"Mr. Holt, please, let me exin! It wasn''t me! It was Effie! She-" Suzan thrashed about in panic, desperate to clear her name.


    "Shut up!" Mr. Holt snapped, cutting her off before she could finish. He shoved her roughly onto the bed. "As long as you Bagnold women are involved, it doesn''t matter which one. You''re not bad-looking yourself, so I suppose you''ll do. If you make me pay for this, I''ll make sure you all regret ever crossing me."


    Dizzy and terrified, Suzan could barely process what was happening. She''d never imagined things would spiral so far out of control. All she''d wanted was to use Mr. Holt to teach Effie a lesson, yet somehow, she''d ended up as the scapegoat.


    Damn it! How did ite to this?


    Her mind raced in confusion. Where was Effie? Hadn''t that wretched girl fainted? Where did she go?


    But Suzan had no time to think. Mr. Holt was already closing in on her.


    Meanwhile, Effie, having overheard enough, slipped away from the chaos with a calm that seemed almost otherworldly.


    Vera kept ncing at her watch, growing impatient. Enough time had passed- surely by now, Mr. Holt and Suzan had already done the deed.


    She scanned the room, hoping to find Suzan, but there was no sign of her. Oh well. Vera was anxious to act; if she waited too long and everything was already over, there''d be no point.


    Spotting a gathering in the hall, Vera made her move. In a deliberately loud voice, she asked, "Where''s Effie? Has anyone seen her? I''ve got something for her."


    Someone spoke up, "I think Effie went out to the back garden just now."


    Another chimed in, "That''s strange-I passed by the guest room near the garden earlier and thought I heard something inside. Could something have happened?"


    The crowd exchanged curious nces, and soon, a small group started making their way toward the guest wing.


    As they approached, it became clear the noises wereing from inside the guest room.


    Vera''s heart pounded with excitement. She could almost taste Effie''s humiliation. That little witch was about to be ruined for good.


    Feigning shock, Vera gasped, "What''s going on? Is Effie in there?"


    The muffled sounds of a man and woman from inside left everyone feeling awkward and uneasy.


    Just then, Effie herself strolled up, cool and unruffled, a faint crease between her brows. "Vera, were you looking for me?" she asked.


    Vera froze, as if she''d seen a ghost. "You-how are you here? Weren''t you—?” She stopped herself before finishing the thought.


    What was this? Effie was supposed to be unconscious, locked away in the guest room. How could she be standing right here?


    Then who was in the room?


    A wave of dread washed over Vera. No-it couldn''t be what she thought.


    “Vera, if I''m not here, then where am I supposed to be?" Effie replied, feigning innocence. "I spilled some red wine on my dress earlier and had to run back to my room to clean up. When I came out, I saw everyone gathered here. Did something happen?"


    Effie''s tone was sweetly oblivious, but her meaning was clear.


    ying dumb! Who did she think she was fooling?


    Vera''s nerves were fraying by the second, her anxiety mounting. Especially with Suzan nowhere in sight, Vera had a sinking feeling that something was very, very wrong.


    She couldn''t shake the sense that Effie had outsmarted them all. The situation was spiraling out of her control.


    Suddenly, Effie''s voice cut through the murmurs. "Wait-who''s in the guest room? Today''s Grandma''s birthday celebration. What kind of shameless person would do something so disgraceful right now?"


    The crowd erupted in whispers and spection.


    Without waiting for an answer, Effie stepped forward and pushed open the guest room door.