Regret Came Too Late

Jodie's face went pale in an instant as she stared at Ethan.

It felt as if her entire world had crumbled, and waves of panic, terror, and an unbearable sense of loss began flooding in.

She desperately forced herself out of bed, and in a trembling voice, she called out, "Uncle Ethan, what do you mean by that? What are you trying to do?"

No one had ever dared to provoke Ethan like this before.

She fell hard onto the floor, and almost immediately, heavy drops of tears began to spill from her eyes. "You used to spoil me the most... What does this mean? Are you saying you don't want me anymore?" she cried.

However, Ethan never responded and walked out without a word.

Jodie sat there on the cold floor, completely numb to the pain in her body. All she could feel was the overwhelming emptiness of being thrown away by the world.

Yet when she thought back on how kind he had been and how he had protected her, she convinced herself that he wouldn't truly abandon her. He was simply angry at her, that was all.

come

was

to pull herself back onto

her supposed "older brother" brought another burst of tears from her eyes. Her voice broke

water with practiced patience. In a tone laced with a touch of regret, he said, "How did you let it come to this?

were meant to assure her that they were now in the same

she said, "Uncle Ethan must be blinded by love if he actually favors

just now, you mentioned a child... What child?" he asked gently, almost

passed in hushed tones, but he had never managed to find

guarded; he

upon his question as if they were struck by some invisible force. Fear

legs will get better. And don Worry deal with Grace. You know, Jodie... No

my face. She has humiliated me too many times. I'm sick of

Maybe that child could be the too that would drive Grace and Ethan apart for