Regret Came Too Late (Grace and Ethan) novel Chapter 147

Grace's eyes flicked to Ethan, but Tim was standing in the way.

"Mr. Henderson, I swear I didn't mean to do it. My mind just went completely blank after drinking those three glasses."

By now, Ethan was seated in his wheelchair, facing away from her. He still hadn't said a word.

Grace's face turned red with frustration as she saw Tim turning to push Ethan away.

"Mr. Henderson!"

Finally, Ethan lifted his head. His clothes were straightened, his gaze was calm, and his voice was low. "I know you didn't mean anything by it."

Grace nodded vigorously but felt like his expression had darkened even more. She stood frozen in place, helplessly watching as Ethan was wheeled away.

The business partners followed, leaving one by one.

The once-bustling private room now fell into a deep silence.

Grace collapsed into a chair, the lingering effects of the alcohol hitting her stomach, making her feel utterly miserable. She sat there for ten minutes, only to hear footsteps approaching from outside the room. She thought the staff were here to clean up the mess.

But suddenly, the lights in the room dimmed, and before she could adjust to the darkness, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist.

Her back was pressed against the wall, and the man's overwhelming presence surrounded her instantly.

She tried to focus and see who it was, but the darkness blurred her vision.

The next instant, his lips crashed onto hers. Her pupils contracted, and her hands instinctively pressed against his chest, struggling to push him away.

But the aftereffects of the alcohol hit her hard, and she felt weak.

The lack of oxygen only deepened her disorientation, and she could sense herself being lifted. Her legs unconsciously wrapped around his waist.

The feeling was so surreal that she couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality.

The man's dominance was undeniable, like a flood of repressed emotions finally breaking free.

Grace had nowhere to escape. She was unable to distance herself from the powerful, suffocating air surrounding them.

Her neck was gripped firmly, and her chin was forcibly lifted. The lack of air made her dizzy, and she lost consciousness again.

…

When she suddenly woke up, she found herself in the same private room. The surroundings were unchanged, but a whole hour had passed. She rubbed her temples, laughing at herself. How did she manage to dream up something so absurd in her drunken state?

Was she really that desperate for a man's attention?

Everyone had always said that she'd been Ethan's lapdog for years and that Yancey had always looked down on her. It seemed like no other man had ever really appeared in her life.

Wanting a man didn't feel all that strange at her age, and there was no need to feel ashamed about it.

She sighed, feeling parched.

As she tried to stand up, her legs wobbled, and she almost collapsed to the floor. She felt weak as if she had just woken from an oxygen-deprived slumber.

Frowning, she leaned against the chair for support and took a long time to gather her strength.

After Jodie finished her tirade, she quickly ran to catch up with Ethan.

"Uncle Ethan, I told you she's the kind of woman who doesn't know her place. The Henderson family certainly won't accept someone like her. Anyway, my brother and Alice's wedding is coming up. What should I even get her as a gift?"

Grace watched their retreating figures as a pang of discomfort settled in her chest.

Her mouth bothered her even more. It felt sore, almost like something sharp was pricking at it. Unfortunately, there was no mirror around, so she couldn't check.

She sighed and stood still, wishing she could fall asleep right then and there. But just as she took a step forward, she heard a familiar voice.

"Grace?"

"Joanne?"

Grace felt like she had just found her savior. "I think I'm having an allergic reaction to alcohol. Could you please take me home? My mouth hurts so much."

Joanne seemed to have just finished work. She worked hard, juggling several jobs at once. She smiled, though there was a hint of concern. "How careless of you. I never knew you were allergic to alcohol."

She then gently supported Grace's arm.

Grace immediately felt much more at ease. Once they were in the car, she leaned against the seat, her stomach still unsettled.

Joanne watched her, her gaze intense but silent.

Grace noticed the car hadn't started yet, so she rubbed her eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

Joanne shook her head. "Nothing. But you really seem to be having a bad reaction."