Regret Came Too Late

Grace took the lead this time after the social event ended, stepping directly behind Ethan.

"Mr. Henderson, I have something I need to ask you."

After exchanging pleasantries and handshakes, the business partners politely excused themselves, saying they were stepping outside to wait.

Tim seemed a bit displeased but, surprisingly, didn't object. The private room quickly emptied, leaving only Grace and Ethan.

Grace couldn't hold back any longer.

"Mr. Henderson, if I've ever done anything to hurt you in the past, please don't take it to heart. My so-called father was right. You're the kind of person who can put up with a lot. I was young and didn't know better at the time."

Ethan casually spun the glass in his hand without saying anything.

Grace quickly grabbed an empty glass from the table and poured wine into both glasses. "I'll start by drinking three glasses to make up for it."

The gossip she had overheard earlier had her feeling completely disoriented.

How good-natured could Ethan be to not have torn her apart if she had really slapped him in the past?

She downed the first glass, then immediately followed with the second and third.

Ethan parted his lips as if to say something, his eyes drifting to the wine bottle. The label showed a high alcohol content. Even someone with a strong tolerance would get drunk after three glasses.

Grace felt a searing heat rise in her belly after those three drinks. The sensation had already hit with the first glass, but there was no turning back after she said it.

She put the glass down, and the fiery feeling seemed to shoot straight to her head.

She gripped the edge of the table to steady herself. She even tried shaking her head to keep her wits.

But her grip was too strong, and the table jolted downward. She lost her balance and toppled right onto Ethan.

out to steady her, but as she clutched the tablecloth, it pulled loose, causing him to jerk his wheelchair backward to avoid having the remnants of the meal

he pulled her into his arms

felt the

react, the wheelchair tipped sideways, and she landed directly on Ethan's lap with her

suit, but now, the buttons on his shirt had come undone, exposing his

was about to scramble to get off

understandably concerned after hearing

first thing they saw were the dishes scattered across the floor, with the wheelchair tipped over nearby. And there, Grace, the foul

brows, looking deeply

rushing forward. Everyone had drunk a

you're doing here? How could you be

moment ago. But look at the kind

maintain some decorum. If Mr. Henderson doesn't want this, you can't force him

off Ethan. But in her panic,

snapped

turning his head away. After a long pause, he muttered

words, more than anything, seemed

saying-Grace, shameless as she was,

grabbed the back of

with a forceful tug. The

forehead were

breaking point of his patience. "And you still say you

her, he rarely

speechless and unable to defend

quietly reaching up to adjust his shirt,

done. She had no excuses

I just drank too

They had never seen the usually composed Ethan in such a vulnerable