. Dustin blinked, momentarily surprised at how quickly she could shift masks.
Despite everything, he still found her behavior perplexing. She clearly had feelings for Jeffery—so why would she agree to an arranged marriage and continue to play the role of obedient future daughter-in-law?
Hester, however, had no patience for her charade. Her lips curved into a bitter smile. “There’s no need for you to keep pretending,” she said coldly.
Joanne’s heart skipped a beat. It was all too clear—Hester had seen everything: her desperate sprint toward Jeffery, not Dustin.
Trying to remain composed, Joanne stepped forward hesitantly. “Hester… could you give me a chance to explain?”
Hester’s answer came cool and quick. “Fine. I’ll give you a chance.”
Then, without missing a beat, Hester turned to Linsey and Collin with a piercing gaze. “And I imagine you two had your hands in this little scheme as well, right? In that case, let’s all talk together.”
The group soon entered a lounge on the first floor, closing the door behind them. Once inside, Hester crossed her arms and glanced around before asking sharply, “Where’s Dolores?”
“She had a few drinks and was shaken by what happened,” Linsey replied smoothly. “I took her upstairs to rest.”
Hester’s lips curled into a sneer. “So she didn’t know about your plan tonight.”
“Of course not,” Linsey replied, her tone unwavering. “If Dolores had known the chandelier was rigged not to fall, she never would’ve played along. She doesn’t believe in faking her emotions, not with Dustin.”
When he heard that, something in Dustin’s expression softened. He drew in a breath, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “Mom, you saw it yourself. Dolores didn’t hesitate. She ran straight toward me when she thought I was in danger. Even though we’re no longer together… she still cares about me.”
“Enough!” Hester snapped, cutting him off. She cast a withering glance at Linsey, then turned her steely gaze back on Dustin. “Don’t be naive. Do you really think Dolores is that innocent? Linsey is her friend—of course she’ll defend her. For all you know, the two of them may have been fooling you from the start.”
Dustin’s brows furrowed, his voice tense. “Mom, why is it so hard for you to believe me? Dolores wouldn’t fake something like that. If she had known about tonight’s plan in advance, she never would’ve agreed to attend at all.”
Then, after a pause, he added with conviction, “If you don’t believe me, investigate. Go through my phone. Ask my staff. I’ll cooperate fully. But don’t you dare accuse Dolores. She’s not who you think she is.”
A heavy silence fell over the room, thick with tension and unspoken truths.
Linsey blinked softly, taking in the silence that had settled over the room. Seeing that no one seemed eager to speak, she gently tugged Collin toward a nearby sofa nestled against the wall. The two of them sank into the cushions, seeking a brief moment of peace.
Tonight’s banquet had been a blur of calculated performances and subtle maneuvers—neither of them had even had the time to sip a single drop of water.
Noticing the dryness on Linsey’s lips, Collin poured her a glass of water without hesitation and handed it to her with care. “Here. Drink slowly.”
