Regret Came Too Late

With her back still to Yancey, Grace arched a brow ever so slightly, her voice gentler than before.

"You swear? No matter what the truth is, you won't take Alice's side?" she asked.

Seeing how much she clearly still cared what he thought, Yancey felt smug, and his mood visibly lifted. "I swear."

He stepped forward, turned her gently to face him, and placed both hands on her shoulders. He asked, "Do you still have feelings for me?".

That question actually mattered to him.

Grace knew she had already gotten through to him, so saying something she didn't truly mean didn't matter at this point. "Maybe I do. Even if I've forgotten everything, the way you treat me still hurts."

Feeling pleased, Yancey lifted his hand and gently squeezed her cheek. "I won't let them send you to a psychiatric hospital-not until we know the truth."

Grace rolled her eyes internally, but her face showed nothing but grateful emotion. She replied, "Okay."

She turned and walked down the hallway. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of what looked like the corner of Ethan's coat.

She picked up her pace, but when she reached the end of the hall, there was no one there. It was probably just her imagination. Ethan was likely at work. There was no reason for him to be at the hospital.

But inside the hospital ward behind her, Alice had seen and heard everything. Her expression twisted into something almost monstrous.

She had to get Sidney out of the way immediately. She couldn't afford to leave behind any loose ends.

She saw Yancey heading straight toward Sidney's office through the little window in the door, and her stomach dropped.

now sat across from Sidney—the same

in sweat, and his

still a member of the Hendersons, and whether it

are you sure

by a knock at the door. The next moment, a nurse peeked

and he immediately jumped to his feet. He stood

followed him to Alice's

water in her mouth, her whole body trembling as if she

met, he froze. There was no mistaking the threat in Alice's gaze.

of the massive truck from the night before and Duncan, who looked more like a hired thug than anything else. He gave her a quick, half- hearted check-up, then made up an

earlier and was just about to follow him out, but Alice grabbed his wrist. "Yancey, you once told me

then, Alice

Grace, he'd find Alice sitting alone in a corner, crying. She always said the same thing, that she was

to please Grace, it only

vulnerability hit Yancey right in the heart, and little by little, his bias began

she whispered

sat back down and said,

...

staggered

to splash water on his face, but out of the corner of

Duncan. He had