Regret Came Too Late

Grace wasn't about to let Ed get his way, not with everything going on. She gently pushed him off, smoothed out her clothes, and stood up.

"I'm leaving," she said.

Ed didn't try to stop her. He just sat there obediently, nodding like the well- behaved partner he was trying to be.

Grace's preferences in men had always been unconventional. She never thought strength had to mean dominance. A man like Ed, who needed her protection, wasn't a deal-breaker-it was almost comforting.

She left the house and got in her car, entering Bensville's location into the GPS.

It was a long drive. Along the way, she munched on a couple of crackers to keep herself going.

When she arrived, her first stop was Wyatt's place. He was outside in the yard, digging through herbs. When he looked up and saw her, there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes-then recognition.

"You must be Grace, right?" he questioned.

She wasn't entirely sure how she'd found the place. If it weren't for asking locals along the way, she'd have missed it.

Grace gave a polite nod. "Yes. My brother Liam came here recently to pick up some alternative medicine. His phone's been off, and I'm getting worried. Is he still here?"

"He left," Wyatt said.

"Do you know where he went?" Grace asked.

Wyatt pointed out the way. Grace turned back toward her car, ready to chase after him, when Wyatt suddenly called out behind her. "Grace."

She turned, looking back with clear concern. "Yes?"

good

Grace said sincerely. "I'm sorry I didn't bring a

jar, packed to the top with herbs. It looked heavy and

modern world, wild herbs like this were expensive. She instinctively pulled out her phone to transfer

took her wrist, and checked her pulse. Then

feel he was holding something back-there was more he wanted to say.

her car and was about to drive off when she saw Wyatt

like he'd been standing there

"Grace, even if you don't have time to make the

jar. The medicine inside can last

immediately. "Don't worry, sir. I

and

her mouth, wanting to

him. She had no

she simply

gave for two hours without finding Liam. Then, on a desolate stretch of road, she spotted something troubling-deep drag marks that looked like

heart skipped a

car and ran to the

steep, and she couldn't

go on foot.

was over eight hours from Druville, and it was freezing. If something had happened to him,

and every step was a battle. She hiked for over an hour before she finally saw it—a mangled, half-buried car wreck in the snow. It looked like it had just barely made it

rushed to the vehicle, peering through the shattered window. But no one