Effie''s smile was polite but distant. "It is a bit of a coincidence, isn''t it? Still, firste, first served, Miss Isabel. I''m afraid you''ll have to forgive me."


    The cufflinks from this brand were rare-each design one of a kind, only a single pair in existence.


    Isabel regarded Effie coolly. "Miss Bagnold, forcing something that doesn''t belong to you is pointless. I''m sure you''ve seen the news, so let''s not pretend anymore."


    Effie raised an eyebrow at that. Oh? So we''re dropping all pretenses now?


    Before, Isabel had only hinted at things; now she was spelling them out. Effie couldn''t really me her for being so anxious. Carole had her people look into it and found out that Lyman and Effie were already living together.


    That morning, Lyman himself had driven Effie out.


    What exactly was their rtionship? Lovers?


    Isabel was thrownpletely off by the revtion. She''d always thought Lyman was reserved, emotionally distant, uninterested in romance.


    Yet now he was living with Effie? It was thest thing Isabel had expected.


    Back then, she''d been the only woman in Lyman''s life.


    How could Isabel possibly ept this? If Effie had been some remarkable woman from an impressive family, maybe she would have understood. But Effie was so


    ordinary, the kind of girl you''d pass on any street.


    What did Effie have that let her be with Lyman?


    Nita had also seen the entertainment news. She''d meant to ask Effie about it, but the conversation had drifted and she''d forgotten. Now, seeing Isabel''s aggressive stance, Nita''s brow furrowed.


    "Has the world really turned upside down? Homewreckers used to hide in the shadows, afraid of getting caught and shamed. Now they strut right up to the wife and unt it? When did things change so much?"


    Isabel''s expression darkened. "Just who are you calling a homewrecker? The person unloved in a rtionship is the real outsider."


    Effie''s tone was cold. "So you and Lyman are in love?"


    Once, she wouldn''t have dared to challenge Isabel like this. Butst night had changed everything-she and Lyman had truly be husband and wife.


    She could sense how special she was to Lyman, how he treated her like something precious.


    After spending time with him, Effie knew Lyman wasn''t the type to y around. He was steady, thoughtful. If he truly loved Isabel, why would he have married Effie? He''d always said marriage wasn''t a game.


    Last night, when things grew most passionate, Effie thought-maybe it was just her imagination-but she was almost sure she''d heard him whisper "I love you" in her ear.


    In that moment, with her heart racing and her mind spinning, all she could hear was his low, gentle voice. The words lingered in her heart, leaving a mark she couldn''t describe.


    She wasn''t sure if she''d imagined it, but the feeling was unforgettable.


    Isabel''s face shifted at Effie''s question, but she quickly regained herposure. She let out a coldugh, her voice edged with mockery. "Effie, do you really think Lyman loves you? He married you because his family was pressuring him, and I needed to focus on my career."


    "Lyman invested in my films, my shows. If anything happened to me, he''d be the first one there. But don''t just take my word for it-wait and see." Isabel''s tone brimmed with confidence.


    Effie felt her heart sink.


    Why was Isabel so sure of herself?


    Was there really something between her and Lyman that Effie didn''t know about?