Regret Came Too Late

After leaving the hospital, Grace glanced up at the gray, overcast sky, feeling like

her heart was wrapped in the same heavy haze.

She drove straight to Lambert Group, and the senior executives who now followed

her lead hurried out to meet her.

"Ms. Lambert, have you found Mr. Lambert yet?"

Just then, Sebastian pushed the door open.

Grace was surprised to see him. "I thought you were at the hospital with your

family," she said.

Sebastian frowned, and there was a hint of unease in his voice. "After you called

me, I had a bad feeling. What's going on?"

Grace motioned for the others to leave, keeping only Sebastian behind. He had

worked with Quentin for years and had helped Liam without complaint. He was

someone she could trust.

She quickly filled him in on what had happened with Liam, then showed him the

scandal online. It was obvious the person behind it was deliberately dragging

things out, waiting for the right moment to push Liam's scandal to the top of social

media.

Once it hit number one, they would expose everything.

And when that happened, it wouldn't just destroy Liam. The entire company would

become public enemy number one.

At this point, Grace knew there was only one move left.

She looked up and locked eyes with Sebastian. The understanding in his gaze

was immediate.

Sebastian said solemnly, "Ms. Lambert, you have to step up and take the CEO

position. It's the only way to calm the public."

"What had happened crossed a line-not just for the country but for the people. It

didn't matter if Liam had been led astray.

"Wrong was wrong, and mistakes came with consequences.

Grace tugged lightly at the corner of her mouth. The reason she had helped push

Liam into that position in the first place was because Carmen had always been

was

treated Grace kindly. But when it

undeniable. So much of what Quentin

Carmen's efforts as well.

world got, Grace was determined to

was no other way-especially with Alice

paralyzed.

breath, her gaze sharpening with

Release a public statement and admit our wrongdoing. Make

manipulated into it, but he's already been detained by the

and

just wanted to

the harder it would

it was better to face it head-on by being honest, issuing a

and putting some money toward helping the police crack

like this.

was already on shaky ground.

they were cash-strapped as

made a five-million-dollar donation. It wasn't her money. The money

a

what happened with Jodie.

statement went out and the donation was made, everything hit at

hours, Lambert Group underwent a brutal internal overhaul.

clean, and a wave of younger

to key positions.

it sent a clear message.

wasn't there to

the moment Grace decided to take

six hours had passed.

centuries. The only

that her iron-fisted response-paired with

redirected public

of condemning the company, people were now praising Liam for

sister like her.

them, but honestly? She handled every step

right."

official

though the company is reportedly broke,

public opinion shift in her favor, Grace finally

the past six hours, staying glued to

uptick and thread in

go public first,

were now starting to wonder if the

was the same person who

weren't so

in the public eye, Grace

meeting.

of Edric's loyalists had already packed up and left. Aside from a

risen through the

by

and

few hours,

gone through the company's

upcoming project proposals. Every

of them was teetering on

if at

her hand, she