Chapter 1152:
Jeffery’s eyes were dark as a storm. He stood rigid, fists clenched at his sides, barely holding back the fury boiling within him. One wrong move, and Joanne might snap—might cut the thread of Alicia’s life without hesitation.
He forced a steady breath. Then, his voice low and firm, he said, “Joanne, we can talk this through. Whatever’s going on, we’ll figure it out together. But please, put the knife down.”
Linsey said nothing, her full attention fixed on the trembling blade in Joanne’s grasp. Every nerve in her body was pulled taut, ready to react.
Joanne blinked slowly. For the first time, her eyes shimmered with a fragile spark of hope.
“Really?” she asked, almost girlish, like someone on the verge of believing in an impossible love. “You’ll give me anything?”
Jeffery hesitated—just for a heartbeat. Then he nodded. “Yes. If it’s within my power, I’ll give it to you.”
For a brief moment, Joanne looked as though she might cry. But the fragile illusion shattered as her cold eyes shifted back toward Alicia. Then, her lips curled into a bitter smile.
“You’re lying,” she murmured. Her breath brushed Alicia’s cheek like the whisper of death. “You’re just saying that to protect her.”
Alicia’s body trembled as a cold shiver ran down her spine. Her eyes clamped shut, her breath shallow.
She understood now. All of it. Joanne’s obsession with Jeffery hadn’t bloomed overnight. It had likely festered for years—silently, secretly—until it twisted into something dangerous. This wasn’t love. This was the kind of fixation that devoured everything around it.
Jeffery, too, grasped the depth of Joanne’s delusion. And yet, no matter how he tried, he couldn’t recall a single meaningful interaction with her. They had barely exchanged more than polite words.
But none of that mattered now. All that mattered was Alicia’s life.
“I swear,” Jeffery said, his voice unwavering despite the dread crawling up his spine, “no matter what you ask, I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen.”
He held her gaze, steady and solemn. “And if I’m lying,” he added, his voice dropping an octave, “may I never know peace for the rest of my life.”
Joanne stood frozen, the impact of those words leaving her momentarily speechless.
Meanwhile, Alicia’s eyes flew open wide, tears welling as she fixed her gaze on Jeffery. That glimmer of pain mixed with sadness danced in Alicia’s tear-filled stare.
A quick glance at Jeffery gave Linsey her cue, and she stepped forward while Joanne was still rattled.
“Joanne, listen. I know Jeffery. He means what he says. If he’s promising you something now, you can trust that he’s sincere. Let’s all take a breath, sit down, and really talk this through.”
Second thoughts crept into Joanne’s mind, pulling her into uncertainty. From her point of view, Jeffery was the kind of person who never lied lightly. Sincerity seemed almost certain whenever he spoke with such gravity. A surge of emotion nearly pushed Joanne to share the wish she had kept buried for years.
Suddenly, commanding voices rang out from nearby.
“Everyone stand back! Clear the area!”
