Lyman swept Effie up into his arms before she could even gasp. Instinctively, she threw her arms around his neck, clinging on as if she might fall.


    A smirk yed on Lyman''s lips as he carried her to the car, setting her down gently in the back seat.


    He reassured her, "Don''t worry, this isn''t the same car from earlier. She rode in that one. I''d never make you sit there."


    Effie couldn''t help butugh. "You act like I''m that petty. So, what are you going to do with that car?"


    He shrugged. "What do you think? Scrap it?"


    She shook her head. "No way! It''s perfectly fine. Scrapping it would be such a waste."


    He raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you suggest?"


    Effie grinned, thinking it over. "Well... maybe she should pay for a cleaning?"


    Lyman flicked her forehead lightly. "You little troublemaker. Who''s going to bring it up?"


    She beamed at him. "Obviously you. You''re the one who let her ride in your car— shouldn''t you take care of it?"


    He ruffled her hair, his tone indulgent. "Alright, I''ll handle it."


    "When?"


    "Tomorrow."


    "Okay."


    Lyman slid into the driver''s seat and got ready to start the car.


    Effie watched his silhouette, everything feeling so surreal. "Lyman?"


    "Yeah?"


    Just as the engine turned over, Effie climbed over the seat, reaching out to pinch his cheek.


    Lyman just looked at her, silent.


    She muttered, "Doesn''t even say it hurts. Must be a dream."


    With that, she twisted a little harder. This time, Lyman couldn''t help but cry out, "Ow! That hurts!"


    "See? If it hurts, then I''m not dreaming."


    Effie let go, noticing a rosy mark blooming on his cheek.


    Lyman


    to, shaking his head.


    So that''s why she pinched him? Just check


    if this was real? He''den


    pinched for nothing.


    "Where are we going? I want to go home." Effie realized he was


    in the opposite direction driving


    immediately grew anxiout


    Lyman tried to soothe her. "Rx, you twisted your ankle. We''re going to the


    hospital."


    "The hospital? No way! I want to go home!"


    Though she w


    didn''t


    was a little tipsy, Effie


    put up a fight; she just sat


    the back grumbling under he


    breath.  ereli


    A smile tugged at Lyman''s mouth.


    Soon, they pulled up outside the hospital.


    The chief physician was already waiting by the doors, a whole team of nurses and orderlies standing behind him.


    "Where''s the critical patient?" Dr. Norman scanned the parking lot, only to see Lyman carrying Effie.


    Lyman said calmly, "My wife twisted her ankle."


    Norman felt a headacheing on. "Wait, Lyman, you called a medical team for a sprained ankle?"


    "What else would I do?" Lyman stared at him, utterly serious.


    Norman rubbed his temples. "I must''ve owed you in a past life."


    Lyman caught something in his tone-"you"? Wasn''t he talking about just him?


    "Who else?" Lyman pressed.


    Norman hesitated, then muttered, "Who else could it be..."


    Something seemed to ur to him, but he cut himself off with a resigned sigh. "Just my luck."


    "Let''s go."


    Lyman carried Effie, following Norman inside.


    Effie felt mortified, hiding her face in Lyman''s chest.


    In the corner, Granger Morgan watched them, his gaze darkening with something unreadable.


    Suddenly, he caught sight of Grace McCloud out of the corner of his eye.


    Without warning, Grace started walking right toward him.


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


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!