Belated Remorse

Grace stood by the door, watching the scene unfold with a speechless

expression.

"Why are you crying? You're about to turn 20-can you try acting your age?" she teased.

A look of lingering fear spread across Liam's face. He rubbed his eyes hard. "I'm never coming back to this place

again. | swear, Grace, I'll never cback here for the rest of my life."

He looked like he was ready to swear it on his grave.

Grace just gave a small smile, watching him excitedly shove his books into the

car.

She drove him back to the villa, which meant, unfortunately, they'd have to run into Andrea.

The moment Andrea saw Liam return, her face lit up with joy. "Liam, you're out! This is amazing. Let's just stay

here together for the rest of our lives, okay?"

The moment Liam saw her, his smile faded a few notches. He silently set the books down on the coffee table and

headed for the door.

Andrea grabbed his sleeve. "Where are you going? It's almost Christmas. | want to go shopping with you!"

Liam yanked his arm free. "It's been a long tsince I've had talone with my sister. Stay here. I'll be back

soon."

Andrea's expression darkened. Her hand at her side clenched tight, then suddenly flew to her stomach.

"Liam, my stomach really hurts. Can you taketo the hospital?"

Her acting was truly convincing. Cold sweat suddenly appeared on her forehead, and her whole body looked

unsteady, as if she might collapse.

Liam instinctively caught her, his voice panicked. "What's wrong?"

"My stomach hurts... | just want you with me. Maybe the baby wants us together too," she whispered.

He looked helplessly toward Grace.

That was when Grace realized how good Andrea was at faking it. Honestly, she could've gone head-to-head with

a real actress and won.

She didn't bother with the . She turned around and walked off, leaving a few words behind. "Take care of

her, then. | already bought sChristmas stuff. Those string lights around your house and the wreath on the

door? | put them up myself."

Just as Liam started to take a step after Grace, Andrea's sudden cry stopped him cold.

She was on her knees, clutching her stomach, her face drained of color as she said, "Liam... | missed you, too."

Liam said nothing. He slowly sank into the couch, not going anywhere.

Back in the car, Grace sat in silence, anger boiling inside her. She couldn't stop caring about Liam, no matter

how much she tried.

She didn't drive off right away. Her phone buzzed, and she saw it was Joanne calling.

"Grace, | made ssausage for Christmas. Do you wantto bring sover? Are you hright now?"

"I'm at Liam's place. Are you off work already?" Grace replied.

Joanne's voice was cheerful as she said, "Yeah, | got a break. I'm free all week. If you're thinking of going

somewhere, I'll cwith you."

Grace had been buried in work and hadn't even considered taking tto relax. She was about to respond when

she suddenly heard a loud knock on her window.

Before she could react, someone smashed it.

A group of masked men with steel pipes shattered the glass. One of them grabbed a jagged shard and slashed at

her neck.

Grace flinched back just in time-but then someone dumped a full bucket of gasoline through the open window.

Then ca lit cigarette.

She kicked open the passenger door and threw herself backward, slamming her head against the pavement so

hard she almost threw up.

Flames whooshed past her ear.

The noise startled Liam inside the villa. He ran outside, panic-stricken.

"Grace!"

She wanted to tell him to get back inside, afraid the attackers might go after him too, but they were already

gone. The whole thing happened in seconds.

As someone helped her up, she could still smell the gasoline soaked into her pants.

Liam's hands were shaking. "What the hell just happened?"

Her car had been parked just down the street from the villa. If it were someone who had planned this, Andrea

would be the first suspect.

From Andrea's point of view, now that Liam had recovered, he should be taking over the company. Grace was

just in the way.

Still, Grace didn't think Andrea would be stupid enough to do something so blatant.

Her phone was still in her hand, and Joanne's voice was frantic through the speaker. "Grace? Say something!

What's going on?"

Grace took a breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "I'm fine. I'm just having a situation | have to handle. Talk

later."

Joanne, already guessing what happened, slammed her phone down and immediately called Jodie. She was the

only one who would be dumb and cruel enough to pull something like this.

Jodie picked up with a mocking

laugh. "Wow, you're blaming me? All |

did was poke a few aol

of Daphne, Shes theoné who flipped

olit Bhd went after Grace. Even if

Grace tries to investigate, all signs

point to Daphne. After all, her

boyfriend's little scandal is tied to

Grace, isn't it?" The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Daphne had spent so long clawing her way up to Ike, so close to getting what she wanted, only for Grace to ruin

everything.

She had snapped, and when someone like her broke down, she was capable of anything.

Joanne tightened her grip on the phone, her voice icy. "Ms. Henderson, | don't want to get dragged into any of

this. Control your people."

Jodie snorted. "Joanne, you're such a

coward. You're pathetic. You act all

sweet to Grace, but de dav. pau

hate ge Yo kn your

flierld? he looks down on you.

Always has. You're nothing but a rat

in the gutter. And letremind you

my uncle? He's always loved Grace.

He'd lie to the world for her. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

"You've never had a shot. You're just a shadow, watching from afar, too scared to even show your face."

The words hit Joanne hard. Her expression shifted through a storm of emotions, and her fingers clenched so

tightly she nearly crushed her phone.

Jodie didn't care. She was used to barking orders and belittling anyone beneath her. Plus, she'd always looked

down on Joanne anyway.

To Jodie, she was nothing but a

nobody from the bottom, and yet she

had the nerve to-sebbéosights on

Ethan. DWas pathetic, like thinking

she ever had a shot at someone so

far out of her league. The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Joanne ended the call with a trembling hand and stared coldly at the screen. Then she gave a quiet, bitter laugh-

her lips curling into a sharp, dangerous smile.