Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 223

What should have been a warm family dinner was completely ruined by Shepard's sudden, inexplicable outburst.

Effie sat quietly through it all, drinking glass after glass until she was well and truly drunk.

On their way out, her grandmother watched Effie with worried eyes.

"Don't worry, Grandma. I'll take care of her," Lyman reassured her gently.

Her grandmother nodded. "If only the guest rooms hadn't gone unused for so long, I'd have insisted you stay here tonight."

Truth was, the rooms were always kept tidy-her grandma just liked the idea that if Effie ever felt upset, she could come home anytime and find everything ready for her. But with Lyman there, and knowing who he was, her grandma worried the old, cramped house with its thin walls might not be comfortable for him. So, she held back from insisting.

Lyman led Effie out to the street to wait for their ride.

The neighborhood was old, parking spots were few and far between, so their car was parked out along the curb.

"Easy now," Lyman said, steadying Effie as she swayed on her feet.

person. She clung to him,

Lyman blinked. "Lamppost? What?"

under the big tree by the gate, where some of the local retirees usually

he didn't, she'd keep

go, just sit here for a minute," Lyman coaxed, his tone soft

down. "Take me home. I want to

almost here," Lyman said, keeping his

went still, looking for all the world

Lyman's phone rang. He glanced at the screen-his

I'm so sorry. I was pulling out just now and didn't notice-l clipped another car. I'm sorting it

a fender bender. But this neighborhood's roads were narrow, crowded, and at night,

him. "A hundred

hard. The car he'd clipped was some ancient import, worth maybe a fraction of that.

"Make it quick."

at Effie. But just as he finished transferring the money, he looked up-and