"What''s up with you, Maurice?" Effie asked cautiously.


    Maurice looked at her. "Effie, aren''t you going to exin why you ditched us that night and snuck off without saying a word?"


    Effie blinked in surprise. "I didn''t sneak off! I texted you, remember? You were all passed out-dead to the world after drinking so much. Was I supposed to wake everyone up one by one?"


    Maurice gave a dismissive snort. "I told you not to get so lovestruck, but you never listen."


    "I''m not lovestruck," Effie retorted. "He exined everything, and I believe him." Maurice shook his head. "Men say whatever they want to get out of trouble. Don''t trust a single word they say-not even the punctuation."


    Effie couldn''t help butugh. "By that logic, should I not believe a word you say, either?"


    Maurice was momentarily at a loss for words. He shot her a look. "Must you always have thest word?"


    Effie grinned. "Alright, alright, don''t be mad. I know you''re just looking out for me. But I know exactly what kind of person Lyman is."


    She wasn''t a child anymore, not after everything she''d been through. If anything, she was more sensitive than anyone else to these things.


    She knew Lyman-better than anyone.


    Maurice sighed. "Fine. But if anything ever happens, don''t bottle it up. You have to tell us, okay?"


    “I know, I promise.” Effie smiled. “Now, hurry up and try the escargot—they''re delicious."


    Maurice shook his head. "No way. That slimy texture? Not for me."


    "I''m picky—can''t just eat anything that''s put in front of me," he said, ncing pointedly at Effie.


    Effie paused, fork halfway to her mouth.


    Wait, was Maurice throwing shade at her?


    Before she could say anything, Suzan arrived with Mitchell and the Harper family


    at Beardman''s restaurant. "Hi, I have a reservation for a private room. Is it ready now?"


    The hostess checked the system, her expression changing slightly. "I''m sorry, Miss Bagnold. You''re here an hour earlier than your reservation, and the room is still upied."


    "What do you mean?" Suzan''s tone sharpened. booked the restaurant in advance. Shouldn''t the private


    room be avable for my entire et


    reservation period? Why did you give it to someone else—and not even notify me?"


    "I apologize, this was our mistake," the hostess said, bowing slightly. "Unfortunately, we''re fully booked right now, so you''ll need to wait a little while."


    Suzan nced at Lionel and the others. They stayed silent, but Suzan caught a fleeting smirk in Teresa Harper''s eyes.


    Teresa had always looked down on her, always making snidements behind her back. Suzan just hadn''t had the chance to bring it up to Lionel.


    "Useless," Teresa muttered to Yvette while everyone''s attention was on Suzan. "Can''t even handle


    something this simple. Last tim


    she couldn''t get those limited edition mystery boxes, and now she can''t even book a restaurant. What does she actually do all day?"


    Suzan knew Teresa was cursing her under her breath. Frustrated, she turned to


    the hostess. "Look, this is your restaurant''s fault. You''re responsible for this mess, not me."


    "We''re truly sorry, ma''am,” the


    hostess replied. "Since you''ve


    arrived early, may I ask you to wait in


    our lounge, or perhaps leave your number? We''ll call you as soon as the room is ready."


    Suzan let out a cold huff, pursing her lips in annoyance.