Regret Came Too Late

Grace was admitted to the psychiatric hospital, and Noah personally led her to a ward. She was locked inside a spacious room.

"Grace, you'll be staying here for a while," Noah said.

She glanced around. Surprisingly, the place wasn't bad.

Her phone had been taken away by the Lamberts' bodyguards back in the car and

had probably been handed over to Quentin by now, so there was no way to

contact anyone.

Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, the faint sound of a door creaking open broke the silence.

"Grace! I'm here, baby!"

Grace's eyes snapped open, and she saw Hendricks standing in the bathroom doorway. He'd been hiding in there the whole time.

Her expression shifted instantly as she asked, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Hendricks' face was gleaming with sleaze and smugness.

"What do you think? Your loving mother sent me to keep you company.

Thoughtful, huh? Haven't you noticed the weird scent in the room? It's part of her wedding gift to us!"

Now that he mentioned it, the air did smell strange. She had assumed it was disinfectant.

Hendricks stepped forward slowly, cracking his knuckles with a sick grin.

"Don't worry, I already took the antidote. That stuff in the room is pure knockout gas. You'll pass out soon. And when you wake up, well... We'll be official. I'll be gentle. You'll enjoy it."

After what had happened between them before, he'd been itching for another shot. And now, with no one around to stop him, he thought he could do whatever he wanted.

first lunge, but the drug was already kicking in, and her limbs were

she picked up a jagged shard and stabbed it into her thigh. Blood

to be so ruthless-even toward herself. It caught him completely

insane?" He lunged again, but she

"Back off!"

went stiff, his features

in them as she looked at him. She asked, "Hendricks, you don't want this turning into a murder scene, do

of him, gorgeous as ever,

that disgusted by me? It's just sex. What's the big deal? We're gonna get married anyway! I'll treat you right, better than any other woman! You bitch-don't

out as he stepped forward again. But Grace pressed the glass shard deeper into

Hendricks froze.

one step closer, and I'll slit my own throat." Hendricks was losing it. Fine. He'd just wait her out. No way she could stay standing long. The sedative in

So.

out. Sleep was pulling at her hard, but

and tighter until the jagged glass pierced into her palm. Blood trickled down

terrifying now, with blood trailing down her legs, pooling in her palm, and

time the haze of sleep crept in, she would squeeze the shard again,

minutes, tops. But half an hour

How could Grace be

a deep breath and immediately

you want me to

voice as he wanted Grace to hear every word. She needed to know that this

and hadn't been able to leave. Alice had

anxiety spiked. She stood

I really don't want to hear anything about Grace. I'll jump from

for Grace, handle her however

hung up quickly and rushed

see Grace.

effort to put on such a show and play the victim had

at the edge of the bed. She said, "Don't worry about a thing. Mr. Henderson Senior himself approved