Marrying A Secret Zillionaire Happy Ever After

Chapter 945:

Still, her thoughts spun between Linsey’s calm face and Collin’s cold gaze. Her heart grew restless.

Just as she was about to stand, a commanding voice echoed from the stairs. “Joanne, right? Come upstairs. I want to talk to you.”

It was Kase. Joanne froze. She had never expected Kase, who had always acted like she didn’t exist, to speak to her—especially now that Haven was gone.

Joanne parted her lips and whispered, “Alright.”

She pivoted away, each step toward the staircase heavier than the last as dread coiled within her.

Her thoughts spiraled into a maelstrom of dark possibilities.

Though Collin hadn’t sought retribution, she trembled at the thought of Kase exacting vengeance for Haven’s downfall.

A flicker of indignation rose in Joanne’s chest.

Throughout everything, she had merely been Haven’s accomplice, never the architect of their schemes. Haven had chosen her own path; she had never forced her hand.

The plot involving Kylee in the attempt on Linsey’s life—that had been Haven’s creation entirely.noveldrama

Joanne had simply facilitated, gathering intelligence about Linsey and Kylee’s history and arranging Kylee’s temporary release.

This peripheral involvement had kept Joanne beyond the reach of law enforcement.

Even so, Joanne couldn’t shake her nervousness.

Kase, though not as formidable as Collin, still wielded enough power as head of the Walton family to destroy someone as insignificant as her without a second thought.

With Haven in police custody, Joanne had lost her only shield in Grester.

Beyond her ambitions, she was merely an ordinary woman with no distinguished background to leverage.

Without her persistent efforts to forge something better, she faced the prospect of settling into predictable patterns: marrying an average man and disappearing into the comfortable anonymity of an ordinary existence.

When Joanne entered Kase’s private study, her heart still raced beneath her composed exterior.

She lifted her gaze to meet his—sharp, assessing eyes that seemed to see through pretense.

“Haven is no longer of any use,” he stated coolly. “You’re her closest friend, so why not step in and take on her role?”

Joanne’s eyes widened, momentary surprise breaking through her careful composure. “Mr. Walton, what did you just say?”

Kase continued undeterred, as if her reaction were expected and unremarkable. “You have two options before you. Regardless of which one you choose, I will ensure your family receives generous benefits and treatment. You won’t be shortchanged. First, agree to assume the identity of a Walton and marry into one of Grester’s elite families to secure a new path for us. The second option…”

“What’s the second option?” Joanne asked, her voice quieter now, tinged with cautious curiosity.

Kase released a soft, menacing laugh that seemed to chill the air between them. “Take Haven’s place in prison.”

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