Jen never expected to meet someone even more arrogant than herself, but there was simply nothing she could do about Lyman. Frustrated, she had no choice but to leave in defeat.


    Of course, she didn''t leave before throwing out a threat over her shoulder. "Lyman, if anything happens to my husband, I won''t let you off the hook."


    Lyman didn''t even bother to look at her. "I have no interest in dealing with dead weight."


    With that, he turned and walked away, Effie at his side.


    Only after Lyman and Effie had been gone for quite a while did his people finally disperse as well.


    Jen knew she''d lostpletely and humiliatingly so.


    Mitchell stared nkly as Lyman carried Effie away. Deep down, a terrible premonition took root; he knew that this time, once Effie left, there would be no getting her back.


    He reached out helplessly, wing at the empty air, grasping nothing.


    His eyes burned, tears stinging as he dropped into a crouch, hugging his knees to his chest, and sobbed like a child.


    Suddenly, he sensed someone standing in front of him, but he didn''t bother to


    look up.


    Adeline''s voice rang out, sharp and exasperated. "Get up. Don''t embarrass yourself, you useless fool!"


    The moment he heard Adeline, Mitchell snapped his head up, fury in his eyes. "Why? Why didn''t you just call me? Why did you have to trick me?"


    Adeline looked at him with utter disbelief. If he wanted to act like a drunken fool, that was his business-she certainly wasn''t going to y along.


    She said coldly, "An opportunity like that? I''m not wasting it on someone like Effie. If you''ve sobered up, get up ande home with me. Stop making a spectacle of yourself. Your father''s people out there are already running wild. Unless you want to hand them more ammunition, I suggest you get in the car."


    Her words hit Mitchell like a bucket of ice water, the chill jolting him back to his senses.


    He stared numbly, then trudged after Adeline and climbed into the car.


    But resentment still simmered in his chest. After a moment, he muttered, "Lyman just came and took Effie away. He was willing to go against the Ames family just to get her out."


    Adeline paused, her hand on the ignition. A mocking smile curled her lips. "I thought the Etheridge family finally produced someone tough. Turns out he''s just another idiot blinded by romance."


    Mitchell fell silent.


    At Lyman and Effie''s house, Lindy paced anxiously, ncing at the clock every few minutes.


    "Daughter-inw," Bancroft called softly.


    Lindy stopped short and turned to him. "Dad, it''s gettingte. You should try to get some rest."


    But Bancroft shook his head. "How am I supposed to sleep with things like this?" Lindy paused, understanding all too well-her own nerves were just as raw. She didn''t press him further.


    Suddenly, the sound of someone punching in the door code echoed from the entryway.


    Bancroft and Lindy exchanged a hopeful nce and turned toward the door.


    Heavy footsteps sounded in the hall, and a momentter, Friedman hurried through the doorway.


    "Dad, honey, why are you both still up?"


    When Lindy and Bancroft saw it was only Friedman, a flicker of disappointment passed between them.


    Friedman rubbed his nose sheepishly. Apparently, he wasn''t exactly the person anyone wanted to see tonight.


    "I heard something happened to Effie, so I came back right away. How is she?"


    Bancroft''s expression darkened. "Was it your brother or your sister who told you?"


    Friedman replied, "It was my brother. He wanted me to talk Lyman out of going up against the Ames family."