Chapter 51
Vera’s greatest wish these days was for her precious daughter to marry into a wealthy family.
Now that Suzan had finally managed to get close to Mitchell, Vera was
determined not to mess things up.
Still, she couldn’t shake her doubts. Suzan’s relationship with Mitchell hadn’t been made public yet so how did this kidnapper know about it?
This was just too strange.
“What are you talking about? I don’t understand,” Vera feigned ignorance, doing her best to act clueless.
She wouldn’t admit to anything, no matter what.
The bald man glanced at his phone for instructions and sneered. “Is that so? Well, in that case, I’ll just send this recording to the Lloyd family. I wonder what they’ll think when they hear it, Mrs. Bagnold. Are you sure you don’t want to pay up?”
Vera was so furious she nearly had a heart attack.
Just her luck to have crossed paths with a monster like this.
She snapped, “All I have is fifteen million-that’s every penny of my savings.” Effie gave the bald man a short nod.
He gestured and said, “Alright, fifteen million. I’ll send you the account number now.”
With that, he hung up and promptly texted the bank details.
Lyman, watching, couldn’t help but ask, “Do you really think she’ll send the money?”
He’d planned on getting revenge, but Effie clearly had a different idea-she was going to bleed Vera dry.
“She will. Her biggest dream is to see her daughter marry into the Lloyd family, and nothing matters more to her than money.”
Effie knew exactly where Vera’s weakness lay.
Vera had clawed her way up from being the other woman, but she’d never managed to break into the elite circles of Neo-Arcadia’s society wives.
Since she couldn’t do it herself, she pinned all her hopes on Suzan.
From the time Suzan was a little girl, Vera drilled it into her: climb higher, change your fate.
And now Suzan hadn’t let her down-she’d finally gotten close to the Lloyds.
So Vera couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong.
Sure enough, the fifteen million came through almost instantly.
Ironic, really—it was her own mother’s money.
Shepard had been so ruthless all those years ago, leaving her mother practically penniless. Now, as far as Effie was concerned, taking a chunk out of Vera’s stash was only fair.
Effie turned to the two kidnappers, her tone flat. “You did help me out, I suppose. In that case, you each get a couple of punches-call it even.”
The two men froze, too stunned to protest, before Lyman’s men dragged them outside for a thorough beating.
Their agonized screams echoed from the hallway.
Afterwards, Lyman and Effie headed home together.
This ordeal had genuinely shaken Lyman. He quietly made arrangements for a bodyguard to shadow Effie-he couldn’t bear the thought of something like this happening again.
Once she was back, Effie headed straight for a hot shower, hoping to wash away the bad luck.
She emerged from the bathroom, damp hair draped over her shoulders, droplets trickling down to the floor. A silk nightgown clung softly to her slender figure as she padded into the living room.
Lyman sat on the couch, sipping a glass of water in small, measured gulps. When he saw Effie, his gaze darkened, Adam’s apple bobbing, before he forced himself to look away.
Effie grabbed a towel and began drying her hair.
“Are you really alright?” Lyman’s voice was low and rough, a trace of lingering fear in it.
Effie’s movements paused. “I’m fine. Vera may be vicious, but thank goodness you showed up.”
“From now on, you have to tell me wherever you’re going,” Lyman said, his tone firm.
“Alright,” Effie replied, warmth blooming quietly in her chest.