Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 140

The moment Effie realized how valuable the gift was, she shook her head in protest. "Mrs. Smith, you're being far too generous. This is much too expensive-I really can't accept it."

"Oh, don't be silly," Mrs. Smith replied with a gentle smile. "It's nothing

extravagant, just something I picked up in a little shop while traveling abroad. I thought it was unique, and since fate brought us together, I wanted to give you a small token of appreciation."

"Really, Mrs. Smith, it's not necessary," Effie insisted, trying to hand the gift back. She knew deep down she couldn't keep it.

Mrs. Smith hesitated, then spoke with some difficulty. "Effie, the truth is, I wanted to apologize. I'm honestly embarrassed-Rankin had too much to drink last night and behaved terribly. I feel awful about it."

Effie was taken aback; she hadn't expected Mrs. Smith to know.

"Mrs. Smith, you really don't have to-" Effie started, feeling a twinge of sympathy for her.

Smith had to

messes.

could see Mrs. Smith wasn't happy. Especially last night at dinner, when she caught the look of envy in Mrs. Smith's eyes as Lyman treated Effie with

bitter little laugh, as if Effie's silence had confirmed her suspicions, and she decided not to hide anymore. "Effie, you're a smart woman. I'm sure you've figured it out-Rankin and I don't really have much of a relationship. Our marriage was arranged by our families. We barely

caught. She

have to go on," Effie said gently. She could already guess the

"All these years, I've just put up with it for the sake of the kids. I'm just waiting for them to grow up, that's

family. My father, who always prided himself on reading people, was

caught his eye-even married ones. There

he's generous with me—the things I want, he buys. I've learned to just

Effie and managed a strained smile. "It's a

too common in wealthy families-the same old drama, just with different faces. She'd stopped being surprised a long