Regret Came Too Late (Grace and Ethan)

Ethan kept his head low and remained silent.

Grace felt awkward standing there, but since she was close friends with Selene, she didn't dare just walk away either.

The sharp sound of a slap echoed down the hallway.

Damien clutched his face, the veins at his temple throbbing. He forced himself to smile through it, but his voice shook.

"Isn't it true, though?" he said bitterly. "I just don't get it. What do I lack? Every time you're done using me, you toss me aside without a second thought. Selene, what the hell do I have to do to matter to you? Look at him. We slept together not long ago, and he won't even throw a punch over it. He doesn't even care."

If Damien knew that Selene had also slept with Vincent, he would have completely lost his mind.

If he had to suffer, then everyone else should suffer too.

Vincent adjusted his glasses calmly, his voice steady as he said, "I respect Selene's decisions."

"Respect?" Damien scoffed, full of scorn. "More like you're gutless."

Selene took a deep breath. "Enough, Damien. If you're gonna lose it, don't do it here."

But Damien just shook his head, defiant. "No. I'm not done. Why do you get to treat me like this?"

Damien had been raised like royalty in the Jensen family, getting anything he wanted without ever needing to ask. The first real defeat he ever tasted was over his relationship with Selene.

He had spent his youth quietly burying his feelings, never daring to say them out loud. It was Selene who finally broke the silence, only to pull away just as quickly and draw a clear line between them.

Through it all, he had been the passive one-the one chasing and the one made small. Why should he accept that?

He stared at Selene, rage darkening his eyes. Then, out of nowhere, he let out a cold laugh. "You think you can cut me off and marry someone else? Keep dreaming."

He yanked her wrist toward him and said, "I need to talk to you."

But before he could pull her closer, Vincent grabbed her other arm. And just like that, the two men locked eyes with neither backing down.

A few steps away, Grace stood watching the scene unfold. It was an absolute mess of a standoff when Ethan's low voice cut through it all.

"I'm hungry." He said it so flatly and so unaffected it was like the chaos in front of him didn't even exist.

Right then, the elevator arrived with a soft chime.

Grace snapped to attention and quickly pushed his wheelchair inside. Staying would've just made her look like she was standing around to enjoy the drama.

The elevator reached the first floor. As they rolled out, she glanced over at him. "Mr. Henderson, how about I order some takeout for you when we get back?"

Ethan looked up at her with a cold expression. "You really think I'd eat takeout?"

Fair point. With his status, takeout probably didn't even register as food. Grace thought back to the five million dollars he had given her, then quickly adjusted her tone with a smile.

"Right. Then how about I bring in the head chef from the restaurant upstairs and have them cook something for you tonight?"

Surely, with a private chef on hand, even someone like him would be satisfied.

But Ethan's gaze lingered on her face longer than necessary. It was deep and unreadable.

Just as she started to feel nervous, Tim silently rolled up beside them and took over the wheelchair without a word.

Grace blinked, belatedly wondering if she had said something wrong again. Why did it feel like she kept triggering Ethan without knowing how?

She followed behind, only to spot someone she hadn't expected at all.

It was Andrea. The last time she had asked Andrea to stand in for her, it had touched one of Ethan's bottom lines. He had iced her out for weeks because of it.

And now, Andrea had just shown up-uninvited.

Grace moved fast, trying to intercept her, but it was too late.

Andrea had clearly forgotten the tension from last time. Blinded by Ethan's looks, she walked right up to him with a flirtatious sway and a bright smile. "Mr. Henderson, do you remember me? I'm Andrea."

Andrea definitely looked attractive and polished. She clearly thought Ethan would remember her.

But instead of looking at her, Ethan raised his eyes and looked directly at Grace.

A chill ran down Grace's spine. She stepped forward quickly, trying to pull Andrea away. But Andrea, clearly agitated, yanked her arm free.

"Ms. Lambert, you promised I'd get to see Mr. Henderson again. You left me waiting in that hotel for over a month. Did you just forget about me?"

Grace hadn't thought about Andrea once in weeks. She had been swamped with crisis after crisis. And besides, she had already paid Andrea ten thousand dollars to bail her out of her desperate situation.

Back at the bar, hadn't she put on that whole act, pretending to be virtuous and claiming she'd never go near a man again? With that kind of money and no need to deal with men anymore, she should've been thrilled.

The look in Andrea's eyes said it all-pure infatuation.

Grace got it instantly.

Ethan's looks alone could put every A-list actor to shame. He'd stand out even in the entertainment industry And for shallow women, one look was a bit would take. Coupled with his money, power, and the O untouchable air he gave off, it was no wonder Andrea couldn't look away.

That night, she fell for him at first sight. Since then, she had been spinning fantasy after fantasy in her head, imagining some whirlwind love story with a man who didn't even remember her name.

She had completely forgotten who she was. Just a month ago, she was awkward, desperate, and clinging to dignity she barely had.

Grace's expression went cold. She turned and said politely, "Mr. Henderson, you should head back. I'll handle things here."

Ethan responded with a quiet hum and got into the car without so much as a glance at Andrea. But before the door could close, Andrea suddenly shouted, her voice breaking with desperation.

"Mr. Henderson, I know I look like your first love. I don't care if I'm just a stand-in! I'll do anything if you let me stay by your side! I like you! I liked you the moment I saw you! Please... just let me stay!"noveldrama

She stepped right past Grace, ready to chase after Ethan, but Grace grabbed her

arm and yanked her back, her expression turning even colder.

Andrea shoved her off without hesitation. "You're the one who lied to me, Grace!

Let me go!"

Grace's head throbbed.

If she had known Andrea would turn out to be this clueless, this quick to forget her place, she never would've gotten involved with her at all.

And now, thanks to her, Ethan was probably annoyed again.

Grace saw him already seated in the car and wasted no time. She shoved Andrea

a few steps back, then climbed in after him and shut the door firmly behind her.

"Mr. Bennett, please drive," she said quickly.

She didn't even go back to her own car. When she glanced out the window and saw Andrea preparing to run toward them again, she repeated herself, sharper

this time.

"Mr. Bennet, go."

But before the engine could even start, Ethan spoke. His voice was cool, clipped,

and unmistakably clear.

"Get out."

And from the way he said it, Grace knew he wasn't talking to Tim.