Chapter 17
Grandma had welcomed Lyman into the family, and Effie finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Once her grandmother learned they were already legally married, she urged Effie to move into Lyman’s house as soon as possible.
Dowries and wedding ceremonies didn’t matter much to her. All she cared about was that the two of them would be happy together.
Effie could tell her grandmother was genuinely pleased with Lyman.
After living for more than half a century, what hadn’t her grandmother seen and understood?
With that, Effie felt reassured as well.
But the thought of soon meeting the Etheridge family sent a shiver down her spine.!
Still, having Lyman by her side brought her some comfort.
Lyman had promised her that his family was easygoing and that she had nothing to worry about.
Effie was determined to make a good impression.
Sensing her nerves, Lyman suggested they wait until she’d moved in and they’d settled into living together before introducing her to his parents.% Effie agreed this was a good idea.
Honestly, she still got nervous just being around Lyman.”
He had a presence that was hard to ignore. He wasn’t overtly imposing, but there was something about him that demanded respect, maybe even a hint of fear. After dinner, once Lyman had left, Effie packed her things under her grandmother’s watchful eye, planning to move into Lyman’s place after work the next day.
Her grandmother, getting on in years, seemed truly at ease now that Effie had found someone reliable.
The next morning, Effie finished her breakfast and headed to the office.}
She was there to officially hand over her responsibilities and deal with her shares in the company.
If Mitchell refused to buy them back, she’d just sell them off. Either way, she wanted a clean break.
As soon as she arrived, her assistant rushed over. “Effie, you’re finally here. Mr. Lloyd has been looking for you.”
Effie just nodded coolly. “Alright, I got it.”
She walked into her office, but the moment she sat down, she sensed something was off.
Her computer had been tampered with.
Effie was a creature of habit; she could spot the smallest changes in her space.
A faint smile tugged at her lips as realization dawned.
She powered on her computer and clicked on the folder containing her designs. Sure enough, it had clearly been accessed.?
Her eyes were sharp and composed, but a hint of a smirk played at the corners of her mouth. She knew Mitchell and Suzan’s scheme was already in motion, and she was quietly leading them straight into her trap.
Who else, besides Mitchell, even knew her computer password??
It had always been Mitchell’s birthday–she’d never bothered to change it.
But Effie had no intention of changing it now. She was baiting the hook, waiting for the fish to bite.
She knew exactly what they were after: her latest competition designs.
Online registration for the contest had already begun. She’d uploaded her entries for the preliminary round; only those who passed would be eligible for the finals. Suzan, who also dabbled in jewelry design, was ambitious–desperate to make a name for herself through this competition.S
But she probably knew she wasn’t truly talented, so she wanted to piggyback off Effie’s skill.
The easiest way? Entering Effie’s designs under her own name.”
Mitchell knew Effie had already won several gold medals; to her, these competitions were second nature.
So this time, Mitchell had sweet–talked Effie into entering, asking her to draft the designs–then, at the last minute, he’d simply swap Effie’s name for Suzan’s on the submission.
That way, Suzan would have her shot at fame.”
All Mitchell had to do was keep Effie compliant.
In his eyes, Effie was as docile as a family pet–easy to manipulate, easy to control.
“Mitchell, do you really think I’m as easy to push around as I used to be?” Effie whispered, a steely glint in her eyes.”
