Mitchell''s expression darkened, his voice tinged with irritation. "Effie, do you even know what kind of man Lyman is? Someone like him could never be serious about you. Don''t let yourself get yed."


    Effie let out a coldugh, her eyes sharp with mockery. "Mitchell, have you forgotten? You''re the one who walked away from me. So what makes you think you have any right to meddle in my life now? I know exactly where I stand with Lyman. I don''t need your warnings."


    Mitchell was momentarily speechless, her words catching him off guard.


    He clenched his fists, regret seeping into his tone. "Effie, I know I hurt you back then, but-damn it, I just don''t want to see you get used by someone like Lyman."


    Effie''s gaze turned icy, her voiceced with warning. "Mitchell, watch what you say. I know Lyman far better than you do. And as for us-whatever we had is long over. Stop interfering in my life."


    Mitchell''s face twisted with anger as he shot to his feet. "Don''t be so naive, Effie! Lyman''s not serious about you-he''s just having his fun. You''re nothing more than a passing distraction to him!"


    Effie stood up too, her eyes cold as steel. "My life is none of your concern. Lyman is my husband, so maybe you should be careful with your words from now on."


    "Husband? Please." Mitchell''s voice dripped with scorn. "If you''re going to lie, at least pick something believable. You really expect me to believe Lyman would marry you? He''s just toying with you."


    Effie didn''t bother to argue. She simply pulled out her phone, found the photo of their marriage certificate, and held it out to him. "If you''re not blind, you can see for yourself. That''s our marriage license."


    As if Mitchell thought everyone yed games the way he did.


    They''d spent years together, and he''d never once considered marrying her. How many years did he think her youth wouldst? Or maybe, right from the start, he''d just been toying with her too, never caring enough tomit.


    And even now, Mitchell still thought Lyman was just ying around.


    Did he just think she wasn''t good enough to marry?


    Ridiculous.


    Mitchell''s face went pale as he stared at the proof, his brow furrowed so deeply it looked like he could crack a walnut between his eyebrows.


    "No way. That''s impossible!"


    "Is it?" Effie''s tone was almost taunting as she pointed to both their names. "Take a good look-those are our names, it''s legal."


    After Mitchell finally focused on the document, he shot her a suspicious re. "This is fake, right?"


    Of course it had to be a fake. Lyman would never marry Effie. Someone like him, so far out of reach, would never settle for a woman Mitchell had already cast aside.


    Effie rolled her eyes, exasperated. She''d never realized how stubborn Mitchell could be. "Are you really that clueless? Why would I bother faking something like this? Besides, forging documents is a crime."


    Mitchell said nothing, his face still grim.


    "It''s over between us, Mitchell," Effie said quietly but firmly, slipping her phone back into her bag. "Whatever happens between me and Lyman is none of your business. Believe it or not, it doesn''t change the facts."


    Mitchell''s face was so dark and stormy he looked ready to explode, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He still refused to believe Effie was really married.


    A bitter pang twisted in his chest.


    Suddenly, he let out a cold, mirthlessugh, his voiceced with ridicule. "Someone like him—there''s no way he actually cares about you. You''re just a convenient distraction, nothing more."


    Effie''s heart fluttered for a moment, but she quickly steadied herself.


    She raised her chin and met Mitchell''s stare, her lips curving into a faint, confident smile. "Mitchell, not everyone treats love like a game the way you do. I know exactly what kind of man Lyman is. At least he was willing to give me the respect of a realmitment. You, on the other hand... you never even thought about it."