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.

seeing red and nearly fainted from fury as she called the family's

than she ever had, but as she sped away from the hospital,

where she lived. The bodyguards would be lying in wait the second she stepped through

crash at Joanne's either. Joanne was the only real friend she had left, and there was

and waited until nightfall. By 10:00 pm, the rain was pounding in sheets, but she still hadn't figured out where to

downpour hammered the roof like

shifted the car into gear and rolled forward. She hadn't gone two blocks when a deafening crash jolted the

of the black car, she knew they were the Lamberts' bodyguards. She immediately bailed

traffic flowing non-stop, there was no way for them to give chase. Stuck across the street, the guards could only watch

to the bone, Grace

to?" the driver

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

there had only been two who had shown her any kindness-Joanne

call connected, but it was Tim's voice that came through. "Ms. Lambert, what can

was flat and cold, his disdain

of disease that might infect their golden boy. Her throat tightened, and she hung up without saying

enough clout that no one dared to cause trouble. But soaked to the bone, she couldn't talk her

Ethan showed up, flanked by his men. Even in

and something sparked