Regret Came Too Late

Indeed, Sidney didn't sleep a wink that night.

When he got up the next morning, dark circles ringed his eyes, and he felt completely out of it the whole drive to the hospital. He didn't fully snap back to reality until he sat at his desk, only to look up and see Alice walking in.

She still had that smug, entitled look on her face as she eyed him like he was a nobody.

"Didn't I tell you to quit already?"

Sidney flinched and stepped back, his lips trembling. "Ms. Lambert, I got dragged into this. You can't just use me and throw me out. We live in a lawful society."

Disgust flickered in her eyes. Sidney talked too much.

"Dr. Tanner, the money's already in your hands. It's too late to back out now. You can't afford the consequences of crossing me, so you'd better do exactly as I say. Or else..."

The threat was clear as day.

After she left, Sidney slumped into his chair, drenched in sweat. He couldn't shake the fear that someone might try to run him off the road again. He had gotten lucky once, but would he be that lucky a second time?

He couldn't die. He had to stay alive.

Just then, he heard that familiar voice from last night-Grace.

She was standing outside Alice's ward.

Alice saw her, her face twisted with

the hell was she bold enough to show up here

expression changed instantly. Her eyes welled up, and her fury was replaced with a carefully

Mom not to send you to a psychiatric hospital. Why did you have to come all the way to the hospital just to mock me? I already lost my baby. Isn't that enough for

shoulder. Sure enough, Carmen and Yancey were right

her arm raised, ready to deliver a slap, but Grace caught her wrist mid-swing.

shaking with rage. "How

as ever. "I didn't do anything wrong.

about.

even hear what people are saying about you? Heartless, ruthless,

words had barely left her mouth when a hundred-dollar bill came flying at her face, smacking her right on

that much, then take this hundred- dollar bill and

at her

Grace's words hit so hard that even passersby froze in shock. A couple of nurses rushed over, caught Carmen, and

her gaze and started walking away, but Yancey stepped in front of

brimming with tears as she asked, "What do you expect me to say?

her head and wiped the

she continued, "Sure, you've been messing around with Alice. But you're still technically my fiancé. And I don't believe you'd be stupid enough to let a woman you have such a