Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 15

After parting ways with Nita, Effie headed to a high-end tea shop and picked out a box of premium tea leaves. With the meeting gift ready, she took her time wrapping it herself, making sure every detail reflected her sincerity.

Still, she felt a flutter of nerves. The Etheridge family was one of the most prominent in Neo-Arcadia, and Mrs. Etheridge kept such a low profile that no stories about her ever made it into public gossip. Effie couldn't help worrying— what if Mrs. Etheridge turned out to be just like Mrs. Lloyd, always looking down her nose at everyone?

And then there was Lyman, who'd been wanting to meet her grandmother for ages. Effie figured she should give her grandmother a heads-up first. If she just showed up with someone out of the blue, it might give the poor woman a fright.

Right now, her grandmother was setting the table, calling out, "Effie, dinner's ready!"

"Coming, Grandma." Effie washed her hands and joined her at the table.

As they ate, her grandmother brought up Mitchell again. "Effie, is everything alright between you and Mitchell? I haven't seen you two talk much these past few days."

Effie's heart fluttered with anxiety, but she mustered her courage. “Grandma... I... Mitchell and I broke up."

Her grandmother paused, then let out a gentle sigh. "Ah, well. If it wasn't meant to be, there's no use forcing it."

Mitchell had truly cared for Effie, he wouldn't have treated her so callously. After all these years, he'd hardly ever bothered to visit. But knowing how much her granddaughter liked him, she'd

tightened and her eyes stung with tears she tried to

to be so understanding, and that bittersweet warmth filled her

over and patted her hand, her gaze soft and loving. "Silly girl, what are you apologizing for? I just want to see you happy. That Lloyd boy-I could tell from the start he wasn't good enough for you. This is a

head, and

I won't waste another tear on someone

with concern. “There, there, now. Our Effie is too pretty to ruin her face with tears. Eat up-look, I made all your

you, Grandma.

hesitated, searching for

is it?" her grandmother

well, I've met

as if she wasn't sure she'd heard correctly. "You've met

I really like him—we just clicked. I