Effie stood there, cold and unyielding, watching as Mitchell helped Suzan up off the floor. Suzan practically melted into his arms, leaning against him as if she had no strength left to stand on her own.


    "I''m fine, Mitchell," Suzan said in a small, trembling voice. "Really, I just tripped. It wasn''t my sister''s fault, but she seemed really upset. I think she misunderstood. And... I broke her lucky charm, so she''s angry at me, too..."


    Effie observed the scene, the corners of her mouth curling into a mocking smile. Suzan''s performance was as wless as ever-so delicate and pitiful that anyone watching would feelpelled to pity her.


    Mitchell nced down at Suzan, concern flickering in his eyes. Suddenly, his expression hardened. "What happened to your face?" he demanded.


    "Mitchell, please don''t me my sister..." Suzan''s meaning was clear, even if she didn''t spell it out.


    The light above cast shadows across Mitchell''s face, making the sharp lines of his features stand out even more. The y of light and shadow made Effie feel momentarily dizzy, as if the whole scene were a dream.


    Then Mitchell''s voice rang out, strong andmanding, leaving no room for argument. "Effie, apologize to Suzan now. No matter what, you can''t just hit someone."


    Effie let out a coldugh, her gaze as sharp as a de as she looked at Mitchell and Suzan. "Apologize? And why should I?"


    Mitchell''s frown deepened, his tone growing colder. "Effie, what''s happened to you? I''m really disappointed. I''ll say it onest time-apologize to Suzan."


    "Apologize?" Effie scoffed, her eyes shing with icy defiance. "Mitchell, let me make this clear-I will never apologize. Not even if it kills me."


    Her unwavering tone pushed Mitchell over the edge. Without thinking, he raised his hand and pped her across the face.


    Effie stared at him in shock, unable to believe what had just happened. She pressed her hand to her burning cheek, her fingers trembling. The disbelief in her eyes quickly hardened into a cold, simmering hatred.


    She slowly lifted her head, her re cutting into Mitchell. When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse and icy. "Mitchell, with that p, we''re even."


    Mitchell''s hand hung awkwardly in the air, his palm stinging. He stared at the red mark blooming on Effie''s cheek, and a wave of regret and panic washed over him. “Effie, I... I didn''t mean to... If you''d just apologized, I wouldn''t have done it..."


    "You know I''ve never hit a woman before. All these years together, I''ve never evenid a finger on you. But you shouldn''t have hit Suzan-it wasn''t her fault."


    It was the first time Effie had ever heard Mitchell say so much at once. Not that it mattered anymore. Whatever they''d been before, after tonight they''d be nothing to each other.


    Effie straightened her back, her face pale, her eyes red-rimmed. "Mitchell, we''re done."


    With that, she turned to leave.


    Mitchell''s heart clenched as he instinctively reached out to stop her. "Effie, don''t do this..."


    Effie jerked her arm free and red at him. "Don''t touch me."


    Mitchell''s hand hung helplessly in the air, his eyes clouded with confusion and regret as he watched Effie''s retreating figure. For the first time, panic prickled in his chest. Maybe this really was the end.


    Suzan stood quietly to the side, watching the standoff unfold. A flicker of satisfaction shed in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a look of concern.


    She tugged gently on Mitchell''s sleeve, her voice soft and fragile. "Mitchell, please don''t me my sister. She was just too upset, that''s all...”


    Mitchell nodded absently, a hint of confidence returning to his voice. "Maybe I''ve spoiled her too much. Give it a couple of days-she''lle back and apologize. When she does, I''ll make sure she apologizes properly to you."


    Sure enough, he thought, women just get worse the more you indulge them.