Chapter 364
Punishment?!
At the thought of spending the night kneeling alone in the chilly, gloomy family chapel, Fidelia’s heart filled with dread.
Tears streaming down her cheeks, she pleaded, “Big brother, I know I was wrong, I…”
“Do you really know what you did wrong? Or are you just saying that so you can avoid kneeling in the chapel?” Lyman’s voice was frigid. “I’ll speak to Grandfather.
If you don’t go back, you’ll have to deal with the consequences.”
Fidelia flinched, her whole body deflating like a punctured balloon, robbed of its energy.
Head hung low, she shuffled away.
After that little episode, Effie found herself in even better spirits. Honestly, who wouldn’t feel lighter after an annoying presence finally left?
Suddenly, Effie felt her grandmother’s gaze upon her.
She looked over and called softly, “Grandma?”
Her grandmother smiled and said, “Effie, you did well today. That’s exactly how you should handle people like her.”
Effie was taken aback. She’d half expected a lecture, but instead—
Lyman quickly interjected, “Grandma, I’m sorry. Today was my fault. I should have handled things better.”
Her grandmother waved a dismissive hand, “Nonsense. It’s not your fault. You’re the golden boy of the family-of course you attract a lot of attention, that’s only natural.”
“But your cousin Fidelia truly doesn’t know right from wrong. Thank goodness our Effie doesn’t have to live under the same roof as her, or it’d be a disaster.”
Lyman understood perfectly well what his grandmother was implying.
He said earnestly, “Don’t worry, Grandma. I won’t let anyone bully Effie.”
Effie chimed in, “Grandma, trust me—I can take care of myself. I’m tougher than I look.”
Her grandmother broke into a wide grin. “Don’t be stubborn, dear. Lyman’s your husband. It’s perfectly natural for him to help you when you need it.”
Lyman echoed her words, parroting, “That’s right. Perfectly natural.”
Effie laughed. “Alright, I understand.”
After asking Luther to drive her grandmother home, Effie and Lyman headed off to work.
On the way, Lyman’s phone kept buzzing non-stop. The caller ID flashed again and again: Uncle Fowler Etheridge. But Lyman ignored every call.
Effie glanced over and said, “He’s
called you a dozen times alreadmet
Why don’t you just turn your phone off? That way you won’t have to listen to his barrage of calls.”
Lyman shook his head. “No need. If I switch off my phone, he’ll give up after a few tries. But if my phone keeps ringing and I never reject his calls, he’ll keep calling, hoping answer. The one getting desperate isn’t me-it’s him.”
Effie smiled to herself. Now that’s classic Lyman.
As they neared the office, Effie hopped out of the car.
Lyman had barely driven a block before a dark figure darted out in front of him, forcing him to stop.
Effie’s heart raced-she’d just watched Lyman nearly get into an accident; she couldn’t help but worry, so she lingered at a distance, keeping an eye on him.
The man hurried around to the driver’s side, rapping on the window and motioning for Lyman to roll it down.
Expression icy, Lyman slowly lowered the glass.
The moment Fowler saw Lyman’s
face, he stiffened. Lyman might be younger, but the force of his
presence was so intense that even a
seasoned schemer like Fowler almost couldn’t withstand it.
Drawing a deep breath, Fowler stared at him and demanded, “Lyman, what’s
going on? Why are you making Fidelia kneel as punishment?”
Lyman shot him a cold look. “You know exactly why she’s being punished, don’t you?”