Regret Came Too Late

The cops showed up quickly, asked questions, and then hauled Jodie to the station.

Grace, as the victim, had to go too.

Jodie, who'd been shopping, was mortified because of the police. At the station, she exploded when she saw that Grace was the one who called them.

"Grace, you bitch! You actually called the cops on me?"

Grace just sat there, looking nonchalant. "I'm not looking to make a deal. I want an apology."

Jodie frowned hard. "An apology? To a bitch like you? Never!"

Grace also frowned and addressed the officer, "I will not accept a financial compromise. She must issue an apology today."

Jodie pulled out a card. "I can give you ten thousand dollars, but no apology."

The officer assessed the situation, recognizing that both parties were individuals of considerable means.

He chose his words carefully. "Ms. Henderson, you did mess up here. If Ms. Lambert doesn't want monetary compensation, you must apologize if you want to leave."

Jodie felt her scalp prickle with fury. She felt utterly humiliated.

If her family found out, she'd be in trouble.

home, and she didn't want more problems. She

twice about this. If you don't drop this issue, I'll make your life

semblance of civility between herself

two women, Yancey interjected at that moment. "I just called Uncle Ethan. Jodie, stop this right

hearing that Ethan was coming, Jodie nearly leaped from her chair. "Yancey, Uncle Ethan's swamped right now!

going to screw things up big time sooner or later! I already told him about

and her hands balled

up in her eyes. It was clear Yancey

eyes. "You think I'm worried? When Uncle Ethan gets here, he'll sort this out

though he was in

the next room with Yancey,

later, just say sorry quickly. Jodie's spoiled,

the frosted glass, Grace saw that Ethan

he had a formidable air.

welled up in her

don't want

gaze to the police officer. "What did

cop didn't know

was, he could tell he

someone important. He quicnet

answered, "She vandalized