Chapter 12
A short while later, Mitchell left as well, Suzan on his arm.
Suzan’s smile was irrepressible, even for herself. When it came to Mitchell, she was determined to win him-no matter what.
Effie returned from the restroom, only to find a new bank notification on her phone.
The string of zeros left her stunned.
She hadn’t even had time to register the full amount before her phone started
ringing.
Seeing the caller ID, Effie’s heart skipped a beat.
She took a moment to compose herself before answering.
“Mrs. Etheridge, did you get the money?” The deep, smooth voice on the line sent a shiver down her spine.
The sound of “Mrs. Etheridge” startled her so much, she thought her heart might leap right out of her chest.
“I—I got it, but I have enough money of my own. I don’t need this,” Effie stammered, trying to steady her voice.
“Your money is still yours. But from now on, you’re Mrs. Etheridge. That means my money is yours too. And, of course, so am I.” Lyman’s tone was playful, a teasing warmth she’d never expected from someone as famously aloof as him.
Effie could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. She could hardly imagine someone as cold and reserved as Lyman saying something so cheeky.
It was a completely different feeling from the sting of Mitchell’s slap earlier.
Now, Effie felt a rush of warmth, a sense that she truly mattered to someone. “Alright,” she replied softly.
“In a few days, you’ll be meeting my family. If there’s anything you want to buy, go ahead and get it. Don’t worry about the price,” Lyman added, as thoughtful as ever, covering even the smallest details.
“Okay, I understand.”
After hanging up, Effie was left with a lingering sense of unreality.
Still, Lyman’s reminder brought her back to the present-she really was about to meet his family.
She needed to prepare a gift.
Tucking her phone away, Effie headed back to the restaurant’s main hall.
After dinner, she planned to go shopping with Nita.
When Effie returned, Nita looked up with a puzzled frown. “What took you so long? I was about to go looking for you. Wait-what happened to your face?”
Effie tried to sound casual. “It’s nothing. I just ran into Mitchell and Suzan. Got held up a bit.”
Nita jumped up, bristling with indignation. “What? Those two jerks showed up here? Did they hit you? Where are they? I’ll go give them a piece of my mind!”
“They’ve probably left by now. Don’t worry, I slapped Suzan back-I’m not letting them get the upper hand.”
Nita sat down, still fuming. “Ugh! Next time I see those two, I swear I’ll tear them to shreds. Absolute garbage, both of them.”
“Don’t let them ruin your appetite. Eat up. Afterwards, come with me to the mall-I need to buy a gift,” Effie said.
“Of course! I’d go anywhere for you,” Nita replied, instantly shaking off her anger and digging into her food.
After they finished dinner, the two friends headed to the most luxurious shopping center nearby.
Effie and Nita stepped into the mall, its dazzling lights reflecting off rows of glittering displays, casting everything in a haze of opulence.
Nita looped her arm through Effie’s, her excitement infectious. “So, Effie, what are
we shopping for today? Clothes? A new bag? Jewelry?”
Effie smiled, her gaze drifting over the various boutiques. “Let’s just look around first.”
She pondered what sort of gift would be best.
After all, the Etheridge family was the most prominent in Neo-Arcadia. There was nothing they didn’t already have.
Her gift had to be thoughtful, something chosen with care. But it couldn’t be too extravagant, or she’d risk making the wrong impression with Lyman’s parents. And so, the two of them began to browse.
What Effie didn’t know was that luck wasn’t on her side today. She’d barely stepped out the door before trouble started following her-one thing after another…