Regret Came Too Late

Just then, a nurse wheeled Alice out. Alice looked as pale as a ghost. The moment she spotted Carmen, tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Mom..."

Carmen's heart broke as she pulled Alice into her arms. "Alice, you can try for another baby later."

Alice gave a faint smile. "Yeah, there'll be other chances. Stop being mad at Grace. I just slipped. It wasn't her fault."

Carmen's blood boiled at how Alice was still defending Grace, even now. "Enough! Quit covering for her! She turned out like this because you've always let her get away with everything!"

She held Alice close, shooting Grace a look of pure disgust. "Grace, you're completely out of your mind. I was going to lock you up at the Lambert residence, but you've outdone yourself this time. I'm having you committed to a psychiatric hospital. Maybe that'll finally knock some sense into you!"

Grace locked eyes with Alice, who was slumped against Carmen's shoulder. The corners of Alice's mouth twitched ever so slightly.

Alice had bribed the doctors to fake the miscarriage. Every move had been carefully staged for this exact moment. Grace was done for, and as far as Alice was concerned, it served her right.

Her tears flowed harder as she gazed up at Yancey. "I'm so sorry, Yancey. I couldn't protect our baby."

Yancey stood there, stunned. The pregnancy had blindsided him, and now, the loss left him hollow. Without thinking, he pulled her into his arms. Her sobs twisted something inside him, but it was not enough.

A brutal idea took shape-if all of Druville believed Grace was responsible for losing the baby, the Hendersons would never let her marry into their family. It didn't matter how serious she and Ethan were. Once word got out, their grandfather would shut it down.

Like always, Yancey said nothing. He just kept patting Alice's back, offering empty comfort.

Grace had to act fast. If the Lamberts' bodyguards showed up, she was done for. Without hesitation, she spun on her heel and tore down the hallway.

as she called the family's bodyguards

she ever had, but as she sped away

would be lying in wait the second

the only real friend she had left, and there was no way she'd

By 10:00 pm, the rain was pounding in sheets, but she still hadn't figured out where

downpour hammered the roof like

gear and rolled forward. She hadn't gone two

they were

them to give chase. Stuck across the street, the guards could only watch

the bone, Grace

the

she had nowhere to go. Pulling out her phone, she hesitated before tapping on Ethan's

there had only been two who had shown

it was Tim's voice that came

voice was flat and cold, his

was always the same with Ethan's inner circle. They treated Grace like some kind of disease that might

one dared to cause trouble. But soaked to the bone, she

its breaking point, Ethan showed up, flanked by his men. Even

met, and something sparked in