Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Clay scooped Andie up from the floor, just as Lyman rushed over and punched Clay hard in the shoulder. "When did you get back?"

Clay looked absolutely exhausted-dusty from travel, hair a wild mess, his face

drawn and weary.

"Just now..."

Suddenly, pain twisted Clay's features. His body crumpled to the ground, shattering like glass.

"Clay!"

Lyman jolted awake, cold sweat on his brow. For a moment, he was disoriented- then he realized it had all been a dream.

Beside him, Effie stirred, startled by his sudden outburst. She blinked sleepily at him. "What's wrong?"

Lyman pressed his lips together and shook his head. "Nothing. Just a bad dream.”

Effie pulled him into her arms. Lyman let himself relax against her, breathing in her soft scent and the warmth of her body. In that moment, he couldn't help but think —maybe it feels good to let himself be vulnerable, just a little.

Effie, barely awake, drifted right back to sleep.

When morning came, Lyman was just waking up too.

"Good morning," he said.

Effie stretched like a lazy kitten. "Morning."

Lyman's gaze followed her movement, lingering on her chest. He swallowed, eyes darkening.noveldrama

His hand shot out, pulling Effie closer by the waist. With a gentle tug, she tumbled against him.

Just as Lyman was about to take things further, his phone rang.

A jolt of unease shot through him for reasons he couldn't explain.

He answered, every muscle suddenly taut.

"I'll be there right away," he said, then hung up and jumped out of bed. "What happened?" Effie asked, concerned.

Lyman was already striding toward the closet, pulling on clothes as ke spoke. Clay was in a car accident. He landed and drove straight from the airport to our place, but he was too tired-fell asleep at the wheel."

Effie immediately thought of Lyman's nightmare from the night before.

Was it really some kind of brotherly intuition?

"He's in surgery now," Lyman continued. “I'm heading to the hospital to find out more."

"I'll drive," Effie said, worried he'd be too rattled to focus on the road. The last thing they needed was another accident.

He nodded. "Okay."

When they got to the hospital, Grace was already waiting outside the operating

room.

The moment she spotted Lyman, she rushed over. "Lyman!"

But as soon as she caught sight of Effie at his side, a surge of irritation flared up inside her. Something about Effie just rubbed her the wrong way-her voice, her presence, everything.

"What's going on? How is he?" Effie asked gently.

Grace shook her head, looking lost. "I... I don't know..."

Lyman figured she was just

overwrought. "Try not to worry. et

you're feeling faint, Effie can keep you Company in the waiting room. It might help to sit down and rest.”

The last thing Grace wanted was to be alone with Effie, but she couldn't say that

with Lyman there.

Distracted, she stumbled, nearly tripping over her own feet.

Effie caught her arm. "Are you okay?"

Grace's expression tightened, and she subtly pulled her hand free. "I'm fine.

Thanks," she replied, her tone polite but distant.