Marrying A Secret Zillionaire Happy Ever After (Linsey)

Chapter 1126:

Reining in her anger, Hester closed her eyes, a sudden thought creeping into her mind.

“Are you afraid that Kase will hold it against you later?” Hester asked, her voice calm but perceptive.

Joanne didn’t even try to deny it. “Of course I am.”

She turned away, her movements slow and deliberate, walking toward the window. Her voice dropped to a soft murmur. “Kase acknowledges me as a Walton. That status grants me access to Grester’s elite circles. But in truth, he doesn’t care about me. I’m just a pawn to him—a tool to bring greater benefits to the Walton family.”

As the words fell, Joanne paused by the window, her silhouette outlined by the fading light. She stared blankly into the distance. “Even for tonight’s engagement party, he declined to attend, citing poor health as an excuse.”

The room fell into an almost reverent silence. The only sound was the faint rhythm of their breathing.

of the engagement party to defend Dolores, using its simplicity to strike

being undervalued. Instead of fighting for her own identity, she had reduced herself to the image of an ideal partner, desperately chasing validation through

to find the

for sentiment. The longer

concern began to gnaw at her. If Joanne had fallen for some other wealthy bachelor, she might have been

expected Joanne to be harboring feelings for Jeffery. Jeffery was not only married, but about to become a father,

alarmed her even more was that Joanne, fully aware

recall Joanne’s lingering gaze on Jeffery earlier that night. It

not let go easily. And when things spiraled out of control, Dustin would be

Hester couldn’t allow that. He

decision. The engagement had

coolly. “I won’t expose your feelings for Jeffery. Let’s just