Effie heard Suzan''s insincere voice calling out behind her, but she didn''t even


    bother to turn around—she squared her shoulders and strode straight toward the lobby, not sparing Suzan so much as a nce.


    Suzan watched Effie''s retreating figure, her brow furrowed in irritation, a sh of anger in her eyes.


    Effie thought she was so much better than everyone else? Who did she think she was, ignoring her like that? Just a woman cast aside and left on her own.


    She could hardly tell which way was up these days.


    No way was Suzan going to let such a rare opportunity slip through her fingers.


    She hurried after Effie and grabbed her arm.


    Forced to a stop, Effie turned, her expression cool with a hint of annoyance in her bright, starry eyes. "What do you want?"


    Suzan shrank back as if startled, her eyes instantly shining with unshed tears. "So you can hear me after all, Effie? Then why are you ignoring me?"


    Effie couldn''t help thinking Suzan would make a fantastic actress-with theatrics like that, she''d be an award-winner her first year out.


    Did Suzan really not know why she was being ignored?


    Almost as if she''d read Effie''s mind, Suzan began fussing over her. "Are you feeling unwell, Effie? Did youe to the hospital to get checked out?"


    "You know, nothing matters more than your health, right?"


    "I heard you''ve had some health issues, that''s why you haven''t been able to have kids..."


    Suzan trailed off, feigning embarrassment. She tapped her lips lightly, her eyes glinting with mock apology. "Oops, sorry, I forgot you know how I am never could keep my mouth shut."


    "But you won''t mind, will you?"


    Suzan had dragged Effie''s infertility out into the open, and Effie''s gaze fell thoughtfully on Suzan''s midsection. There was a subtle change-a slight swell at her waist, as if Suzan were unting something.


    Noticing Effie''s stare, Suzan deliberately ced a protective hand on her lower back.


    Effie let out a coldugh. "I honestly don''t care what some people say. Some folks only know how to run their mouths-they forgot to grow a brain."


    Suzan''s face turned red with rage. She waited until Effie had walked away before gritting her teeth and muttering, "Useless hen!"


    Effie heard her, but didn''t react.


    They''d already gone their separate ways-was it so hard to let each other keep a little dignity?


    She''d never tried to use a child as leverage to marry Mitchell. She''d believed that if two people truly loved each other, they didn''t need outside conditions to move forward together.


    Her own mother had rushed into marriage with Shepard just because she was pregnant. In the end, she''d been trapped in that marriage-trapped because of Effie-and the consequences...


    So when Effie was with Mitchell, she''d always insisted: no marriage, no intimacy. Maybe that was why Mitchell had cheated.


    People always say you shouldn''t foul your own nest, but Mitchell was just like Shepard no better at all.


    The thought of Mitchell hooking up with Suzan behind her back-while they were still together, no less-and now Suzan''s belly already showing, made Effie feel physically ill.


    All those years of her youth-what a waste.


    Lyman came looking for Effie just as she stood there, her mood written inly on her face. His heart clenched, as if an invisible hand had wrapped around his chest and squeezed, making it hard to breathe.


    Even though Effie was his now, Lyman still lived in constant fear of losing her.


    Who would have guessed that, in this marriage, it was always Lyman—aloof, proud Lyman-who was hopelessly in love?


    Just then, he saw Effie shake her head as if to clear it, a smile slowly returning to her face.


    Seeing her smile, Lyman''s own lips curled up unconsciously, and he found himself smiling too.


    It was as if the clouds had finally parted in his heart and the sun was shining through atst.