Regret Came Too Late (Grace and Ethan) novel Chapter 393

Outside, the snow kept falling. In the distance, the landscape was nothing but rubble, and beyond that, an endless stretch of bleak gray sky.

Ethan's fingers stayed locked with hers; the heat of his skin was a smoldering presence she couldn't ignore.

Grace didn't have it in her to be cruel—not when he asked so quietly to just be allowed this.

The minutes dragged painfully, and his fever only worsened.

Eventually, she couldn't sit still any longer. She reached for the bottle of water, ready to coax him into drinking again.

His eyes fluttered open—glazed, foggy, as if he wasn't sure where he was.

"Mr. Bennett's gone, Mr. Henderson. Let's head back first. Even if there's no medicine, lying down will be better than staying here," she reasoned.

Instead of responding, Ethan slowly dragged his tie, his movements sluggish from the fever.

Grace quickly pressed her hand against his chest to stop him and re-fastened the tie.

Normally, he was all sharp lines and strict precision, never leaving a button undone.

Grace lowered her eyes, fingers deftly tying the knot. She decided she wouldn't wait for Tim anymore—she would get Ethan back herself.

Just then, Ethan's scalding hand closed over hers.

"We're not going back," he rasped, his voice wrecked by the fever. "There are magnolias nearby… did you know?"

Grace had no clue where they were, only realizing more and more that he was completely out of it.

"Alright, magnolias. If you want to see them, I'll go pick some for you," she said, playing along.

But his eyes lit up instantly, hope flashing through the fevered haze.

"What?" he said, surprised.

Grace blinked in disbelief—seriously? In this frozen wasteland?

"Mr. Henderson…"

She was about to gloss it over, but he suddenly dropped her hand, staring bleakly out the window.

"Go find it," he insisted.

Grace stared at his side profile—his damp hair clung to his forehead; even the corners of his eyes seemed misty, his cheeks flushed a sickly red.

She drew in a slow breath, pushed open the car door, and said, "I'll look. But if I can't find any in ten minutes, I'm coming back. You're too sick to be left alone."

With his eyes half-closed, he gave a faint, weary smile as he hummed a soft reply.

The snow was falling fast now, blanketing everything in white.

Each step Grace took crunched softly underfoot.

She walked toward the woods, but after a few paces, worry tugged her back.

She headed back to the car and tapped lightly on the window.

Ethan slowly rolled it down. His face was still flushed with the fever, and his hair whipped around from the cold wind.

Grace had planned to fake it—wander a bit and grab something random to bring back.

But just one look at him shattered that plan.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify