Chapter 97
Effie felt as if something had grabbed her heart and twisted hard. Her breath quickened, anxiety rising in her chest.
But she didn’t let it show.
Her expression remained calm, composed. She trusted Lyman.
“Yeah, let’s just wait and see,” she replied coolly.
Without another word, Effie called over the sales associate and asked them to wrap up the cufflinks. She paid for them immediately.
Honestly, every extra minute spent in that store made the air feel stifling.
Isabel could only glare in frustration as Effie walked out, cufflinks in hand.
Damn it!
Watching Effie’s retreating figure, Isabel clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white.
With their shopping finished, Effie and Nita had no desire to linger. They headed straight home.
Meanwhile, after dropping Effie off at the mall, Lyman headed to his own appointment.
Vinson Elliott had been trying to meet with him for ages, but Lyman always turned him down.
Unless it was absolutely necessary, Lyman made it a point to go home right after work. After all, if he didn’t show up, Effie would just slack off and eat whatever she could find.
The meeting was set at an exclusive private club-one of those upscale places that opened early on weekends so people could play cards, get a massage, unwind a bit.
Lyman wasn’t surprised. If anyone would pick a place like this, it was Vinson Elliott. He knew the man far too well.
When Lyman arrived, Vinson greeted him with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Look who finally made time for us-our very own superstar!”
He pulled Lyman over to the best spot on the sofa.
Lyman shot him a mild, unimpressed look, and Vinson immediately zipped his lips.
“All right, all right, I’ll stop,” Vinson said, raising his hands in surrender.
In the private lounge, a few men lounged in casual clothes, smoke curling lazily from their fingers.
Vinson offered Lyman a cigarette.
Lyman shook his head without hesitation. “I’ve quit.”
“What? Quit smoking?” Vinson nearly jumped out of his seat in disbelief.
Lyman glanced at him, cool as ever. “Is that so strange?”
“Lyman, did something happen? Are you all right?” Vinson asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
When Lyman didn’t answer, Vinson’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Wait a minute-is it because of your wife?”
“She doesn’t like the smell,” Lyman replied, his voice deep, steady, with a trace of something private glimmering in his eyes.
There’d been this one time, after a work dinner, when Lyman came home reeking of smoke. Effie had leaned in and wrinkled her nose ever so slightly.
That was all it took-Lyman knew she hated the smell. Since then, he’d made a point to avoid it.
He’d never been a heavy smoker anyway, just the occasional one at business events, so quitting wasn’t a struggle.
Vinson stared at Lyman as if he were a completely different person.
So this was it-Lyman had fallen, and he’d fallen hard.
Vinson’s expression grew complicated. Of all people, he’d never expected Lyman -the least likely candidate for romance-to be the one head over heels.
It was almost unbelievable.
The others in the room were just as stunned.
Lyman was serious this time.
“Man, Lyman, you’re gone,” Vinson exclaimed.
Lyman just smiled, a little wistful. “Don’t you guys think married life can be pretty great?”
As he spoke, last night’s memory flickered through his mind-leaving him with a feeling he couldn’t quite shake.
Everyone looked at him as if he’d started speaking in tongues.
Vinson stayed silent, taking two long drags from his cigarette, trying to clear his head.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something on Lyman’s neck—a faint, reddish mark. Wait, was that…?
Yep. A love bite.
Vinson’s lips twitched. He felt almost scandalized.
Lyman didn’t stay long. When he saw the time, he called Effie and found out she was ready to head home.