Regret Came Too Late

After hanging up the phone, Grace still leaned against Ed's chest. The intense emotions he had stirred in her earlier made it hard for her to recover.

Ed, ever considerate, remained still and gave her time to catch her breath.

Grace couldn't shake the feeling that, after Yancey's harsh words, they now felt like a couple hiding in the shadows-like secret lovers.

She couldn't help but laugh.

Ed pinched her chin, his tone firm as he asked, "What's so funny?"

"I just feel like we're always hiding in the shadows."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt him go silent for a moment. It

seemed like she'd touched on something painful for him.

She quickly added, "Before you're ready to go out with me, I won't force you. I'll just come here to see you, okay?"

She cradled his face, speaking in a coaxing tone.

Ed softly hummed as he buried his head in her neck, his mood clearly subdued.

Grace had planned to ask if he wanted her to buy him a house and move closer to her, especially after she had gotten some money from Carmen. She figured, why not use it?

But she hesitated. She feared bringing it up would hurt his pride.

She sighed and switched the topic.

"By the way, I saw a grave outside. Whose is it?" she asked.

rubbed his cheek against her neck before finally responding, his

a sharp pain in her chest. "Your

"Yeah, we're twins."

She quickly fell silent, but he gently kissed her neck and continued in a

his face and kissed him, silencing his

ten minutes before she pulled back.

by my side now,

won't leave,"

knew everything, especially about his past, she felt she would give him the best of everything

she wouldn't make him. If he had no friends, that was

trying to understand him, but after learning just

and they both lay

and she felt herself drifting off to sleep. With both of them

plenty of space-it wasn't cramped at

his arms around her tightly as he

even realize how much you

"My bad. Sleep now."

so soothing that

dark, Ed's gaze stayed on her face, and he couldn't resist kissing her again and again until she finally

in her sleep, felt like vines were smothering her-the pressure

next morning, she woke up in her car, wearing a new set of clothes and with a warm breakfast next

feeling refreshed after

her to see his face, she didn't bother knocking on his door. Once she was done, she headed straight to

at Henderson Group and reached the top floor, she found Yancey already waiting

He nearly jumped out of his seat when

"Grace!"

him shouting and making a scene. The whole floor would find out that she had spent the night with