Chapter 454
No sooner had Isabel finished speaking than a sharp slap landed on her face- Marcia’s hand, hard and merciless.
The blow was so forceful it whipped Isabel’s head to the side, and her cheek stung as if it had been set on fire. “Isabel, how could you be so shameless?” Marcia spat. “You actually encouraged my daughter to come to such a dangerous place? If anything had happened to her, I swear I wouldn’t let you off so easily!”
Isabel pressed a trembling hand to her swelling cheek, unable to speak for a long moment. “I’m sorry, Marcia. I never thought it would turn out like this. I almost—”
But Marcia’s glare showed no hint of pity. Isabel’s show of misery only made her more furious.
“You deserved it!” Marcia snapped. “Someone like you ought to rot in hell. You’re filthy—and no wonder my sister-in-law would rather have Effie as a daughter-in- law than even look at you!”
The words struck Isabel at her core, and fat tears rolled down her cheeks, shining like raindrops on a windowpane. She looked so pitiful it was almost hard to watch.
“That’s enough. Let it go,” Lindy interjected, stepping between them.
She didn’t approve of what Isabel had done-far from it–but she’d watched Isabel grow up and didn’t see her as worthless as Marcia painted her to be. After all, it wasn’t Isabel’s choice to be born into her circumstances.
If Isabel could have chosen, Lindy thought, she surely wouldn’t have chosen a life like this.
Besides, the way Marcia said it, as if Effie was only a second-best option, left a sour taste in Lindy’s mouth.
Pulling Effie gently to her side, Lindy looked Marcia in the eye. “You’re wrong. Effie isn’t some backup plan. She’s remarkable in her own right. If anything, Lyman’s the lucky one to marry her.”
Vinson Elliott and Randell, standing off to the side, gaped in disbelief.
“Wow, I never thought Aunt Lindy thought so highly of Effie,” Vinson whispered to Randell.
Randell nodded in agreement.
Effie glanced at Marcia, thinking wryly that she’d managed to get caught in the crossfire while doing absolutely nothing.
Marcia, noticing Effie’s gaze, offered an awkward smile. It was true-badmouthing someone behind their back had a way of backfiring, and now she wasn’t sure how to explain herself.
She patted her lips in mock apology. “Effie, I’m sorry. I really should learn to hold my tongue.”
Effie replied with a gentle smile, “It’s
alright, Aunt Marcia. Most people aren’t aware of their own shortcomings. The fact that you
realize it means you have plenty of room to improve. Keep it up!”
Marcia nearly choked on her own spit. Was Effie genuinely naive, or just playing dumb? The way she had turned the words around left Marcia speechless.
Vinson Elliott could barely keep from bursting out laughing nearby.
Brilliant, he thought. Who would’ve guessed Effie could shut Marcia down so effortlessly with just a few words?
If Marcia lost her temper now, she’d only look childish and unreasonable. All she could do was force another awkward smile.
Effie and Nita linked arms and left together, soon followed by the others.
After giving her statement to the police, Isabel also prepared to leave. But to her dismay, she realized the
room was empty-no one had
waited for her. For the first time, she
felt utterly abandoned.
A cold sense of dread settled in her chest. Maybe Fidelia really did hate her now.
That had never happened before.
Just then, Isabel’s phone buzzed. When she saw Grace McCloud’s name on the screen, her eyes darkened.
“Grace, what kind of rotten advice did you give me? Look how badly you’ve screwed me over!” Isabel snarled through clenched teeth.