Chapter 305
“Effie, could you come here for a moment?”
Her grandmother pulled her out onto the balcony before lowering her voice. “What’s going on? Why were you two sleeping here last night?”
Effie replied, “Grandma, Lyman says he really enjoys living with you. If you don’t want to move into our place, then we’ll just stay at yours. As long as we get to see you, that’s what matters.”
Her grandmother fell silent for a moment, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
Kids these days and their ideas.
“I’m fine living on my own, really,” she said.
Effie took her grandmother’s hand gently. “Grandma, if you’d said that to me ten years ago, I wouldn’t have worried. But now you’re getting older-you shouldn’t be living alone anymore. You need someone to look after you.”
“If I just leave you here by yourself, people will say I’m a terrible granddaughter.”
But her grandmother waved off the concern, unfazed. “Who cares what people say? All that matters is that I know you care about me. Let them talk-it’s their mouths, not mine.”
“I know, I shouldn’t care what others think,” Effie said softly. “But I hate that every time something happens to you, I’m not there. I only find out because someone else calls me. Grandma, please let Lyman and me take care of you. If you don’t want to move, we’ll just come live with you.”
Her grandmother hesitated, looking at Effie with uncertainty. She didn’t agree, but she didn’t say no either.
Effie let out a quiet sigh of relief. No outright refusal that was a good sign. “Grandma, Effie, breakfast is ready!” Lyman called from inside.
After breakfast, Lyman and Effie got ready for work.
As they stepped outside, Effie couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her from the shadows. But when she turned around to look, there was no one there.
Was it just her imagination?
Lyman noticed her unease. “Is something wrong?”
She shook her head, pushing away the thought. “It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
On the way, Effie happily recounted her grandmother’s reaction to Lyman.
“You really know how to handle things,” she said with a bright smile.
Lyman glanced at her in profile—her happiness seemed to light up her whole face.
He could tell how genuinely happy she was, so he squeezed her hand and quietly enjoyed her laughter.
As they neared the office, Effie got out of the car a few blocks away.
Across the street, Isabel and Carole watched the whole scene unfold.
Isabel’s fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
That shameless woman who is she trying to fool with this act?
Carole leaned over, trying to soothe her. “Isabel, didn’t you notice something?”
Still seething, Isabel shot her a suspicious look. “Notice what?”
Carole explained, “Why did Effie get out of the car so far from the office? It’s obvious-she doesn’t want to be seen. That just proves Mr. Etheridge doesn’t take her seriously. He doesn’t even want people to know who she is.”
Isabel paused, considering it, and then a sly smile crept across her lips.
She glanced at Carole, feeling
Sy grateful. Without
reminder, she never
è thought of that. Cont
“Exactly. So don’t be upset. Who
knows, maybe Mr. Etheridge will get bored with Effie soon enough and
when t
happens, he’ll just toss
her aside.”
Isabel nodded, her mood lifting instantly.
Just like that, the clouds parted.
“Come on, let’s go find Annabel.”
Meanwhile, Lyman was in his office, deep in discussion with Fenton, when a
knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Lyman called.
Annabel entered, with Isabel and Carole following close behind.