Effie turned, her gaze trailing along Lyman''s slender wrist until she met his handsome, striking face.


    "They''reing-run!" she urged breathlessly.


    Lyman nodded. "Alright."


    But instead of running, he stopped in his tracks.


    Effie froze, panic rising in her chest. Why would he stop now? Didn''t he realize—


    Before she could finish the thought, Lyman scooped her up effortlessly.


    Startled, Effie instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, afraid she might fall.


    A yful smile flickered at the corner of Lyman''s lips as he dashed toward the exit, carrying her as if she weighed nothing at all.


    He moved fast-so fast that the people chasing them quickly fell behind. In no time, they burst out into the open air, safe and free.


    Their driver was already waiting by the curb. The moment they jumped into the backseat, he mmed his foot on the gas, and the car sped off down the street.


    Effie and Lyman, hands intertwined, nced back through the rear window. Their pursuers had made it outside too, but on foot, they were no match for a speeding


    car.


    "Finally lost them," Effie sighed in relief.


    She turned to Lyman, a bright smile breaking over her face.


    He reached over and gently wiped a bead of sweat from the tip of her nose.


    They really had run hard, and the adrenaline had left her a little flushed.


    "Sorry," Effie said, her eyes full of remorse. "I wanted today to be rxing, but- well, that happened..."


    Lyman tousled her hair affectionately. "Don''t be sorry. I had a st. Honestly, I feel more rxed now than I have in ages."


    "Really?" Effie asked, searching his eyes.


    Heughed. "When have I ever lied to you?"


    Meanwhile, Isabel watched Lyman and Effie drive away, a sinking feeling twisting in her gut. She started to slip quietly through the crowd, hoping to make her own escape.


    But someone''s sharp eyes caught her.


    "You! You''re the one who told us the big scavenger hunt prize was with that woman-said whoever got it first would win some secret reward. I didn''t even believe you until you shed your staff badge. Tums out you were lying, weren''t you? The organizers just announced there was never any prize!"


    As the usation rang out, more people began to converge on Isabel, eyes zing with anger.


    Her heart pounded, terror tightening her chest. If she stayed, there was no telling what they''d do to her.


    She bolted, weaving through the crowd as angry voices chased after her. "Get back here, you fraud!"


    Fortunately, after the earlier shoving incident at the park, staff were on high alert for trouble. They stepped in quickly, making sure nothing got out of hand.


    Seizing the chaos, Isabel slipped away.


    Only when she was well clear did she remember-with a jolt of regret that in her rush to escape, she''d forgotten to collect her wages for the day.


    She stamped her foot in frustration. "Damn that Effie!"


    Just then, her phone buzzed.


    When she checked the screen, her eyes widened in surprise.


    "Grace?" she muttered.


    Grace''s voice came through, cool and mocking. "Isabel, wow. It''s been what, a


    year? And things have only gotten worse for you, huh?"


    Isabel''s mood, already sour, snapped. Fury threatened to spill over.


    She gritted her teeth. "Grace, what''s your problem? Did you call just to gloat? Sorry to disappoint, but it''ll take more than this to break me. Just wait and see."  fo


    "Oooh, still as touchy as ever. I barely said two words and you''re already throwing


    a tantrum," Grace taunted.


    "Shut up, Grace! What''s wrong-couldn''t get your way with your sister, so you came to pick a fight with me instead?" Isabel shot back, her voice rising.


    The smugness vanished from Grace''s voice in an instant.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!