Regret Came Too Late

The pill slid down her throat, but Grace barely had the strength to react. She slumped against the couch, drenched in sweat. She was exhausted.

She wanted to tell Ethan that she wouldn't be able to cook for him tonight or go out to eat. But no words came out. Faint, fragmented memories flickered through her mind. Her period had always been this painfully unbearable.

The only difference was that back then, she endured it alone. She would curl up on the couch and quietly wait for the pain to pass.

At this moment, she could feel just how much she was sweating.

Then, something cool pressed against her forehead. It was a damp tissue. Her body, weak and exhausted, instinctively leaned into the cold touch.

She reached up, her fingers brushing against his hand as it wiped her face. Slowly, she nestled into his palm.

Ethan held the wet tissue in his hand but didn't pull away.

Her face was pale. Whenever she felt weak, she tended to cling to someone. But once she recovered, she always distanced herself again.

He slowly uncurled his fingers, his palm cupping the side of her face.

She stayed like that for five minutes, rubbing against his touch before finally retreating.

Ethan stood to turn on the air conditioning, but her hand caught his wrist. Her consciousness was slipping, and even her fingertips were damp from sweat.

He glanced down and reassured her, "I'm not leaving."

He gave her a comforting pat before Grace loosened her grip. Then, she drifted off to sleep.

Ethan closed the window, leaving only the curtains open to allow the faintest breeze in. The temperature in the room slowly dropped. He walked over to a cabinet, pulled out a blanket, and draped it over her.

sit back down, someone knocked on the door. It

meeting

had originally planned to have dinner here, but things had long since gone off

my laptop inside. And

the laptop nearby. Ethan put on

outside just in

started, the

a whisper. They had to hold their breath just to hear him, but no one dared

halfway through when another

didn't bother to be polite as he pounded on

in the meeting heard it, but no one dared

Then, he heard Yancey's voice

you to transfer departments? You didn't even discuss it with me first? You're really

manager, she would beg for his approval. Instead, she had quit without a word.

get out here

for his phone and dialed Yancey's

to the office now. You have work

misheard. Ethan

was

his position at Henderson Group had nothing to do with talent and everything to do

He never had

him to stay late.

know that Grace transferred departments?" Yancey asked. "Yes. Anything

a fist. "I don't want

on the call had a full view of his face. His