Chapter 3
Effie’s eyes widened in shock, and she rushed to explain herself.
“No, it’s not what you think. I never saw it that way. Things between Mitchell and me have really fallen apart, and my grandma’s getting older-she’s always hoped I’d settle down soon. That’s the only reason I want to get married.”-
Use Lyman as a backup plan? She wasn’t crazy.
Lyman’s expression remained unreadable, giving nothing away.
“You’re really willing to leave him?” he asked, voice cool.
She scoffed, a flicker of disdain in her eyes. “What’s there to miss about a guy who can’t stop cheating?” The sting of being humiliated in that private room still lingered, but it had also snapped her awake. After what Mitchell said, she was done-completely done.
Lyman’s eyes glimmered with something bright as his brows arched, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.
He half-closed his eyes, lifting his chin ever so slightly, his voice low and rough as if straining with restraint. “You’re sure about this?”
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but her words were steady. “I’m sure. I’m done with trash.”
Suddenly, Lyman pulled her into his arms, leaning in so close his breath was hot against her sensitive ear. “You’re the one who came to me first,” he murmured, voice smoldering. “No backing out now.”
Effie’s cheeks burned, her heart pounding. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. Finally, lashes trembling, she looked up at him. “I won’t regret it.”
She’d already thrown caution to the wind.
“Alright. Tomorrow, we get the marriage license.” Lyman didn’t leave her any room to reconsider.
Effie stared at him, caught off guard. “That soon?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“No, no problem. I just… Could you take me home? I need to grab my documents.”
Soon after, Lyman dropped her off at her place.
Effie lived with her grandmother now. After her father, Shepard Bagnold, abandoned her and her mom to move in with his mistress Vera, everything had changed. Vera’s daughter had even taken a new name-Suzan Bagnold.
Effie’s mother, Adriana Spencer, had been shattered by the betrayal. She lost her grip on reality and, not long after, died in a car accident. The pain of that loss haunted Effie, cutting deeper than any wound.
She blamed Shepard for it all—her mother’s death, her own broken childhood. She knew she’d never forgive him.
Suzan was three years younger, fresh out of college, and, by coincidence or fate, had landed a job at Mitchell’s company, E&M Group. At the recent holiday party, Suzan performed a solo dance that wowed everyone-and, apparently, caught Mitchell’s eye.
E&M Group was a rising star in the jewelry business, earning a name for itself in just a few years. Maybe that’s why Suzan wanted in.
Effie worked at E&M too, but strictly on the design team. She rarely crossed paths with Mitchell, let alone paid attention to new hires. She only learned Suzan had joined at the company party.
Not that it mattered anymore-Effie had already drawn a firm line between herself and the Bagnolds.
Still, she never expected Mitchell to stoop so low.
Effie had poured her soul into winning the Lloyd family’s approval, working twice as hard as anyone else, but it was all for nothing in the end.
She’d always had a talent for design. Years ago, she’d even taken home the gold at the national jewelry competition. She and Mitchell had started E&M Group together, dreaming up the company’s name as partners. Now, thinking back, it all felt painfully ironic.
“We’re here,” Lyman’s deep, velvet voice cut through her thoughts. “It’s late-I won’t disturb your grandmother tonight. I’ll find another time to visit.”
Effie blinked, shaken from her reverie, and nodded. “Okay.”
“Get some rest. Tomorrow morning, I’ll send someone to pick you up for the courthouse,” Lyman added.
“Alright,” Effie replied, her voice soft and obedient.
It wasn’t until Lyman’s luxury car disappeared down the street that she finally made her way inside, feeling as if she’d stepped into someone else’s dream.
Tiptoeing into the house, she found her grandmother already fast asleep.
She checked her phone and saw a flurry of missed calls-some from Mitchell, but more from her best friend Nita.
She and Nita went way back-they’d been college roommates, confidantes, sisters in everything but blood. Nita knew her better than anyone, and now worked as a sales manager, driven and relentless as ever.