Regret Came Too Late

Grace froze for a moment, suddenly recalling how things had gotten quite intense every time she had been with Ed. She had always quietly taken birth control pills afterward, so there shouldn't be any possibility of pregnancy.

She lowered her gaze and smiled. "It shouldn't be possible. We took precautions."

The way she spoke so bluntly about such a topic clearly showed she truly had no feelings for Yancey.

Yancey's fingers, hanging loosely at his side, curled slightly. Then, he pulled out a check for five million dollars.

"Last night, Jodie confessed to Uncle Ethan of her own accord. This check is from him, and he also arranged for foreign specialists. They said the whip marks on your body won't leave scars. Do you want to go to the hospital?"

Looking at the check in front of her, Grace could easily imagine Ethan's indifferent expression. Since she had already taken the whipping, there was no point in refusing the compensation.

She accepted the check and forced a smile. "Please thank him for me."

Worried that she might be upset, Yancey tried to comfort her. "Jodie has been spoiled by Uncle Ethan for many years. I suggest you stay away from her next time. She can get away with anything thanks to his favor."

Grace lowered her head, rinsed her mouth with water, then splashed her face again to regain her composure.

"Got it."

For now, she would just have to swallow this bitter loss.

However, the healing process of her injuries was truly unbearable. The wounds itched horribly, making her want to scratch herself raw.

On top of that, Jodie kept sending threatening messages. "Next time you get close to Uncle Ethan again, I promise you'll suffer even more."

Feeling irritated, Grace simply blocked the number.

and rested for three ore days. During this time,

nothing going on and was

always, came with darkness. It made Grace unconsciously think of

the bed, hearing only the faint sounds of movement from the living room. When he entered, a warm aroma of risotto accompanied him. He scooped up some risotto and gently brought it

him she wasn't feeling well and not the specifics. Yet Ed immediately started cooking and taking care of her, making her heart

taking a bite, she suddenly spoke up. "I had a dream... I dreamed that I was stuck in a cave with

further, she heard the spoon fall

her lips and reached out to grasp

"Are you... that boy?"

slightly, trying

her grip, intertwining her fingers with his, not allowing him to escape. "Ed, was it

vaguely remembered his bright, crystal-clear eyes. They were like a

could feel how stiff Ed's body had become. Realizing she might be forcing him, she sighed softly and said 'If you

Everyone had their secrets.

"It was me."

he spoke to her, he'd deliberately lower his voice, making

heart skipped a beat. She had only been guessing blindly. She hadn't

boy had been gravely injured. If it weren't for her feeding him blood, he might not

hurt then. How did you end up in that

memory of how she got there, so she could only ask the person who might

the risotto, and his emotions gradually calmed