Grace woke up feeling warm all over. It took a moment before she realized she was in bed. She scrambled out, dashing into the bathroom to rinse her face.

The red marks on her neck caught her eye. She leaned closer to the mirror and tried scrubbing them, but they wouldn't come off.

"Guess even fancy houses aren't safe from mosquitoes," she thought.

A new toothbrush was neatly placed by the sink. She quickly brushed her teeth and headed downstairs.

The clock read 6:00 am, but breakfast was already laid out. Ethan stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his phone pressed to his ear. Grace kept her distance, planning to let Susie know she was leaving when Susie called out to her.

"Ms. Lambert, you should have breakfast before you go. Mr. Henderson's orders."

Grace felt a sudden warmth spread through her. Ethan might come across as cold on the outside, but deep down, he was all heart.

"Did he already eat?" Grace asked.

"Nope. He said he'd wait for you," Susie answered.

Grace sat at the table, figuring it would be a while before he was ready. But the moment she settled in, Ethan hung up the phone. He wheeled himself over and began eating his breakfast without saying a word.

Grace wanted to wish him a good morning, but he didn't seem like he was in the mood for conversation. Her hand, raised in greeting, slowly fell back to her lap.

his ears were bright red. It didn't make any sense. He was always so composed with his pale skin, looking almost as if he'd

on her food, eating quickly until Susie's voice cut in.

After a moment,

marks, barely registering them. "No idea. Must've been a swarm of mosquitoes last

bottle of cream. "You should

replied, applying a little

her breakfast, she started to head out, only

about avoiding him would've seemed unnecessary. She stayed by the door until he caught up, then quietly took

as she leaned in, she noticed Tim was already

garage, and Grace was the first to get out. She started moving toward Ethan's door,

wrong message. She caught on and made her way up alone. Tim had never

spotted Yancey. He had dark circles under his eyes and let out a mocking, cold snort as soon

brushed him off and went straight to

take long for Yancey to give in. He walked over

leg during a street race at midnight. Mrs. Lambert says you're coming with me to check on

this time? Racing in the middle of the

of irrational concern for her reckless brother still lingered. Liam wasn't all bad. Maybe she didn't need to be

the rumors. I'll go alone,"

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