Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon novel Chapter 361

Noticing Effie’s gaze, Adeline smoothly stepped in front of Mitchell, her tone cutting and cold. “Effie, your little schemes are written all over your face. You want what’s on your plate and what’s still in the oven.” She sneered. “Dream on, sweetheart. Some things are just out of your league.”

Shepard had always known Adeline could be sharp-tongued, but he’d never realized she could be this ruthless. Both his daughters had just been humiliated by her, and the room hung heavy with tension.

He shifted, ready to intervene.

But Vera, as if reading his mind, quickly grasped his hand and shook her head ever so slightly.

In a whisper meant only for him, Vera said, “Suzan’s in critical condition after the mess she caused. If you anger Mrs. Lloyd now, we’ll all suffer the consequences.”

Shepard weighed his options in a flash, then decided against speaking up for Effie.

Effie raised her chin. “Sorry, but I’m really not interested in your family drama. But whatever you’ve gotten yourselves into, the whole hospital’s talking about it. Only you people could pull off something so disgraceful.”

“You little brat, what did you just say?!”

Adeline’s temper flared. She raised her hand to slap Effie.

Before she could land the blow, two hands shot out toward her. The one from behind Effie was faster, blocking Adeline’s arm.

When she saw Lyman standing there, Adeline’s eyes narrowed, though she tried to compose herself. “Lyman, dear—”

He shook off her hand with an icy glare. “We’re not that close, Mrs. Lloyd.”

Adeline’s face flushed, then paled, her composure crumbling. He hadn’t spared her even a shred of dignity.

But right now, what really stung was the other hand that had reached out from behind her. She knew her own son—there was no mistaking it. That hand belonged to Mitchell.

Sure enough, when she turned, she locked eyes with him.

“Mitchell, what’s the meaning of this?” Adeline’s voice was cold as ice.

Suzan was still fighting for her life, and here he was defending another woman? As if things weren’t chaotic enough already.