Fowler and Marcia did everything in their power to shield Fidelia. There was no way they''d let her take the me for trying to hurt Effie.


    Realizing what was at stake, Fidelia quickly feigned innocence, nodding and saying, “That''s right. I was just too nervous earlier—I didn''t see clearly."


    Lyman''s voice was calm but firm. “In our family, we care about the truth. You can''t just throw out usations without proof."


    A flush crept up Fidelia''s cheeks, as if she''d been pped.


    "..."


    "But Effie deliberately provoked me! That''s why I got angry and pushed her," Fidelia blurted out, teeth clenched, revealing another bombshell.


    Lyman gave a nomittal "Oh?" and asked, "Is that so? Do you have any evidence?"


    The surveince footage only showed Fidelia pushing Effie. Effie, startled, had tried to grab onto something to steady herself, only to clutch at Fidelia and drag her into the water as well.


    It was an old-fashioned security camera-picture only, no sound.


    Effie spoke up. "I didn''t say anything to provoke her. I was just stating facts, and I can prove it."


    Lyman had backed her up just moments before, but without evidence, people might start iming he was just protecting his own. And as Lyman''s wife, Effie couldn''t bear the thought of anyone—even family—misunderstanding him.


    "Earlier, Fidelia lured me here under the pretense that our mother-inw wanted to see me. I thought something was off, so the moment I saw Fidelia, I started recording on my phone," Effie exined.


    Fidelia''s eyes widened in shock. No wonder she''d seen Effie toss her phone aside as she fell so that''s why! So Effie had been prepared for this all along; maybe she''d never really been at Fidelia''s mercy.


    Fidelia''s gaze toward Effie turnedplicated. What a calcting woman! Absolutely disgusting.


    Not that Effie noticed the murderous look Fidelia shot her-she was too busy searching the ground for her phone. When she finally found it, she yed the recording of their conversation.


    "But Lyman and Isabel practically grew up together! If it weren''t for you, they''d definitely be together by now!"


    "Taken what, exactly? Someone I had a crush on? Or are you saying Isabel and my husband were ever actually together, and I just swooped in and stole him?"


    "But Lyman and Isabel practically grew up together! If it weren''t for you, they''d definitely be together by now!"


    "Oh? If he really liked her, don''t you think something would''ve happened between them by now? The only reason they didn''t get together is because there were no feelings there."


    Effie could feel Lyman''s eyes on her-so intense she didn''t dare meet his gaze. She''d sounded so confident when saying those things, but now, with Lyman listening, it almost seemed like she was staking her im over him. The thought made her a little embarrassed.


    What she didn''t know was that Lyman actually loved this side of her-her boldness, her strength.


    He listened, grinning so broadly it looked as if he might startughing out loud.


    But when he turned to Fidelia, his smile vanished, eyes turning cold. "Fidelia, I don''t belong to anyone. And for the record, I''ve never had feelings for Isabel."


    The words hit Fidelia like a bolt of lightning. She shook her head, biting her lip. "No, that can''t be. You always defended Isabel before! Everyone said—"


    "Don''t I defend you, too?" Lyman shot back.


    Fidelia fell silent. Did Lyman feel the same way about Isabel as he did about her? But Isabel had always told her otherwise...


    No, it had to be because Effie was here-Lyman just didn''t want to admit it in front


    of her! She opened her mouth to argue, but Fowler cut her off before she could say another word.