Lyman''s heart twisted painfully as he took in Effie''s disheveled and miserable state. Without hesitation, he barked, "Someone get me some water-now! And call a doctor!"


    He rushed to Effie''s side, taking her trembling hand in his.


    Effie had fought back her tears for so long, but now, they finally broke free. Her voice was hoarse as she managed, "H-honey..."


    Lyman gathered her carefully into his arms, holding her as if she might shatter at the slightest touch.


    "I''m here now. I won''t let anyone hurt you again," he promised, his voice fierce with guilt and anger. "I''m sorry I didn''t know sooner. I thought you were just at work-until Shirley came looking for me, I had no idea..."


    He looked at her, devastated by regret.


    If he''d known what had happened to Effie, he would have dropped everything ande for her, instead of waiting until now. Normally, he checked in on her whenever he could, but today, he''d been tied up in an important international meeting. He''d texted her when he got a spare moment, but when she didn''t reply, work swept him away and he lost track of time.


    Effie shook her head weakly. "It''s... not your fault..."


    "I thought they''d just take me away for a private settlement. I never imagined they''d actually call the police and bring me here. They must be sure of themselves -like no one could save me."


    She hesitated, then added, "If they give you trouble, don''t worry about me. I won''t confess to anything. Just get me a goodwyer."


    Even now, battered and exhausted, she was still thinking about Lyman.


    "I''m taking you home right now," he said, determination hardening his voice.


    Just then, Fenton arrived, a doctor and a bottle of water in tow.


    When Effie saw the water, her eyes lit up. "Water..."


    "Easy-slowly now," Lyman cautioned as he helped her drink.


    The water revived her, like a parched traveler stumbling upon an oasis. Color returned to her cheeks, and she managed to sit up straighter.


    Lyman turned to Fenton. "Can I take her now?"


    Fenton nodded. "Yes, you can."


    There was a flicker of somethingplicated in Fenton''s eyes as he looked at Lyman.


    He''d just gotten back from a business trip out of town, where he''d been auditing the books for a major corporation. He''d only returned that day—just in time for this mess. He''d heard about Lyman''s sudden marriage from the group chat and even teased him about it, saying, "Wee to the graveyard of love-may you not repeat my mistakes." Lyman had replied with nothing but a rolling-eyes emoji.


    Fenton had always wondered what kind of woman could win over someone as cold and guarded as Lyman, and in such a whirlwind romance, no less. The moment heid eyes on Effie, he understood.


    He shook off the thought and told Lyman again, "You''re good to go."


    "Thank you," Lyman said, and gently carried Effie out.


    As they reached the front steps of the precinct, Mitchell spotted them and rushed


    over, eyes wide with panic. "Effie!"


    Effie froze for a second, surprised to see him there.


    Why is Mitchell here?


    “Effie, I asked my mom to call Director Nichols, but it didn''t seem to help. I''m sorry," Mitchell blurted out.


    Effie had always known that Mitchell''s family had a "get-out-of-jail-free card"—but it could only be used once.


    She''d heard that Adeline had called Director Nichols, and she gave a tired, bitterugh. "Mitchell, why are you so na?ve? Did you really think your mom would waste something that valuable on me?"


    Mitchell''s throat tightened. For a moment, he couldn''t say a word.


    He waspletely sober now, and the weight of everything that had happened hit him all at once.