Regret Came Too Late

Grace's mind snapped back to the drink she had. Still, pulling off something like that at an event this size required precision.

She swept her gaze across the room and quickly spotted someone familiar- Yancey.

He headed toward her the second their eyes met.

"What's wrong, Grace? Are you okay?"

She tried to answer, but the heat slammed into her again-sharp, unbearable, like ants crawling all over her skin.

It wasn't just a surface itch—it felt like it was rising from her bones, deep and maddening. Scratching barely helped.

She averted her gaze and gave a slight shake of her head.

Too many familiar eyes were here tonight. If they saw her clinging to Yancey, they would only revive the old whispers that she was still hopelessly in love with him.

She instinctively turned to leave, hoping to find somewhere to hide.

But Yancey caught her wrist.

"Grace, seriously, what's going on? If you're not okay, I'll take you home."

Her vision was already swimming. There was no point trying to explain.

Right now, all she wanted was for someone to hold her. The drug was wreaking havoc on her.

Yancey moved closer, but Grace shoved him hard.

come near me," she

back, clearly caught

never seemed to die, the moment they got near each other, all eyes

half of the room was watching, the mood thick with amusement

the brink of collapse.

glass, ready to smash it on the floor and grab a shard—maybe the pain would clear her

Yancey calmly adjusted his outfit and blurted, "I'll

He leaned in again.

fire burning inside her was out of control now,

more.

the crystal chandelier overhead flickered twice, and the entire room

sound of

head turned toward

bet

started. People

figure out what

vels

happened.

SV

Grace felt someone near her. It

thinking, she

person paused, then slipped an arm around her waist and quickly

in under

lights came back on,

expression darkening. Whoever took her had moved