NovelEnglishChapter 65 "Effie?" The ncaught Mrs. Lloyd's attention. She followed Lindy's gaze and, a moment later, spotted a familiar figure.
Effie.
Mrs. Lloyd's brow furrowed in surprise-what on earth was Effie doing here? "Hey, I'm back. See anything you like?" Effie had just returned from the restroom and entered the boutique a bit later than the others.
Earlier that morning, Lindy had called and invited Effie out for a day of shopping. Of course, Effie was delighted to accept. Lindy was easy to get along with, never putting on airs as a mother-in-law, and being around her always felt light and effortless.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAt first, Effie had been a little awkward around Lindy, but after a few shared dinners at the family home, they had grown as comfortable as old friends. Lindy doted on Effie; whenever she found something delicious or stylish, Effie was always the first person she thought of.
Even Lyman had noticed, half-joking that he didn't feel like the real child in the family anymore. Still, he was genuinely happy to see them getting along so well.
When Effie entered the boutique and saw Mrs. Lloyd standing next to Lindy, she paused for a heartbeat. Of all the people and all the stores, they just had to run into each other here? But their paths had long since diverged. Now, they were nothing more than strangers who happened to share shistory. Effie reminded herself that was all she needed to feel.
She wore a light touch of makeup today and a champagne-colored dress-refined and understated, with a subtle elegance. The dress wasn't from a famous designer, but its quality was unmistakable, rivaling any luxury label. Still, Mrs. Lloyd's lips curled in a sneer as she took in Effie's appearance. In her eyes, Effie was still the spenniless girl-probably even worse off now that she'd left her son.
Mrs. Lloyd stood there, brimming with condescension, clearly waiting to see Effie embarrass herself.
Effie could only roll her eyes inwardly. She knew Mrs. Lloyd's attitude all too well -the woman had never thought much of her, and that wasn't about to change now. Effie simply chose to ignore her.
She quickly composed herself, letting a gentle smile settle on her lips, and walked over to Lindy's side.
Lindy beamed and gave Effie's hand a warm, reassuring squeeze. "There you are —I was just waiting for you. I thought this dress would look stunning on you. Want to give it a try?" She pointed to a pale blue dress nearby-simple in design, yet elegant and timeless.
Effie nodded. "Sure, I'll go try it on." She took the dress, her gaze briefly meeting Mrs. Lloyd's. The woman was staring at her in open shock, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Without another word, Effie disappeared into the fitting room.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMrs. Lloyd watched her go, her frown deepening. How did Effie end up here with Lindy? And judging by the way they interacted, they seemed awfully close.
Unable to resist her curiosity, Mrs. Lloyd turned to Lindy. "Mrs. Etheridge, that young woman... is she?"
Lindy smiled, her tone warm and casual. "Oh, that's my darling Effie! She's such a thoughtful girl-l absolutely adore her."
"Darling?" Mrs. Lloyd echoed, taken aback. That... wasn't the answer she'd expected. What exactly was the relationship here? There was no way Effie could be her daughter-in-law, right? Lyman, with his pedigree, would never go for someone like Effie.
Maybe Effie had convinced Mrs.
Etheridge to be her godmot making would make sense. Effie was clearly more cunning than she'd realized, managing to ingratiate herself with Lindy like this. Mrs. Lloyd made a mental note: she'd have to find a moment to warn Effie not to say anything foolish around Mrs. Etheridge.
Just then, Effie stepped out of the fitting room. The pale blue dress set off her fair skin and gentle demeanor perfectly.
Lindy's eyes lit up in delight. "You look wonderful! Effie, that dress is made for you!" Effie gave a small, graceful twirl and smiled. "I think so too. You have great taste." Lindy nodded, clearly pleased, and turned to the shop assistant. "We'll take this one-please wrap it up for us."
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