Regret Came Too Late (Grace and Ethan)

With her back still to Yancey, Grace arched a brow ever so slightly, her voice gentler than before.

"You swear? No matter what the truth is, you won't take Alice's side?" she asked.

Seeing how much she clearly still cared what he thought, Yancey felt smug, and his mood visibly lifted. "I swear."

He stepped forward, turned her gently to face him, and placed both hands on her shoulders. He asked, "Do you still have feelings for me?".

That question actually mattered to him.

Grace knew she had already gotten through to him, so saying something she didn't truly mean didn't matter at this point. "Maybe I do. Even if I've forgotten everything, the way you treat me still hurts."

Feeling pleased, Yancey lifted his hand and gently squeezed her cheek. "I won't let them send you to a psychiatric hospital-not until we know the truth."

Grace rolled her eyes internally, but her face showed nothing but grateful emotion. She replied, "Okay."

She turned and walked down the hallway. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of what looked like the corner of Ethan's coat.

She picked up her pace, but when she reached the end of the hall, there was no one there. It was probably just her imagination. Ethan was likely at work. There was no reason for him to be at the hospital.

But inside the hospital ward behind her, Alice had seen and heard everything. Her expression twisted into something almost monstrous.

She had to get Sidney out of the way immediately. She couldn't afford to leave behind any loose ends.

She saw Yancey heading straight toward Sidney's office through the little window in the door, and her stomach dropped.

Inside, Yancey now sat across from Sidney—the same doctor who had announced Alice's "miscarriage".

Sidney had heard every word from the hallway. His forehead was drenched in sweat, and his whole posture screamed panic. After a sleepless night, he was barely functioning.

Yancey might've been an airhead, but he was still a member of the Hendersons, and whether it was his name or his face, both were enough to intimidate people.

"Dr. Tanner, are you sure the baby's gone?" Yancey asked.

Sidney wiped his face with a trembling hand, his lips twitching as he opened his mouth. However, he was interrupted by a knock at the door. The next moment, a nurse peeked in. "Dr. Tanner, Ms. Lambert just threw up. You should go check on her."

A chill ran down Sidney's spine, and he immediately jumped to his feet. He stood immediately. "Sorry, Mr. Henderson. I need to check on her."noveldrama

Yancey followed him to Alice's ward.

Alice was swishing bottled water in her mouth, her whole body trembling as if she could barely hold herself upright.

Sidney rushed over, and the moment their eyes met, he froze. There was no mistaking the threat in Alice's gaze. It was cold and terrifying, hitting him like ice in his chest.

He suddenly thought of the massive truck from the night before and Duncan, who looked more like a hired thug than anything else. He gave her a quick, half- hearted check-up, then made up an excuse to leave.

Yancey hadn't finished questioning him earlier and was just about to follow him out, but Alice grabbed his wrist. "Yancey, you once told me you'd always protect me... that you wouldn't let Grace bully me."

Back then, Alice had just moved

back to live with the Lambert family. Every time Yancey went over to the Lambert residence to see Grace, he'd find Alice sitting alone in a corner, crying. She always said the same thing, that she was being bullied. No matter how hard she

tried to please Grace, it only ended with insults and cold treatment.

Her vulnerability hit Yancey right in the heart, and little by little, his bias began to take root.

"You promised," she whispered again, her voice breaking.

Yancey slowly sat back down and said, "I'll stay with you."

...

Meanwhile, Sidney staggered out of

the ward, drenched in cold sweat. He headed to the restroom to splash water on his face, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a fall, muscular figure. He flinched hard like he had been zapped with eléctricity.

It was Duncan. He had come to the hospital.

Was he about to make a move? Was he going to pull a knife and kill Sidney?

Sidney had spent the entire night trapped in nightmares-every one of them ending with Duncan brutally murdering him. Now, seeing him in person, whatever sense he had left vanished.

The first names that came to mind were Grace and Yancey.

He rushed back to his office and grabbed the recording of his conversation with

Alice. It was his safety net in case she ever turned on him.

But this time, it felt like more than just a threat. It felt like his life might actually be at risk. He needed someone he could trust.

Remembering how kind Grace had been the night before, he didn't even hesitate.

Without wasting a second, he ran downstairs to catch up with her.

...

Back in the ward, Alice was spiraling. She needed Sidney gone tonight-but she couldn't let Yancey out of her sight either. If he got to Sidney, everything would fall apart.

Her eyes darkened with desperation. She should've had Sidney taken care of while she still had the chance.

"Yancey, don't you remember what you told me when we slept together the first time?"

She started playing the emotional card. After all, a woman's virginity meant a lot. Whatever softness Yancey had just felt for Grace vanished in an instant. What Alice said was right. He had taken her virginity.

He held her tightly, then let out a long sigh. He said, "I'll go ahead and have Grace sent to a psychiatric hospital. Once our wedding is over, we can let her out."

Deep down, he had no intention of handing Grace over to Hendricks. He no longer wanted Grace, but that didn't mean Hendricks could have her. Alice's lips curled into a satisfied smile as she nestled sweetly into his arms. "Okay, I'll do whatever you say," she whispered.