Chapter 193
Effie didn’t suspect anything and figured Lindy probably needed her for something, so she followed the maid without a second thought.
But it didn’t take long for her to realize something was off.
Instead of leading her to Lindy’s room, the maid took her out to the garden, stopping beside the decorative rock formation and koi pond.
The pond was beautifully designed, with fresh water circulating constantly. The koi glided through the water, their vibrant colors sparkling in the sunlight, each fish shimmering like a living jewel.
Effie had heard that nearly every koi in this pond was an award-winner, prized for their dazzling colors and perfect shapes. Even someone with no eye for such things would be impressed by the sight.
People with money loved their little traditions, especially families like the Etheridges, who seemed to take everything to the next level.
She’d been here a few times before, but always too busy trying to fit in to really take a look. Now, seeing the pond up close, she had to admit it was pretty stunning.
Just then, a shadow moved beside the artificial rockwork.
Effie’s gaze shifted from the pond to the figure stepping into view.
So her hunch was right—it wasn’t Lindy who’d called for her. Someone else had set this up.
Effie arched an eyebrow at Fidelia and said, “If you wanted to talk to me, you could’ve just asked directly. Why pretend it was my mother-in-law?”
Fidelia’s eyes narrowed, a murderous glint flashing in them. She let out a cold huff. “If I’d called you myself, would you have come?”
“Nope,” Effie replied, crisp and unhesitating.
Fidelia was so angry her chest visibly heaved. She stormed up to Effie and snapped, “Are you out of your mind?”
Effie shot back, “I think you just had too much salt at breakfast-you must be bored out of your skull.”
With that, Effie turned to leave.
Fidelia gritted her teeth and grabbed Effie’s arm. “Don’t get so smug. You stole something that wasn’t yours and act like you’re the winner. It’s disgusting.”
Effie stared right at her, a sharp light flickering in her eyes.
For a moment, Fidelia felt as if Effie could see straight through her.
She clenched her jaw and said, “You took what should’ve been Isabel’s…”
Now it made sense to Effie: Fidelia was just the messenger, sent to do someone else’s dirty work.
So that was the feeling she’d had these past few days-someone watching her from the shadows. It had been Fidelia all along.
Who knew Fidelia and Isabel were such close friends? Still, Fidelia was way too naive, letting herself get played like this and still thinking she was clever.
“Took what, exactly? Her secret crush? Or are you saying Isabel and my husband were ever together, and I swooped in and stole him?”
Fidelia fell silent, caught off guard by Effie’s sharp tongue. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
After all, it wasn’t like Isabel and Lyman had ever actually dated.
At best, they’d been somewhere between friends and something more—never quite crossing the line.
But-
“But Lyman and Isabel grew up together! If it weren’t for you, they’d be together now!” Fidelia insisted, refusing to back down.
“Really?” Effie retorted. “If they actually liked each other, don’t you think they would’ve gotten together by now? Maybe the reason they haven’t is because they just don’t want to.”
Truthfully, as Effie said this, she felt a pang of guilt.
She was the only one who knew how much Lyman and Isabel’s relationship bothered her.
But there was no way she’d let Fidelia-this little girl-see her falter. So she forced herself to keep her head high, saying what she had to say.
Thank God Lyman wasn’t here right now. Otherwise, she’d have died of embarrassment.