Chapter 149
Back when Effie wore all those designer outfits, Mitchell had been the one buying them-he liked that sort of thing.
Mitchell always had impeccable taste.
So, to please him, Effie wore whatever he preferred.
But in the end, did it really matter? If a man’s heart changed, there was nothing you could do to stop it.
Suzan, catching Effie’s silence, made a show of dangling her Cartier bracelet. “My boyfriend always says women deserve the very best.”
Mitchell’s eyes flickered with a complicated emotion when he looked at Effie’s delicate features.
“Effie…”
She glanced at him coolly, a hint of disdain tugging at her lips.
Mitchell frowned, his pride pricked.
Wasn’t she supposed to be marrying Lyman now? So why was she here, shopping for discounted dresses? Maybe Lyman wasn’t treating her as well as everyone thought. Maybe Effie would come to regret it soon enough.
Nita was about to snap back, but Effie gently tugged her arm and smiled calmly at Suzan. “What suits you is what’s best. I happen to love this dress.”
Suzan looped her arm through Mitchell’s theatrically. “Darling, I’ve had my eye on that limited edition gown for ages. Today, I absolutely have to get it~”
The sales associate stepped over, looking flustered. “Miss Bagnold, that gown requires an advance appointment…”
Suzan raised her voice, “Do you know who my boyfriend is? He’s the heir to the Lloyd Group! Get your manager over here!”
Effie had no interest in being part of this circus. She took Nita’s hand and headed to the register.
The moment they stepped outside, Nita exploded. “I can’t believe her! That tacky show-off! Effie, why’d you stop me? I was ready to put her in her place.”
Effie was about to reply when her phone buzzed.
A message from Lyman: *Done with dinner. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.*
She texted him the mall’s address and turned to Nita. “Lyman’s on his way. Let’s wait in the café downstairs.”
“I don’t want to third-wheel you two! I’ll walk you down and then head off for a facial-lately I look so tired, don’t I?” Nita fretted.
She was clearly taking this school reunion seriously.
“You look great,” Effie reassured her.
“I have to look my best. Granger Morgan will be there, remember him? He was our class heartthrob,” Nita added with a conspiratorial grin.
Granger had been the talk of the campus before he went abroad. He was every
girl’s dream back then-and apparently, he’d be at the reunion too.
Effie laughed. “Of course I remember. Go get your beauty treatment.”
“Easy for you to say. Some of us are still single and suffering!” Nita sighed dramatically.
Before long, Lyman arrived.
Nita waved at him. “Mr. Etheridge, come collect your wife! I’ve got to get gorgeous for my own Prince Charming.”
Lyman actually smiled, then held the car door open for Effie like a true gentleman. “Miss Nita, best of luck tonight.”
As Nita strode off, Effie slid into the car and couldn’t help but laugh. “Nita hasn’t changed a bit. Back in college, she had the biggest crush on Granger. Who’d have thought she’d still be hung up on him after all these years?”
Lyman started the engine, then asked casually, “Oh? What about you, Mrs. Etheridge? Any secret crushes back in college?”
Effie paused, then grinned. “What’s this, Mr. Etheridge-are you jealous of ancient history?”
She teased him, “Let me think… There were a few handsome guys, now that you mention it…”
Before she could finish, Lyman suddenly pulled the car over, unbuckled his seatbelt, and leaned in, trapping her between the seat and his arms. “Oh? Tell me more…”