Regret Came Too Late

The Lamberti were in high spirits, already discussing where the wedding would be held.

Carmen held Alice's hand, her eyes red-rimmed as she said, "Alice

has really had a hard time, but new wrything is finally coming together. You two need to take care of each other Don't let anyone especially those who are aboys scheming against others happiness Alice smiled slightly. "Mom, Yancey and I will be happy."

Liam chimed in, "II Græor hal pem up earlier, you two would've been together years ago. You didn't have to waste that much

Venery's gane kept flicking to the wall, where the clock showed it was exactly seven o'clock. But there was solino sign of Grace.

He turned to the nearby maid and asked, "Has Grace arrived yet?

"No, Mr. Henderson, we haven't seen her."

Vincey snorted, crossing his arms, clearly displeased. "She's not coming again, is she? I knew this was her tactic. She always does this."

The others' faces shifted from joy to indifference, then to potnight disgust.

Carmen's chest heaved with anger as she took out her phone and dialed Grace's number. Hut no one answered.

She coughed harshly, furious. "I swear, sometimes I wish I'd never given birth to her!"

Alice quickly poured some warm water for her. "Moen, don't be upset. Maybe Grace is stuck in trattie. Let's wait another hour

Liam rolled his eyes. "Alice, stop defending her. She's done this betare. Every time she says she'll annul the engagement, she then comes up with some excuse not to show. I really thought this time she meant The mood soured for everyone except Alice, whose smile only grew wider. She was confident in Sloan's abilities-

once he lost control, he wouldn't care about the consequences.

was nothing but a pawn to be toyed

pm, there was still

his expression dark "I don't want to waste my tin I'm not waiting anymore. Mr. and Mrs. Lambert, I'll be

further. Alice quickly got up to see him off. She said,

Yanceywasn't really angry-

to leave as quickly

the living room, looking hun, as though she'd

Ten mm.

"Thank you, Mom."

"You're the

need to leam to fight for things for yourself. If you did, you wouldn't always

woke from her stupor, glancing at the clock and realizing it was already

of

to be one of

in sweat,

to

a knock on the door. She opened it to

a foodcart.

Would

starving and feeling lightheaded. She ate a little, and finally, some strength

saw several missed calls from Carmen, Yancey, and

a message saying, "I knew

a message from an unmown number. It read, "You're a slut. Next time, you won't be

After all, she had promised herself she wouldn't let him

from the same number saying,