Chapter 30
Mitchell’s expression darkened further, his voice laced with barely restrained fury. “Effie, don’t play games with me. Whose car was that? What’s going on between you and that guy? Are you sneaking around behind my back? Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”
Effie calmly set down the file in her hands and leaned back in her chair, meeting his gaze without flinching.
“Mr. Lloyd, this is my personal business. I don’t see why I need to report to you. We broke up, remember?”
Her words made Mitchell’s anger boil over. He smacked his hand on the table, his voice rising sharply. “Effie! Don’t forget, we’re not really done yet! And you’re already cheating on me?”
Effie’s face turned icy. She stood and looked him dead in the eye, her tone tinged with mockery.
“Cheating? Mitchell, you’ve been with Suzan for ages now. And you have the nerve to come in here and throw accusations at me?”
Mitchell choked on her retort, lost for words.
His fists clenched even tighter, his chest heaving as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.
“Don’t push me, Effie. Don’t think you can just trade up for some rich boy and toss me aside.” His voice was low, carrying a thinly veiled threat.
He’d claimed he wanted to let go, but now, knowing Effie was seeing someone else, he couldn’t stomach it.
And she still wanted three hundred million? Over his dead body.
Effie let out a cold, disdainful laugh. “Mr. Lloyd, is that a threat? Sorry, but I’m not scared of you.”
She knew his bravado was just wounded pride.
Suddenly, Mitchell lunged and grabbed Effie’s wrist, yanking her toward him. His voice was cold, almost menacing. “Effie, don’t think I don’t see what you’re up to. That car you were in? It’s from the elite auto club. Your new sugar daddy must be loaded, huh?”
Effie’s wrist throbbed under his grip, but she didn’t flinch-she just stared at him, her voice sharp as ice. “Let me go, Mitchell.”
Instead of releasing her, Mitchell’s hold tightened. “Don’t make me do something I’ll regret, Effie.”
She met his glare, her own eyes hard, her words edged with warning. “Mitchell, you really ought to think through the consequences. If you don’t let go right now, I won’t hesitate to ruin you.”
Her threat made him falter for a moment; his grip slackened without him realizing. When had Effie’s gaze become so fierce? She seemed different—unfamiliar.
Effie seized the opportunity to break free, stepping back with a frosty composure. “Mr. Lloyd, have some dignity. We’re done. Let’s end this on decent terms.”
She picked up the contract again, holding it out with steely resolve.
“Sign it, please. If you don’t, I’ll just sell my shares to someone else in the industry. This is your last chance.”
“Mitchell, let’s just walk away clean. There’s no point dragging this out.”
Mitchell stood frozen, chest rising and falling rapidly, his eyes swirling with a tangle of emotions.
He stared at Effie as if seeing her for the first time.
“You’ve changed, Effie,” he said quietly, resentment simmering beneath his words.
Effie gave a short, scornful laugh. “No, Mr. Lloyd. This is who I’ve always been. You just never bothered to notice.”
Mitchell was silent for a moment, pinning her with a hard stare before speaking in a hoarse voice. “Effie, let me say this one more time. You can throw your tantrum, but don’t test my limits.”
Effie met his gaze, her own face utterly indifferent. “Pathetic.”