Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 222

Effie paused, then said, "Alright. If you want me to come home, I can on one condition."

Shepard's face lit up instantly. He knew it-Effie would never give up on a father as generous as him!

"If that's how you feel, that's wonderful. Name your terms. Don't just stop at one, I'd agree to several if you wanted..."

Before he could finish, Effie cut him off, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Kick Vera and Suzan out, and hand over your shares in The Bagnold Group to me."

Shepard's smile froze. The nerve! She was asking for far too much-did she want his car next?

Those shares belonged to her mother by right!

"Absolutely not! No way!" Shepard ground out, his jaw clenched.

Effie just smiled. She'd expected this-there was no way he'd ever agree.

"So that's my only condition. If you can't even manage that, how am I supposed to agree to your request?"

"Get out."

could keep up the act no longer. His voice dropped, cold and sharp. "Effie, if you push me away now, you'll regret

abandoned you. Mrs. Lloyd never cared about you at

words spilled out in

gaze darkened. Once, those words would have stung, would have left her aching for days. But Lyman's presence in her

ones who

in the kitchen, busy cooking-Effie had mentioned she'd like some sweet

so much power and status, was actually in

he makes me breakfast

her eyes crinkling into narrow slits

busy in the kitchen, the thin walls meant he'd heard every word Shepard

"My wife doesn't need a safety net.

You're not one of the Etheridge family!" Shepard shot

So spare us the lectures-you have

"Such hypocrisy."

He hadn't realized Lyman was right there, and now he scrambled to explain himself. "Mr. Etheridge, you've misunderstood. That's not what I meant,