Effie felt a sharp ache in her heart.


    She, too, thought of that gentle, refined man from her memories—her grandfather.


    He had adored her grandmother more than anything in the world. Even when money was tight, he did everything he could to give her the best life possible.


    But after a lifetime spent shaping young minds, her grandfather was taken from them too soon, swept away by lung cancer. He died in the ICU, never even getting the chance to say goodbye to her grandmother.


    That became her grandmother''s lifelong regret.


    Taking a deep breath, her grandmother spoke softly to Effie. "It''s okay to lose your way sometimes, sweetheart. Who hasn''t made mistakes when they were young? What matters is knowing when to stop and finding the right path again.”


    Effie knew what her grandmother was getting at. She nodded. "I understand."


    Her grandmother squeezed her hand. "Don''t keep repeating the same mistakes. There''s no sense in going back to something that wasn''t right in the first ce." Effie nodded solemnly. "I know."


    After a pause, she added, "I love Lyman. I know we haven''t known each other very long, but it feels like I''ve known him forever."


    Lyman had just been about to open the door when he overheard her confession. He froze for a second, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    A momentter, Lyman came in, his arms loaded down with bags.


    "I thought you''d just gone out to pick up some sauce," Effie teased, grinning at the sight of him. "How did you end up with all that?"”


    Lyman gave a helpless smile. "Mrs. Shera from next door recognized me as your grandmother''s grandson-inw and handed me a bag of loquats. Then, once everyone else found out who I was, they kept giving me things. I tried to say no, but I guess they thought I was too charming to turn away. I couldn''t refuse."


    Effie burst outughing. "Shameless."


    Even her grandmother chuckled at that.


    Seeing their spirits lift, Lyman grinned too.


    If Vinson Elliott and Randell Hoffman were there, they''d probably be cracking up


    at the lengths Lyman went to just to keep his wife happy-even if it meant setting his pride aside.


    After dinner at her grandmother''s house, her grandmother insisted that Effie and Lyman head home.


    Lyman insisted on helping tidy up, gathering the tes and heading to the kitchen. Spotting some apples, he peeled one and carved it into a little rabbit, then brought it out on a te for Effie and her grandmother.


    Her grandmother was a little taken aback―Lyman really did dote on Effie as if she were still a child.


    "He''s a good one, Effie. Look at how thoughtful he is, even making these adorable apple bunnies." Her grandmother''s voice was full of relief.


    Effie grinned. "He really is wonderful. Why don''t youe live with us, Grandma?"


    Ever since her legs had healed, her grandmother refused to let anyone look after her at home and had let the caretaker go.


    Effie had been racking her brain for ways to persuade her to move in with them.


    But her grandmother shook her head.


    "I''m used to living here. I wouldn''t befortable anywhere else," she said, ncing at the spot where her grandfather''s photo sat. "I''ll stay. You young folks have your own ways-I''m set in mine."


    Effie knew there was no changing her mind. Sighing, she got up to give her grandmother a gentle shoulder massage.


    "Oh! That tickles!" her grandmother said,ughing.


    "Really?" Effie protested, a little deted. She''d thought she was doing a decent job-how could it tickle so much?


    Just then, Lyman came out, drying his hands.


    "Let me try," he offered.


    Her grandmother waved him off. "No, no, it''s gettingte, I should head to bed. You two go on home."


    It was one thing to let him wash the dishes, but letting the CEO of a major corporation give her a massage? She wouldn''t dream of it.