Regret Came Too Late

At precisely 7:00 pm, Grace arrived at the entrance of the charity gala with an invitation in hand.

As she stepped out of the car, she noticed Jodie, who was dressed to the nines.

Jodie didn't expect to run into Grace here, as she thought Grace wouldn't have an invitation.

Grace didn't greet her. She handed her invitation to a staff member and walked inside with poise.

She was wearing a more understated look tonight-a black sequin skirt with a mermaid silhouette paired with a silk blouse that cinched at her waist.

Jodie stood still for a moment. Instead of storming off to cause Grace trouble, she called Yancey.

"Are you sure you don't want to come, Yancey? I just saw Grace at the gala," she said.

Something unreadable flickered in Yancey's gaze before a small smile tugged at his lips.

"I'm on my way. Jodie, leave her alone."

It seemed like every man on earth was under Grace's spell, and that was what Jodie hated the most.

She smiled insincerely. "Of course."

After hanging up the call, her gaze turned icy as she looked toward where Grace

had gone. Then, she called her bodyguard.

make sure Grace was utterly

clinking glasses,

in a place

familiar faces spotted her, exchanging knowing glances before whispering behind their

had spent years hopelessly devoted to Yancey,

for her target of the evening when a woman she didn't recognize walked up to her with a glass in her hand. She eyed Grace disdainfully, then let out a

"Grace Lambert?"

no idea who this

She drew a sharp breath and remarked, "So

had seen this woman in some

Yules had never forgiven her for

in public wasn't exactly

raised her glass and hurled

seen it coming. She sidestepped in time just as Jodie was stepping through the door behind

the wine hit Jodie

that, everyone's attention snapped toward the

"Jodie, are

wonder Daphne had come at Grace. Clearly, it was Jodie

gaze fixed on Grace with

ready to get back to her actual