Regret Came Too Late

A sharp throb pulsed in Grace's head, and her thoughts were thrown into disarray by Dylan's words. She didn't know whether to believe Dylan or dismiss the unease clawing at her chest.

"No," she said into the phone. "I just ran into something. I'm heading out now. I'll be there in an hour."

His voice carried a trace of confusion as he said, "Don't lie to me, Grace."

"I'm not lying." Grace felt her heart somehow tighten.

Meanwhile, back in the café, the last trace of warmth drained from Dylon's face as he stared after Grace's retreating figure. A beat passed before he turned to the bodyguard beside him and ordered, "Find out who's her boyfriend."

It couldn't be Ethan.

But that man, arrogant as he was, would surely know there was someone else in her heart. Would a man as proud and untouchable as him really take advantage of her amnesia and slip into the role of a nameless third party?

Dylan let out a cold laugh. Whatever had happened to Levi, Ethan was undoubtedly involved. He had simply covered his tracks too well for anyone to trace them; at least, not yet.

However, that didn't matter. Now that Dylan had returned, he had all the time he needed to play this game. Besides, he had a clear understanding of Ethan's weaknesses.

The corners of his lips curved slightly as he settled back into his chair. Things were about to get very interesting in Druville.

...

Grace arrived at the small villa just as the clock struck 10:00 pm. The night had fallen completely, and the house stood shrouded in darkness. There was an unnatural silence that saturated the house, and the air was thick with foreboding. She had intended to ring the doorbell, but the door creaked open on its own.

There was nothing but darkness in sight as she reached out to find the light switch on the wall, but her fingers met nothing.

"Ed?" She closed the door behind her. The sound was muffled as though she were imprisoning herself in a bottomless void.

She slowly made her way toward the couch from memory after her last visit. Halfway there, an arm suddenly slipped around her waist.noveldrama

A low voice then brushed against her ear. "Did you buy the gift?"

Relieved, Grace quickly turned around and grasped his hand. However, in the absence of light, she couldn't see a thing. She could only feel the rough texture of a bandage wrapped around his palm.

Had he treated the wounds himself?

"Yeah," she answered. "Can you walk me to the couch?"

Ed didn't respond. His hand closed firmly around hers as he guided her toward the couch per her request.

Grace knew something was off. There was a strange tension in the atmosphere, and something metallic laced the scent around him. It was faint, but the smell was unmistakably the scent of blood.

She reached out, cupping his face between her hands. She pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips. "Next time, don't threaten me by pretending you'll jump."

He didn't respond and turned his face away, unmoved by her gesture. Noticing that, she hurried to kiss him again, planting soft pecks at the edge of his mouth.

His anger seemed to dissipate slightly, and his voice was hoarse as he murmured, "Next time, I won't pretend."

Her hand began to tremble slightly. What kind of monster had she entangled herself with?

With a deep breath, she reached for the nearby box and opened it. "I got you a ring. It's part of a matching set. Let me put it on you, and you put the other one on me, okay?"

The rings weren't expensive, yet they struck precisely where it mattered. Even Ed's voice possessed a rare touch of delight. "Really?"

"Yeah, I picked it out just for you." As Grace spoke, she retrieved the ring and gently slipped it onto one of his fingers. Then, she placed her hand in his palm and continued, "Now you put mine on."

His breath hitched at once. With trembling fingertips, he picked up the remaining

ring and carefully slipped it onto her finger.

Grace had meant to say more, but the moment the ring was on, his kisses rained down on her with an almost desperate intensity. They were § relentless that she could barely breathe. Each one gradually felt upon the very place where the ring now rested.

He seemed genuinely overjoyed. Even when their bodies entwined that night he let her take the lead. His hands gripped her waist as

asked his tone brimming with et

delight, "Have you ever given a ring to anyone else?"noveldrama

Grace, having lost her memory, truly couldn't recall. However, now wasn't the time for an answer that could potentially ruin the moment. "No, you're the first."

His movements paused for a moment, and then his voice dropped. "And I'll be the only one from now on."

That possessive air settled over them again, dense and suffocating. A faint unease stirred in Grace as she rested against his chest, her head full of uncertainties.

There were times when she couldn't distinguish whether it was care that kept her close to him or an unspoken fear of what he might do if she walked away.

Her lips found his again and again in the darkness. Then, on a whim, she asked, "That guy you mentioned... Who is he?"

All the tenderness evaporated in an instant. Ed's movements stopped, and the atmosphere became ominous.