Regret Came Too Late

Grace?

The second Grace's name left the woman's mouth, Liam's head snapped up. It was like every bit of pain in his body vanished in an instant. His eyes lit up with desperate hope.

"Really? Did Grace send you here?" His voice cracked. "Why hasn't she come to see me herself?"

The woman standing there was Andrea. It had taken her quite a bit of effort to get in here because Grace had made sure Liam was guarded tightly.

A flicker of triumph crossed Andrea's face. Joanne had been right about Grace. She could be ruthless with outsiders, even with herself. But when it came to the people she considered family or friends, she was all heart. She didn't guard them; she protected them.

Liam wasn't locked up for punishment. He was being protected from the world— and from himself.

Andrea had thrown her lot in with Joanne. She wanted revenge, and Joanne had promised she knew exactly how to make Grace suffer.

Andrea still remembered that first night she had stumbled into that bar, desperate. Grace had plucked her out of the crowd, given her ten thousand dollars just to meet with Ethan, and changed her life in an instant.

live like the wealthy. And once she got a taste, she never wanted to go back—especially

and mocked her. Andrea had sworn to herself she would make her pay, no

plan was simple but vicious. Andrea would seduce Liam and

child, even Grace, no matter how ruthless, would be shackled by guilt. She wouldn't dare lift a hand against

all out coldly. Liam had been sheltered his whole life. He was emotionally dependent on

and forced into being a father, whether he was ready or not. Every word he spoke after that—every regret and every ounce of pain—would cut

Grace would blame herself, and the

but shiver. Joanne was terrifying. She had a way of striking straight at

backing, he'd be worth billions of dollars

that status? Seeing Ethan again

moved closer, gently helping Liam sit

really busy," she said

you? All the scandals about you hit the media. Grace's been working around the clock cleaning up the mess, trying to stabilize the company. She's been stretched so thin she can barely touch the ground, so