Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Chapter 453

Marcia had been fuming the whole ride over, muttering under her breath about how she was going to give Fidelia a stern talking-to the moment she saw her.

But when Fidelia appeared in front of her, eyes wide with fear and lips trembling with hurt, Marcia's resolve melted away. All thoughts of scolding her daughter vanished in an instant.

She knelt down, her voice gentle as she soothed Fidelia. "Sweetheart, where's Effie? How could she just leave you on your own and let you wander off like this? It's dangerous-she should've known better."

At the mention of Effie, Fidelia's expression shifted.

"No, Mom, it's not like that," Fidelia blurted out, shaking her head.

Marcia stared at her in disbelief. "Fidelia, what are you saying?"

Fidelia bit her lip, hesitating, clearly struggling with her words.

“What's going on? I thought you didn't even like Effie. Why are you sticking up for her?"

Marcia's confusion showed plainly on her face.

Fidelia had intended to keep quiet-she still held a grudge against Effie, after all— but after what happened today, she realized maybe Effie wasn't as bad as she'd always believed. So, swallowing her pride, Fidelia recounted the events that had just unfolded.

you really saw Isabel there, but

hear. She just glanced back at me and

I can't believe Isabel would do something like that.

meant to say something so harsh, but

one. Even Lindy

been the only woman-besides family- to be close to Lyman Etheridge, Lindy had never tried to

distance away, but she'd been watching Marcia and Fidelia closely,

hands balled into fists so tightly her

was a stain she could never

family's daughter, but the truth was,

family had ever acknowledged

because she was close

but behind her back, the whispers

mother had been a

things got out of control. Her

night, she'd gotten pregnant—and that's how

grown up

ignored, left to