Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon novel Chapter 80

Effie offered a faint, unbothered smile. “Vera, right back at you,” she replied coolly.

Vera’s face turned a dangerous shade, but with so many eyes on her, she swallowed her anger and forced out a cold retort. “Don’t get too comfortable. This isn’t over.”

Effie just shrugged, her lips curving into a dismissive grin before she turned and left the guest room.

“If they want to play games, I’ll play along,” she murmured to herself, a glint of icy determination flickering in her eyes.

At that exact moment, a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom was gliding up the drive to Bagnold Mansion.

Lyman was back from his business trip.

He hadn’t even gone home yet—he’d come straight here.

He’d tried calling Effie earlier, but she hadn’t answered any of his calls.

Anxious, Lyman had Luther look into it, and only then discovered it was Selma’s birthday celebration—Effie had returned to the family estate.

A heaviness crept into Lyman’s chest.

Why hadn’t Effie told him about Selma’s birthday party? Weren’t they married now?

It was as if she still didn’t see herself as his wife.

Did Effie think their marriage was just some kind of joke?

The thought made his expression darken.

He instructed Luther to prepare an impressive array of gifts and headed straight for the Bagnold estate.

Luther had mentioned before that Selma, the family matriarch, had always been kind to Effie.

So Lyman naturally held the old lady in high regard.

When Lyman arrived, he strode directly into the grand hall.

The moment people saw him, the entire room fell into stunned silence.

Lyman Etheridge—the name echoed through Neo-Arcadia as one of its most influential men. And he had come to Selma Bagnold’s birthday celebration?

What kind of clout did Selma have to warrant that?

Even Selma herself was taken aback.