Chapter 79
Vera was a step too late to stop what was about to unfold.
Effie pushed open the guest room door, and the scene inside froze everyone in their tracks.
There, disheveled and breathless, Mr. Holt was sprawled over Suzan, who was struggling beneath him, her hair a tangled mess, mascara streaking down her tear-stained cheeks.
A faint, lingering hint of perfume hung in the air.
The moment everyone took in what they were seeing, the room erupted in shocked whispers.
“What on earth is going on here?” someone gasped.
“Wait, isn’t that Mr. Holt and Suzan? Why are they in here together?”
“My God, this is humiliating! And on Mrs. Lancaster’s birthday, of all days!”
“I know, right? Absolutely shameless. I can’t believe Suzan would do this! Didn’t she just show up with her boyfriend?”
The crowd murmured, gossip bouncing from ear to ear.
Vera’s face went ghostly pale. She never expected the ones caught in the room would actually be Suzan and Mr. Holt.
The moment she’d seen Effie, she’d had a bad feeling about this.
Effie was supposed to be the one caught in this mess-how had everything flipped upside down?
Had they just been outplayed by that conniving witch, Effie?
Effie stood in the doorway, feigning shock, her hand clapped to her mouth. “Oh my God, Suzan, Mr. Holt-what are you doing?!”
As if no one else could put on a show.
Her voice trembled with apparent surprise, but a cold glint flickered in her eyes.
She’d seen right through Vera and Suzan’s little scheme from the start.
If they wanted to ruin her reputation, let them taste their own medicine.
Suzan whipped her head up at the sound of Effie’s voice, her eyes wild with panic and fury. “Effie! It was you, wasn’t it? You set us up!”
Effie only widened her eyes, innocent as a lamb. “Suzan, what are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean. I just went to change clothes and heard a commotion-so I came to see what was going on.”
“I never thought… Suzan, Mr. Holt, what are you two doing? Today’s Grandma’s birthday party… This really isn’t appropriate, is it?”
Effie let her voice trail off, as if too embarrassed to continue.
Suzan was so choked with anger she couldn’t get a word out, her face flushing and paling by turns.
“You… you’re lying, it was you who “
“Suzan, enough!” Vera snapped, desperate to shut her up.
Damn it. If Suzan blurted out the truth in a fit of rage, they’d all be doomed.
Mr. Holt finally regained his senses, shooting Effie a murderous glare. “Damn it, was this your doing?”
Effie arched an eyebrow, her voice tinged with indignation. “Mr. Holt, what are you implying? I just got here-how could I have set you up? If anything, shouldn’t we be asking how the two of you ended up here together?”
Mr. Holt found himself at a loss for words, stymied by Effie’s comeback.
He hadn’t expected this woman to be so cunning-he’d been played for a fool.
Vera, flustered, rushed to de-escalate. “Alright, alright-this must be a misunderstanding! Suzan, Mr. Holt, get up, don’t give everyone the wrong idea!”
Suzan bit her lip, eyes brimming with humiliation and rage.
Right now, she wanted nothing more than to tear Effie to pieces.
But she knew nothing she said would change how this looked, so she climbed awkwardly to her feet, head bowed, unable to meet anyone’s eyes.
Thank God Mitchell was busy chatting up some business partners across the hall.
If he’d seen this, she’d be ruined.
Mr. Holt straightened his jacket, face thunderous, and stood off to the side.
Vera worked quickly to regain control, turning to the gawking guests. “Everyone, it’s just a misunderstanding, really. Please, let’s all head back to the parlor-don’t keep Mrs. Lancaster waiting.”
Reluctant but aware of propriety, the crowd nodded, their curiosity unsated, and slowly filed out of the room.
Once the last guest was gone, Vera rounded on Effie, her voice a venomous hiss. “Effie, you’re quite the actress, aren’t you?”