Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 3

Effie's eyes widened in shock, and she rushed to explain herself.

"No, it's not what you think. I never saw it that way. Things between Mitchell and me have really fallen apart, and my grandma's getting older-she's always hoped I'd settle down soon. That's the only reason I want to get married."-

Use Lyman as a backup plan? She wasn't crazy.

Lyman's expression remained unreadable, giving nothing away.

"You're really willing to leave him?" he asked, voice cool.

She scoffed, a flicker of disdain in her eyes. "What's there to miss about a guy who can't stop cheating?" The sting of being humiliated in that private room still lingered, but it had also snapped her awake. After what Mitchell said, she was done-completely done.

Lyman's eyes glimmered with something bright as his brows arched, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.

He half-closed his eyes, lifting his chin ever so slightly, his voice low and rough as if straining with restraint. "You're sure about this?"

Tears shimmered in her eyes, but her words were steady. "I'm sure. I'm done with trash."

Lyman pulled her into his arms, leaning in so close his breath was hot against her sensitive ear. "You're the one

she couldn't speak. Finally, lashes

caution to the

marriage license." Lyman didn't leave her

him, caught off guard. "That

Is there a

just... Could you take me home?

after, Lyman dropped her off at

grandmother now. After her father, Shepard Bagnold, abandoned her and her mom to move in with his mistress Vera, everything had changed. Vera's daughter had even taken a new name-Suzan

her grip on reality and, not long after, died in a car accident. The pain of that loss haunted Effie,

for it all—her mother's death, her own broken childhood.

three years younger, fresh out of college, and, by coincidence or fate, had landed a job at Mitchell's company, E&M Group. At the recent holiday party, Suzan

business, earning a name for itself

worked at E&M too, but strictly on the design team. She rarely crossed paths with Mitchell, let alone paid attention to new hires. She only learned Suzan had joined at the

that it mattered anymore-Effie had already drawn a firm

Mitchell to stoop