Regret Came Too Late

After leaving the hospital, Grace glanced up at the gray, overcast sky, feeling like

her heart was wrapped in the same heavy haze.

She drove straight to Lambert Group, and the senior executives who now followed

her lead hurried out to meet her.

"Ms. Lambert, have you found Mr. Lambert yet?"

Just then, Sebastian pushed the door open.

Grace was surprised to see him. "I thought you were at the hospital with your

family," she said.

Sebastian frowned, and there was a hint of unease in his voice. "After you called

me, I had a bad feeling. What's going on?"

Grace motioned for the others to leave, keeping only Sebastian behind. He had

worked with Quentin for years and had helped Liam without complaint. He was

someone she could trust.

She quickly filled him in on what had happened with Liam, then showed him the

scandal online. It was obvious the person behind it was deliberately dragging

things out, waiting for the right moment to push Liam's scandal to the top of social

media.

Once it hit number one, they would expose everything.

And when that happened, it wouldn't just destroy Liam. The entire company would

become public enemy number one.

At this point, Grace knew there was only one move left.

She looked up and locked eyes with Sebastian. The understanding in his gaze

was immediate.

Sebastian said solemnly, "Ms. Lambert, you have to step up and take the CEO

position. It's the only way to calm the public."

"What had happened crossed a line-not just for the country but for the people. It

didn't matter if Liam had been led astray.

"Wrong was wrong, and mistakes came with consequences.

Grace tugged lightly at the corner of her mouth. The reason she had helped push

Liam into that position in the first place was because Carmen had always been

wary of her, suspecting she was after the Lambert family's wealth.

Carmen had never treated Grace kindly. But when it came to Quentin and Liam,

was undeniable. So much of what

Carmen's efforts as well.

Grace

there was no other way-especially with

paralyzed.

sharpening with resolve. "Alright, let's

public statement and admit our wrongdoing. Make it clear

he's already been detained by

and we won't excuse

just wanted to

harder

face it head-on by

putting some money toward helping the police crack

like this.

ground. With

were cash-strapped as

donation. It

a few days ago

what happened with Jodie.

went out and the

three hours, Lambert Group underwent a brutal internal overhaul.

clean, and a wave

to key positions.

a clear message. The

wasn't there to

decided to take control of everything that followed,

six hours had passed.

six centuries. The only thing keeping her grounded

response-paired with the five-million-dollar

redirected

people were now praising Liam for

sister like her.

was ready to tear into them, but honestly? She handled every step

right."

solid. The official statement wasn't some

is reportedly broke, she

public opinion shift in her

over the past

uptick

first, the person behind

In fact, people were now starting to wonder if

person who set Liam

so

win in the public eye,

meeting.

Edric's loyalists had already packed up and left. Aside from

had risen through the ranks under

by

calm and

hours, she had

gone through the company's

upcoming project proposals. Every

them was teetering

if at

a single wave of her hand, she cut them

protest, but after catching the look

sharp-they quietly