Chapter 320
She’d picked out a few scenes where the male lead looked especially handsome and showed them to Effie.
Effie couldn’t help but let out a dramatic gasp. Suddenly, her nose felt hot-she dabbed at it and stared in disbelief. Blood!
She was actually having a nosebleed.
The moment Lyman saw Effie’s predicament, he fumbled to help her staunch the bleeding, grabbing a handful of napkins and practically tripping over himself in his urgency.
After a few tense minutes, Effie finally recovered.
Lyman, still worried, asked, “Maybe it’s because you ate too much spicy food? That stuff can really get your blood running.”
Effie’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Y-yeah, that must be it,” she stammered.
The truth was, Annabel’s choice of scenes had been just a little too steamy, and Effie had totally lost control of herself.
Her face still burning, Effie leaned in close to Annabel and whispered, “Send that to me.”
Annabel caught sight of Effie’s apple-red cheeks, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Sure thing. Give me a sec.”
Effie nodded, flustered. “Uh-huh, okay.”
Just then, a familiar voice rang out from across the restaurant: “Excuse me, could we get the extra spicy broth, please? And go heavy on the heat.”
Effie instinctively turned toward the sound. There stood Suzan Bagnold, heavily pregnant, walking in with Vera as they approached the counter to order.
Vera looked at Suzan with obvious concern. “Suzan, you’re still expecting. Are you sure it’s a good idea to eat something this spicy?”
Suzan waved off her mother’s worries. “Mom, you worry too much. This baby’s tough as nails. Remember when I went horseback riding? If that didn’t do anything, a little spicy food won’t hurt.”
Still unconvinced, Vera tried, “Maybe just go easy on the spice?”
Suzan shook her head stubbornly. “No way, I want it hot.”
“Well… if you’re sure.”
Vera hesitated, then mused, “You know, they say if you crave spicy food, you’re probably having a girl.”
Suzan scowled, obviously annoyed. “Mom, that’s just an old wives’ tale. It’s thinking. Cravings are just hormones, they don’t mean anything about the baby’s gender.”
Vera shrugged. “Maybe, but you know how the Lloyd family is-they’ve always
wanted boys. What if you end up having a girl? What then?”
Suzan’s hands froze mid-motion. “Relax, the sky isn’t falling yet. If it’s a girl, I’ll figure something out.”
“Figure something out?” Vera’s eyes narrowed with sudden suspicion. “You’re not thinking of “
Suzan quickly gestured for her to keep quiet. “If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, no one will ever know.”
Vera nodded, though her voice was tense. “It’d just be easier if it’s a boy.”
Raising someone else’s child-she’d always thought that was pointless. If the baby didn’t come from your own body, you’d never truly bond with it. That was why she’d insisted Effie couldn’t stay with the Bagnold family back then.
She’d tried to drill this lesson into Suzan, though Suzan only saw it as nagging. Unbeknownst to them, every word of their conversation drifted over to Effie’s ears. Annabel, ever the gossip, glanced at Effie and asked under her breath, “They’re talking about you, aren’t they?”
A mocking smile flickered through Effie’s eyes. “That’s right. That’s why you should never gossip behind someone’s back-you never know who’s listening.”
“Don’t worry,” Annabel said, “I’ll always have your back.”
Effie looked calm enough on the outside, but Annabel suspected she was just putting on a brave face.
Right now, what Effie probably needed most was silent support.
To lighten the mood, Annabel deliberately changed the subject. “Seriously, who craves spicy food when they’re pregnant? Has she fost her mind? Too much spicy stuff can trigger contractions and isn’t safe for the baby.”