Regret Came Too Late

Ethan's tone was flat, almost too calm.

But Grace could tell that if she answered wrongly, things would end badly. This choice might determine the course of her life.

She had no idea who her biological father was, and she had no roots in Druville. If she left the country now, would that be enough to free Ethan from the mess he was in?

After all, all Jordan wanted was a clear message from Ethan.

She tightened her grip on her collar and thought carefully for several long minutes. She tried to read something from his back view, but he gave nothing away.

A long moment later, she whispered, "Okay, I'll do it. I won't ever come back."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the mood in the room shifted instantly as if the temperature dropped.

Grace's face turned pale. She didn't understand how her answer had offended him again. Wasn't that what he wanted?

"Did your boyfriend even cross your mind when you answered that question?"

Grace fell silent. She liked Ed, but her current situation mattered more. Love couldn't pay the bills, and honestly, who could guarantee forever?

She had promised Ed a lot, but one day, he might forget them all. Even men who had lost their wives and claimed they couldn't go on remarried eventually.

She truly liked Ed. Going abroad would be painful, but it was the only option that made sense now.

was I supposed to

had had enough of guessing what he was feeling. It was better to just ask

around,

Grace saw a flicker of

thickened into something almost physical, pressing down on her like a weight. She couldn't breathe. Without her realizing it, she took a

to the closet, pulled out a clean set of clothes, and stepped into

outside. She was unsure what he was trying to say or do. The look in his eyes just now rattled

man she thought of as cold and

hadn't moved from her

finally opened. Instead

icy arolled out

the dead of winter, he had taken

bathrobe, water dripping

his way toward the window with lowered lashes, drops fell from

felt anything at first, but now, it was

an overwhelming

she

her

were yanked shut

Ston. The bedroom

being drawn rang in her ears like an alarm: