Marrying A Secret Zillionaire: Happy Ever After Novel

Chapter 1127: But Joanne didn't flinch. Her tone was ice-cold. "Fine. Then let that be the reason. But don't think I'll go quietly. I'll take it public and reveal everything: how Dustin kept seeing Dolores behind my back, how he stayed emotionally entangled with his ex, how he met her in secret, got intimate, and then threatened me to keep-" "Joanne!" Dustin snapped, stunned. "What nonsense are you talking about?" A flash of anger nearly pushed Dustin to the brink; he was seconds away from confronting Joanne directly. Right then, Collin stepped in, reaching out to restrain him.

"Keep it together." Labored breaths rattled out of Dustin as he instinctively tried to wriggle free from Collin's grasp. Before he could break loose, Linsey strode over, her voice steady. "Is this really all it takes for her words to get under your skin? Should we be admiring her sharp wit or questioning how easily you snap?" Dustin shot her a glare, grinding out his answer. "You both find it easy to stay levelheaded, but it's not your name being dragged through the mud.

I don't mind if Joanne slanders me online, but if she goes after Dolores, that's where I draw the line!" He spoke so hastily, Linsey barely had a chance to silence him. A look of disbelief overtook Linsey's features, her eyebrows shooting up as she stared at Dustin as if he had lost his senses. "Have you completely lost it, Dustin?" Throwing out his Achilles' heel like that-he had practically handed Joanne the leverage she needed. Predictably, a victorious grin spread across Joanne's face. "So that's it.

You're terrified I'll ruin Dolores' reputation online." She let out an exaggerated sigh and spoke with deliberate slowness. "Why not think about your options, Dustin? Are you willing to sacrifice Dolores' good name, or are you ready to force this engagement to end?" "You!" Panic seized Dustin as the realization hit, his complexion shifting from ghostly pale to bright red with frustration. Words stuck in his throat, leaving him speechless. Joanne's provocations had chipped away at his composure until he blurted out things he shouldn't have.

Read more chapters at gⱯlnσνls․com A mocking laugh tumbled from Hester's lips. "Suppose I go ahead and call off the engagement-Dolores' reputation is none of my concern." The sound seemed to echo in Dustin's head as he whirled to face Hester, desperate. "Mom, please don't! Dolores hasn't done anything wrong. Meeting up was my idea, not hers." "Not another word out of you!" Hester shouted, thrusting a finger in Dustin's direction. "Say anything else and Dolores can forget ever joining this family!" A quick flash of panic darted through Dustin's eyes before he steadied his voice.

"Even if marriage isn't possible, Dolores and I could still choose each other. But destroying her reputation just to end this engagement isn't a price I'm willing to pay. I won't drag down the Davidson Group she's poured her life into. That's something I'll never do." A bitter edge crept into Hester's voice. "So this is what I get after everything I've done for you?" Years of planning and sacrifice suddenly felt wasted, slipping right through her fingers. She couldn't help thinking that perhaps it would be better to let someone else-anyone but Dustin-take the reins of the Wade Group.

Adopting a child from a distant orphanage even crossed her mind. . . .