Regret Came Too Late

Grace climbed out of the car, feeling thoroughly humiliated. As she was about to

shut the door, she still couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Henderson, do you still want me

to arrange for the chef?"

The only response she got was the sharp slam of the car door. She stood there

for a second, the message loud and clear.

Yeah. She had definitely pissed Ethan off again. Somehow, she had a real talent

for it too. Managing to irritate someone as cold and detached as Ethan this many

times wasn't easy. Unfortunately, it seemed to be her specialty.

Before she could fully gather herself, Andrea appeared, her eyes lighting up at the

sight of her. But her tone turned cutting almost immediately.

"I thought you'd be riding off with him," Andrea said mockingly. "I guess you're not

as special as you think."

Grace's brows knitted together as she turned to face Andrea.

A month ago, Andrea had been timid, practically shrinking into herself. Now, she

had somehow learned to sneer.

Grace asked quietly, "Andrea, did someone put ideas in your head?"

Andrea gave a cold, brittle laugh. "What's wrong? Are you afraid I'll expose you?"

She took a step closer, her voice growing sharper.

"You only came to me to use me. You made it sound like you were doing me a

favor, introducing me to Mr. Henderson. Then, you left me hanging, making me fall

for someone I was never going to see again. You gave me hope and then crushed

it."

She scoffed bitterly. "That woman was right about you. You look down on women

like me-women with nothing. To you, I'm just a toy-someone you can call up

and toss aside whenever you feel like it."

Grace stayed still, her heart sinking a little.

Andrea's sudden shift in attitude was too extreme to come from nowhere.

Someone had clearly gotten to her. Someone had fed her the exact words

designed to influence her thoughts. And it was working.

Grace turned to leave, but Andrea followed close behind, refusing to back down.

She shouted, "Grace, I'm not letting this go! I will marry Ethan!"

At that, Grace stopped in her tracks. She turned around slowly, finally losing her

"When I first approached you, I thought

your lane. Clearly, I was

closer, her voice cool and cutting. "You think you can

of yours?

like his, who actually cross

education. And you've got

even finish high school. What are you going

and global markets? You'd be lost after

hard. Andrea's face froze,

eyes.

bitch! She'd pay for

sparing Andrea another

and drove off, not bothering to look

did women like Grace get to

She had dignity too. She deserved better. Fury burning

out her phone and made

moment the line connected. "Whatever you want,

down, I don't

a soft laugh. Her lips curled into a slow,

smile.

more seconds

serious, come find me

hung

charging out

never stepped into the spotlight themselves. They

fire, and be the ones out front. And

these women hated Grace.

do was tap into that resentment and

down for her.

made it home just past 9:00 pm. She had just stepped

her phone rang. It was

signed the contract,"

let out a quiet breath. At least the biggest task of

still on the

her door, her voice

"Keep building

The

is in the

is off the

position ourselves at

right moment in Al-"

she could finish, Sebastian gently interrupted her, "Ms.

called me today. He said he wants to

The key hung in

slowly exhaled.

"Block his number."

guard. He hadn't expected

"But-"

wrong is wrong. I don't care if

Alice's secrets from

he made

a

but cutting. "He's 19, not

he's only going to cause bigger disasters down

steadied his tone

replying. "Understood, Ms. Lambert.

I've

with Jasper.

composed