Adeline flew into a rage, refusing to listen to reason. She was absolutely convinced that Effie had gone after Suzan out of sheer jealousy.


    "You barren hen! Jealous because someone else is expecting a baby, is that it?!"


    With that, Adeline raised her hand and tried to p Effie.


    But Effie was ready for her. As Adeline''s hand came swinging, Effie simply sidestepped, letting the blow catch nothing but air.


    Adeline''s arm hung awkwardly in midair. For a moment, she was stunned.


    How dare Effie avoid her like that? The Effie she knew had always been meek and obedient, never daring to resist.


    "Effie!" Adeline spat, her voice shaking with fury as she red at Effie, eyes sharp enough to cut.


    Of course, Effie knew exactly what Adeline was thinking.


    Back when she''d wanted to win Mitchell''s approval, Effie had put on her best good-girl act, always bending to Adeline''s will. She''d gone against her own heart, and for what? All she''d earned was Adeline''s contempt.


    But now, with nothing tying her to Mitchell anymore, she was finally free to be herself.


    She''d promised herself: never again would she swallow her pride for someone else''s sake.


    "Mrs. Lloyd, let me give you a word of advice: before you figure out what''s actually going on, keep your hands to yourself. If yoush out at the wrong person, you''ll regret it."


    Adeline could barely contain herself. "Look at her! Who does she think she is, daring to snap at me like this?" Her jaw was clenched so tightly she nearly cracked a tooth.


    Mitchell''s brows drew together in a frown as he fixed Effie with a disapproving stare.


    He wanted to speak up for her, but in his mind, younger people owed their elders respect and obedience. Effie''s new defiance felt like a p to his pride-she was slipping right out of his control, and he hated it.


    "Effie! Apologize to my mother," Mitchell ordered coldly.


    Effie shot him an icy look, her eyes distant and utterly devoid of warmth.


    Mitchell felt his heart skip a beat, aplicated mess of emotions stirring inside him.


    "I haven''t done anything wrong. Why should apologize?" Effie replied. "Suzan knew she was pregnant and still chose to go horseback riding. How is that my fault?"


    She looked from Adeline to Mitchell, her voice


    A grown man and


    an old woman, both ganging up on a woman-aren''t you even the


    least bit ashamed?"  fo


    Just then, Lyman''s presence filled the room, the air seeming to drop several degrees as his gaze darkened.


    His sudden appearance left Mitchell and Adeline momentarily speechless.


    "They never had any shame to begin with," Effie said to Lyman, her tone softening as she yed up her vulnerability just a little.


    Seeing Effie on her feet, Lyman strode over and swept her into his arms, his voice gentle. "Why are you up? You should be resting."


    Effie leaned into him. "There are too many monsters and ghouls here-too much bad energy. I just want to go home."


    "Alright," Lyman replied, his tone warm. "Let''s go home."


    Mitchell felt a sharp sting behind his


    eyes as he watched Effie nestle close to Lyman. It was a feeling he couldn''t quite name-like something precious had just been ripped away from him.


    His feet twitched, and before he realized it, he''d started to follow after them.


    But Lyman paused and turned, his voice icy as he spoke. "I won''t let today''s incident go unanswered. Count on it."


    The cold steel in Lyman''s words sent a chill through the room.


    Mitchell and Adeline exchanged uneasy nces, their hearts pounding with anxiety. What did Lyman mean by "today''s incident"? What exactly had happened?


    Just then, the ER doors swung open and a doctor stepped out. "Family of Suzan Lloyd?"


    Adeline immediately clutched Mitchell''s sleeve. "Mitchell, the doctor''s calling you."