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.

and nearly fainted from fury as

she ever had, but as she sped away from the

be lying in wait the second she stepped through

she had left, and there was

she pulled off onto a deserted back road and waited until nightfall. By 10:00 pm, the rain was pounding in sheets, but she still hadn't

the

the car into gear and rolled forward. She hadn't gone

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

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

Grace flagged down

the

arms, realizing she had nowhere to go. Pulling out her phone, she hesitated

consciousness, there had only been two who had shown her

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

flat and cold, his disdain

kind of disease that

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

by his men. Even in a wheelchair, he carried

and something sparked