Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Effie swung the door shut behind her, folding her arms across her chest as she leaned casually against the conference table. From her elevated perch, she looked down at Suzan, her gaze sharp as a knife, radiating a cold intensity.noveldrama

Suzan met Effie's eyes and said, "About last night...I really owe you. You're the one who snapped Mitchell out of it. He came home and just broke down. I spent the whole night comforting him, but finally he saw things clearly."

She paused, then added meaningfully, "He said he finally knows who really matters to him."

Effie arched an eyebrow, her voice icy. "Are you done? If you're just here to gloat, I'm sorry to disappoint you-I don't feel a thing."

"No, that's not why I'm here." Suzan couldn't stop herself from glancing down and gesturing at her belly, which was already showing—she hardly needed to say it. She was pregnant, and anyone could tell.

"Actually, the reason I came today is because the baby's father and grandmother want to give a gift when the baby's born. I want it to be something special, meaningful-so I'm looking for the best designer."

She paused, her lips curving into a mocking smile. "You used to be a designer yourself, but it's a shame you're blacklisted."

Suzan's face darkened in an instant. Leave it to Effie to cut right to her sore spot.

"Shut up!" Suzan snapped, her temper flaring.

But Effie wasn't finished. She smirked and went on, "You know, you're putting yourself through all this-carrying their child, doing all the hard work. Even if you don't get credit, you should at least get some thanks. They're letting you pick any gift for the baby you want, so it's not like they're short on cash..."

She let the words hang for a beat, then tilted her head, her tone sharp as glass. "So if money's no object, why aren't they giving you a gift too?"

Effie's words landed like a flurry of knives, each one hitting Suzan right where it hurt most.

The thought had crossed Suzan's mind before, more than once.

Pregnancy made her emotions a rollercoaster anyway, and when she dwelled on it, it was obvious-Mitchell and his family only cared about the baby, not her.

But no matter how much it stung, she refused to let Effie see her pain.

"What's it to you?" Suzan shot back, her words brittle. "Why do you care so much? The baby is mine, not yours!"

Effie shook her head, her voice taunting. "No, no-the baby belongs to the Lloyd family. You've got nothing."

She paused, a spark of amusement in her eyes. "Huh, didn't expect that to rhyme."

"Shut up!"

Effie's lips curted into a sly smile as she regarded Suzan. "Suzan, honestly, don't get it. You could be living your life in peace, but instead you come here just to get insulted by me. If you want to keep hearing it, feel free to stick around."

Deep down, Effie knew Suzan wasn't here just to be berated. She'd already said

some pretty harsh things, and yet Suzan still hadn't left.

Effie locked her gaze on Suzan, unflinching. “All right, out with it. What do you really want?"

Suzan realized she couldn't keep

pretending. Her expression

hardened. "Fine. Let's be clear;

want you to stay away from Mitchell. You already have Lyman."

Effie laughed, incredulous. "You're hilarious. Mitchell started this-he's the one who couldn't make up his mind if you're mad, go after him. What does any of this have to do with me?"

Suzan's eyes darkened, her jaw clenched. "If you hadn't tempted him, he never would've strayed."

She stared at Effie's face with a mix of anger and something more complicated,

as if Effie's very existence was an unforgivable crime.

Her hand twitched at her side, her emotions swirling in her eyes.