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.

him, muttering, "Why is this

Lyman blinked. "Lamppost? What?"

big tree by the gate, where some of the

Effie over and helped her sit down-if he didn't, she'd keep this

just sit here for a minute," Lyman

"Take me home. I want

will. The driver's almost here," Lyman said,

still, looking for all

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

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

steady, never so much as a fender bender. But this neighborhood's roads were narrow, crowded, and at night, accidents happened

scold him. "A hundred grand-will that

import, worth maybe a fraction of that. But he understood Lyman wanted this resolved quickly. "Alright. I'll

"Make it quick."

back at Effie. But just as he finished