Shepard was already seething with anger, but he managed tofort Vera, murmuring softly, "I know, I know."


    Effie''s expression grew even darker. Watching those two put on their little show in front of her grandmother made her stomach turn.


    "Get out!" she snapped.


    Snatching up a freshly broken branch, Effie swung it toward Shepard and the others.


    Shepard barely dodged the blow, his face stormy as he barked at her, "You ungrateful girl! Is this how you treat your father? I order you to apologize to me and to your stepmother, right now!"


    In his rage, Shepard hadpletely forgotten why he''de in the first ce.


    Effie let out a coldugh. "And when have you ever acted like a father? What gives you the right to y that role in front of me?"


    She brandished the branch again, her eyes shing. “If you don''t leave, don''t me me for what happens next!"


    "You-" Shepard was so furious he could hardly speak.


    "Leave." Lyman''s voice cut through the tension, icy andmanding. His eyes were cial, and it seemed as though the temperature around them dropped a few degrees.


    A chill ran down Shepard''s spine, as if he''d plunged into a frozenke. Without another word, he gathered his people and made a hasty retreat.


    "It''s all right now, Grandma," Effie said gently, crouching down to reassure her. Her grandmother nodded, gripping Effie''s hands tightly. "Yes, I''m okay."


    The visit to Adriana''s grave had already weighed heavily on everyone''s spirits; now, after the confrontation, no one felt like lingering any longer. They left in a hurry, silent and somber.


    Not long after Effie and the others had gone, a shadowy figure appeared quietly at Adriana''s grave.


    ...


    "Can you believe Effie actually brought Mr. Etheridge to visit Adriana''s grave? Does she really think he cares about her? As if she could ever be worthy." Suzan''s tone dripped with scorn.


    Shepard snapped out of his thoughts, shooting Suzan an irritated re. "No


    matter how you feel, she''s still your sister," he barked.


    Suzan was startled by his sudden outburst. Her eyes went red as she stammered, "Dad, why are you-?"


    Not wanting Suzan to dig herself in deeper and further anger Shepard, Vera quickly intervened. "Suzan, why don''t you go back with Mr. Lloyd? I''ll stay here with your father."


    Suzan hesitated, but nodded. "Okay."


    Just as she started to leave, Shepard called after her, "Remember this: no matter what, when you''re outside this family, Effie is your sister. Is that clear?"


    Suzan felt the weight of his words; she stiffened, then nodded obediently. "I understand."


    Once Suzan was out of earshot, Vera turned to Shepard. "She''s still young, darling. We just need to guide her, that''s all."


    "She''s young?" Shepard scoffed. "She''s nearly old enough to be a mother herself. She''d better learn to stop this nonsense, or she''ll regret itter."


    Vera thought to herself that Shepard was just venting his frustration and didn''t bother taking his words to heart. Outwardly, though, she offered a soothing smile. "Don''t be upset. It''s not worth making yourself sick over this. I''ll talk to her."


    Vera knew exactly how to handle men-when to push and when to yield. That was why Shepard was so fond of her. Not like certain other women, who were too proud to ever back down.


    She had orchestrated her rtionship with Shepard from the start, fully aware that Adriana couldn''t tolerate a single blemish in her life. Sure enough, when Adriana found out, she demanded a divorce. Shepard refused, and who knows what kind of stress Adriana suffered she lost her mind, and not long after, she died in a car ident.


    Other people might not know what really happened, but Vera did.