Regret Came Too Late

Grace was on her knees in the living area, her eyes glued to the news.

It was almost dawn, yet Ethan still hadn't returned. Had he been punished by Jordan?

She felt an unexpected twinge of concern. From time to time, she would peer toward the entrance as she rubbed her stiff knees.

The news had been running non-stop from midnight till morning. The reporters clearly had nothing better to do as they kept rehashing Jack's incident over and over and shared public opinions about the Henderson family.

This time, the Henderson family was at the center of it all. With Jordan's past position, the family was bound to attract attention.

Grace sighed. When she heard the sound of a car engine outside, she craned her neck toward the door.

Headlights swept across the windows, followed by noises at the door.

Tim opened the door and stepped inside.

Grace met his gaze, then looked behind him. Ethan wasn't there.

"Mr. Bennett, where's Mr. Henderson?"

Tim scoffed, hanging his coat on the nearby rack. "Thanks to you, Ms. Lambert, Mr. Henderson Senior wants him married in two weeks."

"What does that have to do with Jodie's incident? Mr. Henderson Senior isn't actually suggesting they get married, is he?"

"What are you even saying, Grace?"

Tim stormed toward her in irritation. "Didn't you see the news? Mr. Henderson leaked Ms. Henderson's background just to protect you. Now, the entire Henderson family is in the crosshairs. Mr. Henderson Senior thinks he has feelings for you, so he's forcing him to get married right away to put an end to it." He said it all clearly, but Grace didn't understand a word.

Ethan... liked her?

She almost laughed, but seeing the stern look on Tim's face, she just rubbed her aching knees instead.

that

and she suddenly remembered all the things that had happened between her and

patience again and again, but he had never retaliated. He wanted magnolias

she pieced things together,

recall, she and Ethan had

what Tim

information to protect me... Won't

voice faltered before she could finish

him to marry. But the woman he had once loved was gone. Who was he supposed to marry

you should go get your documents and just register the marriage with Mr. Henderson

have a boyfriend," Grace said seriously, her eyes meeting Tim's.

He simply went upstairs, though it

she was, still on her knees, until she saw him coming down again with a large

Her chest tightened.

healed yet. Did Jordan physically punish

Yancey had been punished. His back had been a

mess.

"Mr. Bennett..."

Tim ignored her.

stand. Yet after being on her knees for so long, the pain was sharp enough to drain the color from

up for a moment. Tim had already driven off by the time she

Bennett!" she

making it to the front gate, the guards refused to let

had also been

of contacting anyone. In the end, she, could only return to the house and grab whatever she could from the fridge

to wait until the maids arrived to borrow a phone. Yet, after waiting from morning to noon, not a

was still all over TV, and things were escalating