The next morning, when Lyman woke up, Effie was already in the kitchen, finishing up breakfast.


    She nced over as he stepped out, offering him a warm smile. "Come have something to eat. You drank a bit too muchst night, so I made you some soup this morning. It''s easy on the stomach."


    Lyman couldn''t help but smile back. "I''m sorry to trouble you."


    "It''s no trouble at all." Effiedled a bowl of the creamy soup and set it in front of him.


    Lyman looked down at the simple meal. The soup was thick and velvety, clearly simmered for a long time. A sudden wave of gratitude rose in his chest.


    He sat down and began to eat, his movements graceful andposed.


    To go with the soup, Effie had also prepared some crisp pickled cucumbers and fried eggs.


    Lyman ate with genuine enjoyment, every bite bringing a littlefort. Seeing this, Effie finally rxed.


    When breakfast was done, Lyman spoke up. "Let the driver take you to the office today. I have a business trip-should be back in two or three days."


    Effie blinked in surprise at first, then quickly recovered. "It''s fine, I can just call a cab."


    “No need,” Lyman replied. “Luther will pick me up for the airport anyway."


    Time was tight. He gave her a few quick instructions, packed a couple of changes of clothes, and was gone.


    Effie headed to the office and officially started her first day of work.


    Thepany assigned her a young assistant, Shirley. "Ms. Bagnold, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me."


    Effie smiled. "Thank you. Go ahead with your work-I''ll check my emails first."


    Usually, department heads sent assignments by email.


    "Of course," Shirley replied before heading out.


    Effie dove into her tasks.


    Around noon, her phone rang. Shepard''s name shed on the screen.


    Her first instinct was to ignore it, but she knew her father-if she hung up, he''d just keep calling until she answered.


    Resigned, she picked up. "What is it?" Her voice was cool and distant.


    "I''m your father, not your enemy," Shepard said, his tone stern as ever.


    "Sorry, but I''m past the age where I need a father''s affection," she shot back, in no mood for pleasantries.


    "Ungrateful child!" Shepard snapped, but quickly got to the point. "Your grandmother''s birthday celebration is this weekend. Don''t forget toe home." Her grandmother-Selma Bagnold-had always doted on Effie, and the feeling was mutual. But the olddy had grown reclusive in recent years, preferring peace and quiet in the countryside, surrounded by books and thefort of her small chapel. She only returned to the city for her birthday each year.


    Effie paused. Grandmother''s birthday? How could she have forgotten something so important?


    "All right, I''ll be there," Effie replied, her voice calm.


    She wasn''t fond of the rest of the Bagnold family, but her grandmother had always been kind to her. When Shepard betrayed her mother, bringing Vera home, Selma had been furious-so much so that she nearly suffered a heart attack. But Shepard was stubborn, almost bewitched by Vera, and insisted on marrying her. After Effie''s mother, Adriana, left with Effie, Selma couldn''t bear to watch the family fall apart. She withdrew from the household, seeking sce in solitude and prayer, and rarely returned-just to avoid seeing Shepard and Vera under the same roof.


    When the call ended, Effie thought about the birthday celebration. She couldn''t be caught unprepared.


    She immediately picked up her phone again. "Nn, I need you to help me prepare a gift for my grandmother. Something special."


    The guest list would be long, and appearances mattered-she couldn''t let anyone have reason to gossip behind her back.


    Nn Bagnold was a young man in his early twenties whom Effie had once


    helped. He''d had no name when she met him, so she''d given him one: Nn.