Chapter 132
Shirley burst into the room, practically glowing with excitement. “Effie! This is amazing-the truth’s finally out!”
Effie allowed herself a small smile, but her eyes stayed calm and piercing, giving nothing away.
“It’s not over yet,” she said quietly, tapping her fingertips against the table as if lost in thought.
Shirley hesitated, uncertainty flickering across her face. “Effie, you mean… there’s still someone who hasn’t been found out?”
Effie looked up, a faint, almost mocking smirk touching her lips. “Exactly. The one who got caught was just a scapegoat. But it doesn’t matter. Let them play their little games-next time, they won’t get so lucky.”
Shirley nodded, half-understanding. “Right. Good always wins out in the end. They’ll get what’s coming to them.”
Everyone thought that would be the end of it.
But for Suzan, things were far from smooth.
She’d been called home by Shepard.
Now, in the Bagnold family’s living room, the atmosphere was heavy and tense.
Suzan sat primly on the sofa, barely daring to breathe, her hands folded in her lap. She was still confused-why had she been summoned home so suddenly? A glance at Vera brought her no comfort; Vera just shook her head, signaling she knew nothing.
Shepard sat across from them, his face carved with fury.
“Suzan, you ungrateful child! Is there anything you won’t stoop to? Do you realize you nearly ruined this family?”
Suzan stared at him, stunned. “Dad, why are you yelling at me? What did I do wrong?”
Panic prickled at her. Did her father know about the incident trending online?
“You… you still don’t know what you did? Effie is your sister, no matter what, and you plotted against her? You think I wouldn’t find out? And you were so careless you exposed yourself! Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Shepard’s hand shook as he jabbed a finger at her, practically grinding his teeth in rage.
The truth was, Shepard hadn’t known any of this—until the scapegoat Suzan had used, terrified after drawing the attention of the Etheridge Group, came running to their house looking for her.
That idiot. Suzan had gotten someone else to do her dirty work, but managed to expose herself in the process.
Unbelievable.
Suzan hadn’t thought it through at the time. She’d contacted the other party using her backup phone-a phone she rarely carried and only used for emergencies. She thought it was safe. But then the Etheridge Group stepped in, backing Effie, and everyone involved panicked.
Desperate, the scapegoat tried to call Suzan, but Suzan didn’t answer. With no other option, they showed up at her house.
Shepard had happened to be home. Once he pieced together what had happened, he was so furious he nearly had a heart attack.
God above-how could his own daughter do something so reckless?
And to make matters worse, she hadn’t even bothered to hide her tracks. If those two went to Lyman with what they knew, the Bagnold family would be finished.
Unbelievable.
Shepard didn’t like Effie, but even he had to admit her connection to Lyman couldn’t be ignored now. Effie might deny it, but after seeing Lyman’s reaction today, Shepard knew he had to pay attention-especially since he still wanted to do business with the Etheridge Group.
He couldn’t let Suzan ruin everything.
“Honey, please, calm down,” Vera tried to soothe him from the sidelines, her own nerves frayed. She’d never seen Shepard this angry before, and it frightened her.
“This is your fault!” Shepard snapped, turning his fury on Vera. “You spoiled her rotten!”
Vera swallowed her resentment, biting back any retort. Deep down she seethed- damn Effie, why couldn’t she just disappear?
Suzan stood there, silent, her hands clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Rage and helplessness churned in her eyes, threatening to spill over.