He said, "I''m awyer. If you say your stomach hurts, I can take you to the hospital and record everything for you. But if you''re lying, you''ll have to face legal consequences."


    At this point, Suzan was starting to lose her nerve, but she still refused to get up.


    Fenton, as if he''d seen it alling, pulled out a business card. "I''m Fenton."


    Fenton? So what...


    But then something clicked in Suzan''s mind, and her face changed drastically.


    "You''re Fenton from YF Group? The legendary Fenton who never loses?" she murmured, almost in disbelief.


    Fenton gave a modest smile. "People tend to overestimate me. I lose sometimes too."


    Suzan jolted as if she''d been shocked, scrambling to her feet. "I... I''m fine. Really, I''m suddenly just fine. How strange, ha... ha..."


    Annabel chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Mr. Fenton is famous for dabbling in everything. Looks like he''s moonlighting as a doctor now."


    She turned to Suzan, eyes narrowed. "Are you sure you''re fine? Because if you miss this chance, you won''t find another one."


    Suzan''s eyes went wide with fear, and she shook her head vigorously. "I''m fine, I''m fine!"


    Vera, pale-faced, hurried over to apologize. "I''m so sorry, Mr. Etheridge. My daughter was rude and bumped into your friend. Please ept my apologies."


    Lyman shot back coldly, "Leave."


    "Get out. Now."


    Vera grabbed Suzan and hurried her away, her voice a low whisper as they left, "Suzan, should I call Mitchell to pick you up?"


    Suzan replied, "No point. He hasn''t been home in ages-he''s swamped at work. I heard there''s trouble at thepany."


    Trouble at thepany?


    Effie seemed to catch onto something and nced at Lyman. He met her gaze, as if to say, "What are you thinking?"


    Effie just said, "Let''s go."


    "I''m starving. Let''s find somewhere to eat," Annabel suggested.


    "Sounds good."


    For once, Annabel didn''t cause any more trouble. She picked an


    unremarkable diner, and at l


    managed


    to fill their stomachs.


    After the meal, everyone went their separate ways.


    In the car, Effie suddenly remembered what had happened earlier and couldn''t help butugh.


    Her dyed reaction amused her-thinking back to the scene, she found it hrious.


    "What''s so funny?" Lyman nced over at her.


    "I''m justughing at myself. If you hadn''t been there, Suzan never would''ve let me off so easily."


    Even knowing that, Effie wouldn''t have hesitated to confront Suzan. She''d had enough of her for a long time.


    Lyman thought she had something serious on her mind, but it turned out to be just this.


    He took her hand gently. "I''m here for you. So don''t be shy-use me as much as you want."


    Effie looked at him, then after a moment replied softly, "But I can''t bear to do that."


    Lyman felt as if his heart had just been struck-was this what falling in love felt like?


    When they returned to Effie''s grandmother''s house, the olddy was already fast asleep.


    Lyman leaned in and whispered, "Go take a shower."


    "Alright," Effie replied.


    After her shower, she felt refreshed, finally free from the lingering smell of dinner.


    Her hair was still damp when Lyman


    came over, took her hand, and


    her


    Saner


    down on the edge of the bed. He turned to close the door.


    Watching Lyman''s back, Effie''s mind drifted, recalling theic Annabel had shown her. Maybe because her life was so much like the heroine''s, she couldn''t help but rte-her stomach tightened, and she felt heat rush to her cheeks.