Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 440

Clay scooped Andie up from the floor, just as Lyman rushed over and punched Clay hard in the shoulder. "When did you get back?"

Clay looked absolutely exhausted-dusty from travel, hair a wild mess, his face

drawn and weary.

"Just now..."

Suddenly, pain twisted Clay's features. His body crumpled to the ground, shattering like glass.

"Clay!"

Lyman jolted awake, cold sweat on his brow. For a moment, he was disoriented- then he realized it had all been a dream.

Beside him, Effie stirred, startled by his sudden outburst. She blinked sleepily at him. "What's wrong?"

Lyman pressed his lips together and shook his head. "Nothing. Just a bad dream.”

Effie pulled him into her arms. Lyman let himself relax against her, breathing in her soft scent and the warmth of her body. In that moment, he couldn't help but think —maybe it feels good to let himself be vulnerable, just a little.

Effie, barely awake, drifted right back to sleep.

morning came, Lyman was just

"Good morning," he said.

stretched like a lazy

lingering on her chest. He

shot out, pulling Effie closer by the waist. With a gentle

Lyman was about to take things further,

jolt of unease shot through him for reasons he

answered, every muscle

up and jumped out of bed. "What

as ke spoke. Clay was in a car accident. He landed and drove straight from the airport to our place, but he

of Lyman's

really some kind of brotherly

surgery now," Lyman continued. “I'm heading to the hospital to

too rattled to focus on the road. The last thing

He nodded. "Okay."

Grace was already waiting

room.

she spotted Lyman, she rushed

she caught sight of Effie at his side, a surge of irritation flared up inside her. Something about Effie just rubbed her the wrong way-her voice, her presence,