Chapter 213
“Ow, that hurts…”
Suzan cried out, then slumped to the ground, passing out cold.
She fell slowly, half-expecting someone would rush to catch her. But when her body hit the gravel, no one even seemed to care.
The small stones dug painfully into her back.
But Suzan didn’t dare move-she was playing dead.
If Lyman ever found out she was the one who tampered with Effie’s horse, she’d
be in real trouble. Maybe even dead meat.
So, better to just keep pretending now.
“Take her to the hospital,” Effie said coolly. “She’s pregnant.”
Effie could have ignored Suzan’s fate, but the woman was carrying a child. If something happened to her at Randell’s stables, it would come back to haunt him.
“Damn it!” Randell’s voice shot up in alarm. “She’s pregnant? Why didn’t anyone say so? And she’s riding a horse? Is she out of her mind?”
He grumbled under his breath, but still made sure Suzan was taken to the hospital.
“We’re going too,” Lyman said to Effie.
Effie gave him a puzzled look. “Why? This has nothing to do with us.”
She had zero interest in Suzan’s wellbeing.
“Lyman, are you taking responsibility for this?” Vinson Elliott asked.
Lyman didn’t answer; he hadn’t been talking about Suzan at all, but Vinson misunderstood.
Effie looked at Lyman, waiting for him to explain.
Under his wife’s curious gaze, Lyman finally said, “I have shares in this stable, actually. I’m the major shareholder.”
Effie couldn’t hold back a muttered jab, “So you’re the biggest shark after all?”
Lyman heard her he couldn’t help but smile, half amused, half exasperated.
He pretended not to notice. “Hmm?”
Effie glanced away, embarrassed. “Oh, nothing.”
Then, remembering something, she turned to Shirley. “Shirley, why don’t you head home? You’ve had a long day.”
Shirley bit her lip, shaking her head. “I can’t. I was there-I’m a witness. If that shameless Suzan tries to pin anything on you, I’ll back you up.”
Effie was genuinely touched, but there were plenty of witnesses and evidence around; she didn’t need to worry about Shirley.
“Go on home,” Effie assured her. “I’ll be fine.”
Shirley hesitated.
Lyman stepped in. “Anything you spent today, the company will reimburse you.”
Shirley’s eyes lit up. “Even lunch?”
“Even lunch,” Lyman replied.
“Then I’ll grab a bite first!” Shirley took off at a sprint.
She’d been eyeing the café’s sandwiches all afternoon, and now she finally had an excuse to try them.
“Capitalists really do have their perks,” Effie joked.
But Lyman didn’t laugh. Instead, he frowned, noticing the bruise on Effie’s arm. He reached for her, but the moment his fingers brushed her skin, Effie winced and let out a soft gasp.
He immediately pulled his hand back, guilt flickering in his eyes. “Did that hurt?”
Effie shook her head. “It’s fine, just a little sore. Probably be healed up by tomorrow.”
But before she could finish, Lyman scooped her up in his arms.
“What I meant was, we’re going to the hospital too. I want your arm looked at.”
“Oh.” Effie’s cheeks flushed pink.
Afraid of falling, she quickly wrapped her arms around Lyman’s neck, and the two of them looked inseparable.
Vinson Elliott turned to Randell. “Guess you did something right today.”
Randell opened his mouth, unsure. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s just making up for my screw-ups.”