Grace scoffed. "Do you even realize who Ethan Henderson is?"


    Carmen''s face flushed. Earlier, she had been swept up in Grace''s fantasy and believed that Ethan would want to court Grace.


    "I... I... Grace, please. I beg you. Alice is your sister. Just go check on her."


    Grace turned to Quentin, who was lying in bed, worry carved deep into his face. She took a deep breath. "This is thest time I''m doing this. I''m done cleaning up her mess."


    Carmen''s face turned into a deeper shade of red, but this time, she said nothing in return.


    After checking what hotel they were at, Grace gave Ethan a call when she stepped out of the building. Thinking about how he had handled Levi before, she was genuinely afraid that if she was even a minutete, Alice would be dead.


    She knew, without a doubt, that Alice had tried to drug Ethan.


    Ethan picked up the call, but he sounded breathless. He was definitely not himself.


    "Grace..."


    "I''m on my way, Mr. Henderson. Please show mercy toward Alice. We can exin. Please don''t do anything reckless."


    "Grace... My head... It''s spinning."


    So, it was true-he''d been drugged.


    Grace was in full panic mode now. If something were to happen to Ethan, not only her but the whole Lambert family would be doomed.


    Where the hell did Alice get the nerve to think that Ethan would ever want her?


    Grace went up the elevator, and when she got to the door, she saw Alice curled up in the corridor. Alice was sobbing, her clothes streaked with blood.


    Seeing that she was still alive, Grace was relieved. At least Quentin wouldn''t have to deal with the trauma of losing her.


    Without giving Alice another look, Grace pushed the door open. She did not see the terror in Alice''s eyes.


    "Mr. Henderson."


    She had barely stepped inside when something yanked her with great force. "Mr. Henderson-"


    Ethan mmed her against the door, crushing his mouth against hers. His hands were moving quickly downward, going ces that they had no business going.


    Panic shot through Grace-so much so that she pped him hard. The sound of the p was so loud that it echoed throughout the room.


    Ethan''s head jerked to the side, but he remained silent. His hands stopped moving.


    Grace''s heart pounded as she quickly stepped away and turned on the lights.


    The room was a mess. Not only were there blood stains everywhere, but a sickening sweet fragrance choked the air.


    Ethan leaned on the door frame with his head hung, lost in thought.


    Grace had spotted the gun on the coffee table. It looked like Ethan had considered taking Alice''s life, but he eventually gave up on the idea.


    "Mr. Henderson, it''s Grace. You''re not yourself right now, and I know you wouldn''t fall for a setup this pathetic. I had no choice but to p you. Once youe around you can do whatever you want to me."


    Ethan licked the blood on the corners of his mouth and raised his head to look at


    her.


    Grace had always felt like there was


    a beast locked inside him-wild,


    broken and filled with darkness.


    Seeing th


    that he was about to walk toward her, she quickly grabbed the gun. "Don''te any closer."


    Her expression was eerily calm. Then, she armed the gun.


    Ethan froze, stopping in ce.


    She didn''t want things to go this way. But if something were to happen between her and Ethan


    because of the drugs, she woul.


    have to quit her job and break up with Ed. She couldn''t hurt either of them.


    SWI


    Seeing this, Ethan paused for a moment and then slowly took a step forward. "Are


    you going to shoot me?"