Chapter 34
It was all Effie’s fault-damn her. If it hadn’t been for her, none of this would’ve happened. She’d never have made such a rookie mistake.
Effie stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold with icy detachment. Not a flicker of emotion crossed her face.
She knew perfectly well that Suzan’s tears were nothing but an act.
This was always Suzan’s go-to move-turn on the waterworks and play the victim. And Shepard always, always took her side.
“Effie…” Vera turned, her voice tinged with desperate pleading. “Could you put out a statement? Help Suzan clear things up? Just say it was all a misunderstanding, that you two were just messing around-sisters being sisters…”
“A misunderstanding? Just messing around?” Effie let out a sharp laugh, unable to contain herself. “Do you really think everyone’s that stupid? Suzan dragged me into this mess, and now she’s getting roasted for it. She’s just reaping what she sowed.”
Vera’s face flushed a deep, angry red. She was momentarily speechless, so stunned by Effie’s bluntness she looked as if she might choke.
Shepard, seeing Vera’s humiliation, snapped. “Effie! Don’t forget, you’re a Bagnold too!”
Effie met his furious glare, her voice cold and unwavering. “Honestly, I wish I wasn’t. And if you dragged me back here for this circus, sorry-I’m not interested in helping.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping over both of them, her words sharp as knives. “And one more thing. Don’t ever call me back here again. The two of you make my skin crawl. It’s like you’re contagious or something.”
With that, Effie turned on her heel and strode out.
She’d come today for one reason to make it clear where she stood.
She wasn’t the same Effie they could push around anymore.
Shepard’s fists clenched at his sides, his chest rising and falling in barely controlled rage. He shot Suzan a murderous look and stormed off toward his study.
Suzan shrank back, not daring to make a sound.
Only after Shepard had left did Suzan let out an angry huff. “Mom, I wish Effie would just drop dead.”
Everything that happened today—every humiliation—was all Effie’s fault.
Vera’s hands were clenched so tightly her knuckles had gone white. Veins stood out along the backs of her hands.
“I know, sweetheart,” Vera said, her voice low and dangerous. “Don’t worry. I won’t let that bitch off so easy.”
She’d always thought Effie was harmless-not worth worrying about. She never expected Effie to be so resourceful, to actually manipulate the media to her own advantage.
Impressive, really.
Suzan chewed her lip, then leaned in. “Mom, why don’t we just finish this? Kidnap her, bring in a couple of thugs, snap some compromising photos-naked, humiliated. Let’s see how high and mighty she is then. Mitchell will drop her in a heartbeat. No one wants damaged goods. We’d solve two problems at once!”
The more Suzan thought about it, the more she liked the idea. The thought of Effie being broken and ruined made her pulse race with excitement.
Vera’s eyes narrowed, her expression turning downright sinister. “I agree. It’s a good plan. Leave it to me.”
She smiled coldly. “If Effie refuses to play nice, then let’s see how she likes the alternative.”
Outside the Bagnold house, Effie shivered involuntarily. She never wanted to set foot in that place again.
She was about to call a cab when her phone buzzed.
Lyman’s name flashed on the screen.
“Are you done?” he asked.
“Yeah… I’m done.” Hearing Lyman’s voice, Effie suddenly felt a lump in her throat, all the frustration and hurt bubbling up at once.
“Send me your location. I’ll be there in five,” Lyman said, instantly picking up on the tremor in her voice.
“Okay.”
She sent her location and, true to his word, Lyman’s car pulled up just minutes later.
Effie slid into the passenger seat, glancing at the man beside her. Even something as simple as the way he sat-composed, elegant-was flawless, impossible to criticize. She bit her lip. “Thanks for picking me up.”
Her heart was still pounding in her chest.