Regret Came Too Late

Grace had a lingering sense that something about Ed was amiss. His demeanor

had shifted, and he had grown strangely fixated—almost to the point of

obsession.

Also, "that guy" he had mentioned-who was that supposed to be?

"I'm not playing you." She reached out and took his hand, guiding him to sit beside her on the edge of the bed. "And I don't hate you either, so don't let your thoughts get carried away."

"What about the shells?" Ed pressed.

There was something relentless in how he clung to her words, even the ones spoken in passing, as if each word held the weight of a vow.

Grace began to wonder if she had really gone too far this time.

"I forgot," she said. "I'll make it up to you next time."

Ed fell silent. His lips trembled for a moment before he finally said, "You're just making a fool of me, Grace."

She was beginning to grow weary of it all. Needless to say, she wasn't someone who knew how to coax or comfort another.

The atmosphere between them instantly became tense. She simply admitted, "If that's what you think, then we should break up."

No sooner had she said it than she felt an overwhelming sense of hostility, a wave of killing intent that seemed to roll in from all sides. Yet she knew that it wasn't meant for her personally but for the world in general.

He slowly rose, then abruptly framed her face with his hands and brought his mouth down in a fierce kiss.

The metallic taste of blood spread between them when a jolt of pain bloomed on her lips as she reflexively tried to push him away, but he only bit down harder, to which she furrowed her brows in pain.

called out, and he

came out raspy with frustration as he said,

pursed her lips, wincing from the pain. Nothing about that kiss held tenderness

shoved her away. He moved toward the door, then paused as if waiting

thoughts. After a long silence, she finally said, "Never mind. I'm tired too, Ed. Maybe you're right. You

moment the words left her mouth, he left. However, this time, he

She took a deep breath and slowly lay back down, but after avoiding reality and sleeping for two days just before, sleep was now a

mind. The sky outside had darkened, and just

It was Liam.

back in

his voice, Grace felt a warmth spread through her

gone through the materials I

are still a few people

Without delay, she got into the car

circles rimming his eyes. He was only 19 years old, but he looked as though he had matured overnight. Even his chin was stippled with

coffee table was enough to tell her that

you were gone. I read through everything. Mr. Fenwick has even been teaching me how to manage the company. But you're still the best, Grace. I only need to glance at the materials you prepare to

He was simply mischievous and had been sheltered to such an extent that his sense of right and wrong had

put his mind to it, none

he released her, his eyes immediately landed on the wound on her lip. He had never encountered anything like that before and looked genuinely surprised. "What happened

their surface. Even the slightest

lips before stepping

him, saying I'm too young to manage the company,"

was, without a doubt, a

on the couch, her gaze falling on the stack of documents before her. Each page was

firm conclusion-Liam would turn out just fine. She had just opened her mouth to

long as Liam refused to relinquish his shares,