Seeing that everyone had finally calmed down, Bancroft turned to Lyman. "Lyman, how do you think we should handle this?"


    Lyman replied, "What''s done is done. No matter how angry we are, if we go all out retaliate, we''ll only end up hurting ourselves. In the end, the only ones who benefit will be outsiders, and nothing good wille of it."


    Bancroft nodded approvingly. "You''re always the level-headed one."


    Fowler couldn''t help but grumble inwardly-of course it''s easy for you to keep your cool when none of this really affects you.


    But then again, he realized he was being selfish-he''d nearly forgotten Effie was caught up in this too, even though she''d just happened to be in the wrong ce at the wrong time.


    Bancroft continued, "So, Lyman, do you have a n?"


    Lyman said, "Actually, the Chamber of Commerce just announced they''re releasing a prime piece ofnd. The Etheridge Group wants to bid on it, and the Crawford family is our biggest rival. Before, I knew I''d have to put in some extra ''effort'' because the Crawfords have significant influence with the Chamber. But now, the situation''s changed, hasn''t it?"


    Fidelia''s heart sank. "So you''re nning to step over me to get ahead?" she thought bitterly. Was this just because she wasn''t family by blood-did that give Lyman the right to use her like this, to ignore her feelings?


    Lyman nced at Fidelia with cool indifference. "Don''t put it like that. I''m just making use of the situation. Or would you really rather see our family and the Crawfords tear each other apart over your mess?"


    "I... That''s not what I meant..." Fidelia stammered, looking wounded.


    But deep down, it was exactly what she''d wanted-she just didn''t dare say it aloud. She was so miserable she almost wished the whole world would go down with her.


    Lyman pressed on, "As a member of the Etheridge family, Fidelia, the family''s interestse first. Isn''t that right?"


    Backed into a corner, Fidelia could only nod stiffly. "Yes."


    "Then it''s settled. I''ll take care of it," Lyman said firmly.


    Bancroft nodded. "Good. That''s decided, then."


    "You''re all free to go now."


    He paused, then turned to Effie. "Effie, stay behind. Keep your grandfatherpany with a game of chess."


    Effie blinked in surprise. She hadn''t expected Bancroft''s love of chess to run this deep-even after all this time it was still on his mind. Of course, Grandpa. I''ll y with you."


    But Bancroft had another idea. "Actually, Effie, why don''t you y a round with


    Lyman? I''d like to see which of youes out on top."


    He nced at Lyman. "And you''re not allowed to go easy on her."


    Lyman couldn''t help butugh. "Grandpa, you''ve got it backwards. You should be telling Effie not to go easy on me. She''s already beaten you who''s to say she can''t beat me too?"


    Bancroft clicked his tongue in mock annoyance.


    "Why are you all still here?" Bancroft called out to the others, who had stopped in their tracks.


    Healy, for one, had been about to leave, but when he heard Lyman and Effie were about to y chess, he found himself lingering in the doorway-just like everyone else.


    They all wanted to see who was better: Effie, who''d managed to defeat Bancroft multiple times, or Lyman, whose skills were still a mystery.


    This should be interesting, Effie thought, Bancroft can''t beat me, so now he''s bringing in Lyman. Looks like Lyman''s not just good at business-he''s a strong chess yer foo.