Regret Came Too Late (Grace and Ethan)

Grace stared at the flower in front of her, then glanced around at the surroundingnoveldrama

scene.

The memory that had just flashed through her mind had happened here, and she had been the one in it.

So... her first time with Ed was in this very place?

Her brows furrowed as she looked down, trying to recall more details. However, the harder she tried, the more her head throbbed.

Just as she raised her hand to massage her temples, a pair of hands gently pressed down on them, slowly kneading in circular motions.

Grace tried to turn around, but the cloth blindfold dropped once more over her eyes.

She sighed. "Are you feeling better?"

"Mhm."

It would seem he hasn't fully recovered. Otherwise, why so few words?

She didn't struggle and quietly waited for him to tie the cloth again before turning to face him. "Have I been here before?"

As soon as she asked the question, the man's grip on her wrist instantly tightened -so much so that it hurt.

She didn't make a sound, but he quickly realized what had happened and let go. Still, a red mark was already forming on her fair skin.

He lowered his head and gently rubbed her wrist as if trying to soothe the pain.

Sensing his remorse, Grace decided to let it go and changed the subject.

"Our first time... It was here, wasn't it?" she asked again.

When she walked in earlier, the place had struck her as quite beautiful. And in those fleeting memories, she had clearly enjoyed it. So, why had things escalated to the point of her hitting him?

The man didn't respond and merely continued caressing her wrist.

Grace was genuinely fed up with her memory loss. Not knowing anything made her feel perpetually helpless.

She raised her hands and touched his face, finally feeling the heat radiating from him.

"You still have a fever?" Grace questioned.

"Mhm."

She panicked and instinctively reached to remove her blindfold, but he stopped her.

"Don't look at me."

"Alright, got it, I won't look. But at least take your meds. Why are you even out here with a fever? What if you pass out?

"It's no wonder you're being so quiet today, acting all moody like my boss. I'm really not used to it."

Ed stayed silent.

Grace quickly realized she had said the wrong thing and gripped his wrist tightly.

"Let's soak in the pool for a bit and work up some sweat. I didn't mean to mention someone else on purpose, alright?"

She thought he'd stay angry, but to her surprise, his fingers began undoing her clothes.

Her breath immediately hitched, and she turned her head aside-only to remember she couldn't see anything anyway, so she turned back.

Once in the water, she leaned against Ed's chest. Her thoughts wandered to the gossip Selene had told her earlier.

"Hey, Ed, you know what people are saying about your boss? They say he used to be an undercover agent. But aside from that, no one seems to know much about his background."

Ed's fingers were gently massaging her shoulders. His touch was just right, making her whole body go soft. She couldn't help but snuggle closer to him.

She briefly recounted what Selene had said and asked lazily with her eyes half- closed, "You ever hear anything like that around here?"

His fingertips paused for a few seconds. "Yes."

Grace perked up immediately and slowly turned around, straddling his waist with one shoulder exposed.

"So, it's true?"

With her eyes blindfolded, she had no idea what she looked like in that moment. Beneath the rippling water, everything was exposed.

Ed's gaze deepened, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his fingers slid downward for a grip.

"Some parts are exaggerated, but it's more or less true," he said.

"Wow... sounds like your boss has had quite the legendary life. It's no wonder The Obsidian is doing so well."

She turned to face him, resting on

his lap. A

the same time, she rested her chin on his shoulder. His

wandering hands occasioneved

caused her speech to hitch.

Eventually, his hand stopped moving.

He suddenly said, "The girl who saved his life he found her."

Grace's lashes fluttered. Someone had once deceived him with a fake, and yet he had found the real one himself. Perhaps it was destined to be.

A smile tugged at her lips. "So... did they end up together?"

"No. Things ended badly between them."

What? It sounded like the beginning of a romantic tale. Why did it end badly?

Sensing her interest, his hand began softly tracing her back as he spoke.

"By the time he found her, it was already too late. She had someone else. That

man... a lot happened in between. It's too much to explain."

Grace leaned down and bit his shoulder. "You sure know a lot."

"It's all hearsay."

She felt she'd soaked long enough and got up to leave, only to feel something pressing against her.

"Ed... you still have a fever."

"Mhm."

She reached out and touched his forehead. Because of the steam, it was slick

with sweat and burning hot.

"Wait until you're better, okay?" she suggested.

"Grace."

"Yeah?"

"All the time I have with you now... is borrowed."

Her heart ached sharply. She instantly realized he was in a bad mood today. He

had been down and gloomy the entire time.

She rushed to comfort him. "It's not

that I don't like you. I just worry.

Ine

about your health. Ed, when you

get

so sensitive all the time, it gets a bit

tiring for me."

Suddenly, his grip on her waist released, and she heard him rise from the water.

"Ed?"

The place fell completely silent.

Frustrated, she tore off her blindfold, only to find the area empty.

He had left just like that, leaving her there alone.

That waiter sure had a temper.

She felt angry but helpless at the same time.