Regret Came Too Late

Grace's mind snapped back to the drink she had. Still, pulling off something like that at an event this size required precision.

She swept her gaze across the room and quickly spotted someone familiar- Yancey.

He headed toward her the second their eyes met.

"What's wrong, Grace? Are you okay?"

She tried to answer, but the heat slammed into her again-sharp, unbearable, like ants crawling all over her skin.

It wasn't just a surface itch—it felt like it was rising from her bones, deep and maddening. Scratching barely helped.

She averted her gaze and gave a slight shake of her head.

Too many familiar eyes were here tonight. If they saw her clinging to Yancey, they would only revive the old whispers that she was still hopelessly in love with him.

She instinctively turned to leave, hoping to find somewhere to hide.

But Yancey caught her wrist.

"Grace, seriously, what's going on? If you're not okay, I'll take you home."

Her vision was already swimming. There was no point trying to explain.

Right now, all she wanted was for someone to hold her. The drug was wreaking havoc on her.

Yancey moved closer, but Grace shoved him hard.

come near

clearly caught off guard by her

and the rumors that never seemed to die, the moment

room was watching, the mood thick with amusement and

felt she was already at the

smash it on the floor and grab a shard—maybe the pain would

Yancey calmly adjusted his outfit and blurted, "I'll

He leaned in again.

burning inside her was out of control

then, the crystal chandelier overhead flickered twice, and the entire room

out, followed by the sound of

turned toward

bet

started. People

figure out

vels

happened.

SV

near her. It was a presence that

thinking, she

paused, then slipped an arm around her waist

in under

the lights came back on, Grace was

frozen, his expression darkening. Whoever took her had moved fast