Regret Came Too Late

Grace didn't have the heart to shove Ethan off, not when he was sick. Thus, she let him hold onto her, silent and still.

It was the first time she saw Ethan stripped of his invincibility. He, who once seemed so distant and indomitable, now clung to her-fragile and feverish.

His skin was searing, radiating heat like a furnace.

Grace suddenly remembered Ed, sick just a few days ago, holed up in that dim little house.

He and Ethan couldn't have been more different. When Ed got sick, he withdrew from the world, tending to his pain in silence.

However, Ethan didn't seem to hide his vulnerabilities-not from her, at least.

She wasn't sure if she was imagining things, yet she stayed completely still, not daring to move.

After three hours on the road, the car finally stopped.

Grace gazed out at the barren ruins, feeling disbelief and anger rising within her.

"Are you sure this is the place, Mr. Bennett?"

"Yes."

Her voice trembled with frustration. "This place is a complete ruin! You can't even tell where the manor used to be, and it looks like there was a fire. What could we possibly find here? I thought there would be a pharmacy nearby, but after driving for three hours, we've ended up somewhere even more remote. Are you trying to let Mr. Henderson die in the car?"

They hadn't passed a single soul along the way.

he told her this place was a

the heat

supposed to

deeply and cranked open

someone out here to pick us

casually, pulled out his phone, and strolled

in the car. I'll find reception. If I don't come

stared after him,

Handle himself? Out here?

Tim was already

quickly rolled the window back up, trying to trap

the seat, grabbed a bottle of water, and

Henderson, try to

at her, and turned away

pressed the bottle

are cracked from fever. Just a little sip, okay?"

frowned and turned his head again,

choice, she poured a little and into her palm, leaned in, abbed it onto his parched lips with her

when her fingertips brushed his lips, Grace had the fleeting illusion that he was kissing her

up, she realized he had

she pulled

Ethan was nothing like his usual cool, detached self. His gaze was heavy and burning, cutting through the space between them like a