Regret Came Too Late

As the car stopped in front of Palm Bay, Grace stepped out first, reaching to steady Ethan.

But his hand jerked away, quick and sharp, like she had burned him.

Grace stared at him with a deadpan look.

Just hours ago, he had practically melted into her touch in the backseat. Now, he was recoiling like she had insulted him.

She stepped back and gestured for the others to help instead.

Ethan was helped out slowly, the magnolia still in his hand.

Grace glanced at it, and her irritation slipped-just like Ed, he liked the same flower and shared the same taste.

"Take care, Mr. Henderson. I'll get going now. Don't forget your meds, and stop pushing yourself so hard."

"Mm."

Ethan was already being wheeled inside and didn't even glance back.

Grace didn't wait, and she had no interest in reading his silence.

However, there was no way she would get a cab out here.

A few minutes later, a car pulled out from Palm Bay, sent to drop her off.

She accepted it.

After all, it was still snowing, and there was no need to freeze for pride- Christmas was around the corner.

Inside Palm Bay, Ethan looked oddly cheerful.

"Give me a vase," he said to Tim.

Tiim knew exactly where the magnolia came from.

He brought one over, but Ethan barely gave it a glance before pulling the flower back out.

"Too plain. Get something prettier."

They tried vase after vase, but even after fifteen vases, nothing pleased him.

The light in his eyes dimmed, and his mood soured fast.

calls, asking people to send

by a famous master of traditional carving arrived—it had once gone

was expected to appreciate

elegant, antique piece. His brow

placed the magnolias

he muttered, heading for the

his

mountain-picked magnolia look only "acceptable" in a vase worth

this like a game of house with Grace,

on the second floor, setting it by his bed so it would greet

and

spotting the shift, chimed in, "There's advanced tech for this-we can preserve

reply, then added, "Though I don't

made the call, too drained

got home, she was so drained she

the whole trip had

of it. But surely, he wouldn't lie... he couldn't have gone through all that just for a

up on her. It felt like she

phone and shot Ethan

you taken your meds, Mr.

"Yes."

What a cold response.

annoyed she became, even if she

he was playing her, but really-the mighty CEO of Henderson

sighed deeply and tossed her phone aside, refusing to send

hungry, and the fridge was empty. With no better

opened the door, she ran into

a woven

"Grocery run?" Grace asked.

ended up going

when she saw

spent it last year-only that

the upscale villas and townhouses in the area, so most of the goods were

standing by a display of emerald bracelets and

bracelets. "My mom. Her birthday's in a few days." "You're heading back

"Yeah."

again, and that thought soured her

only picked up some food, but as she passed the flower section, her gaze instinctively drifted