Regret Came Too Late

Just when Lyle thought Grace had given up, she suddenly turned around and ordered, "Beat him within an inch of his life, then dump him back into the slums."

With that, she left and made her way to Joanne's unit.

Both units were barely 30 feet apart, close enough that the sounds from Lyle's side could easily carry through the walls.

However, Joanne showed no reaction as she sat there on the couch. It wasn't until Grace entered that she stood up.

"Grace, who was that man with you earlier? Did you run into trouble lately?" she asked.

Grace slowly shook her head and walked over to the coffee table. She reached for the cup of water but paused in mid-air in hesitation.

"Joanne, have I ever told you about my past?" she asked gently.

"Not really. Why? Is there something wrong with it?"

Grace nudged the cup away and smiled weakly, saying, "Oh no. I just had a bit of a problem with Liam. That boy's gotten good at lying recently. I have to teach him a lesson. You see, if you wear a mask for too long, ripping it off will tear at your skin. It'll hurt for sure."

Joanne's carefully constructed expression nearly crumbled. She couldn't fully comprehend the true meaning behind those words. Had she been exposed?

However, ever since they ran into Lucian, she had acted perfectly normal. Lucian had also played his part and shut his eyes just in time. There had been no eye contact between them.

Aside from that one initial glance...

But Grace couldn't possibly be so sharp as to catch something from just that. If she were truly that perceptive, would she have been so easily fooled by Yancey for so long?

Joanne tried to calm herself down, quietly exhaling as if a weight had just been lifted from her chest. She said, "He's your brother, after all. If there's any problem, you just need to talk it through."

Grace rose to her feet and gave a casual wave of her hand, saying, "I'm leaving. Don't mention anything about tonight to anyone."

Joanne nodded as she silently watched her leave.

Once in the hallway, Grace let out a faint breath before slipping into her car. She didn't wait long before Lyle appeared before her with Lucian hanging over his shoulder.

He shoved the man into the backseat without consideration, then slid into the passenger seat.

it was all

Grace stepped on the gas and

nearby surveillance cameras, then hauled Lucian out and dropped him beside

drive off right after, yet the

what are you waiting for?"

one came looking for Lucian. Eventually, it was a gang of his men who

curled up as she said, "I was just wondering... if anyone would

Someone was bound to find him. It's not like you want him dead. You just need to know who sent him. Still, Jodie... I don't buy it. Feels like he's pinning this on the wrong

spoken than Grace slammed her foot down on the gas and said, "Whether he's framing her or not, we'll know

to run into Grace on her way home. Her eyes widened in shock, and the first words out of her

"You're still alive?!"

brows furrowed, the certainty in her gut beginning to waver. Could this really be connected to Jodie?

was something about the way he had

times. However, standing face-to-face

laugh from the passenger seat. "Don't tell

she didn't care in the slightest. Grace would never dare to lay a

spiteful thought crossed her mind. If something

even better? As the idea took root, her eyes

up.

why should she rely on someone

could send Grace to

planted her hands on her hips, the smug satisfaction in

this time, Grace.

words, so long as I'm

"for you

come to your senses and stay away

Grace could even register the full weight of the threat, Lyle, who

door handle, only to be halted by Grace's warning. "She's a Henderson. Have you considered the consequences of laying a

with frustration, then he quietly shut the door again. "So, what now? Are you going to just let her keep sending people

it go, she suddenly slammed her foot down on