Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 194

Effie's words had clearly struck a nerve-Fidelia's face twisted with anger as she snapped, "Effie, you wicked woman, go to hell!"

She shoved Effie hard.

Caught off guard, Effie stumbled backward.

A flash of smug satisfaction crossed Fidelia's eyes, but before she could savor her triumph, Effie's hand shot out, grabbing her sleeve. The next second, both of them tumbled straight into the ornamental fish pond.

The pond, designed for aesthetics, was deceptively deep-deep enough that someone who couldn't swim might well drown.

Fidelia wasn't worried; she'd learned to swim when she was little. In the Etheridge family, you didn't have to be a genius, but ignorance was out of the question. Even if your grades weren't the best, you were expected to master every skill. Along with swimming, Fidelia could ride horses, arrange flowers, and even brew a perfect cup of tea.

But what Fidelia didn't know was that Effie couldn't swim at all. The moment Effie hit the cold water, she began thrashing in panic, fear tightening every muscle in her body. She clung to Fidelia like a drowning octopus, arms and legs wrapped tight.

have easily made it to the edge. But with Effie latched onto her, their soaked clothes dragging them down, she felt

desperate flailing forced Fidelia's head underwater. As she played the part of the panicked victim, Effie kept a careful eye on Fidelia's condition, calculating

Effie forced Fidelia under once more, then

into the

one cradling

worry and barefoot, Lyman didn't hesitate-he scooped Effie into his arms, ready to

to recover. Lyman finally let

parents, came running up, their faces tight with concern as they saw their daughter, drenched and

here?" Marcia asked, her

into tears, clutching at them like a lifeline. "Daddy, Mommy, I don't know what happened. My cousin's wife just pushed me into the water out

raw and desperate. "I was so scared... I thought I'd never see you

at Fowler and Marcia's hearts like

turned to glare at