Chapter 101
“Come on. Let’s step outside. There’s something I need to talk to you about,” Ethan said.
Grace jerked her hand away from his.
Yancey’s brow twitched, then his mouth curled into a smirk. “Liam filled me in. He said you’ve been all messed up over my wedding and that I should keep an eye on you. Grace, you’re a grown adult. Can’t you deal with this like everyone else?”
Grace drew a slow breath. Somehow, she could sense Ethan’s eyes on her. They were not warm, just piercing-like he was studying her.
“Are you done? Don’t flatter yourself. You think I’d lose it just because you’re getting married? What kind of delusion is that?”
But Yancey was sure her recent behavior was just her being overwhelmed. Before she could react, he pulled her close by the waist.
“That’s it. After your shift, we’re going to see a psychiatrist,” he said.
Grace snapped. She kneed him right where it hurt most.
Yancey hunched over in agony, his face going pale as he cried out, “Grace!”
Grace felt the tension drain from her body, only to freeze when her gaze met Ethan’s. She had just made a scene with Yancey in front of the Hendersons. There was no way Ethan was fine with that.
“Mr. Henderson, it wasn’t intentional. I just…”
Ethan had a presence like no one else. Any excuse would sound flimsy under his stare.
He finally broke eye contact, his gaze lowering as he said, “Go clean the records room for the day.”
That was her sentence, but at least it was just the records room. She bobbed her head. “I’m on it. Right away.”
After stepping out of the office, Grace headed straight for Henderson Group’s records room.
Once she was gone, only Ethan and Yancey remained in the office. Yancey, his face pale, pushed himself upright, still grasping for a way to take a jab at her. “Ethan, I’ll take her to a psychiatrist later. She might actually be losing it,” he said.
Ethan kept his eyes on the documents before him and asked flatly, “You really think you’re the reason?”
That same ridiculous thought surfaced again in Yancey’s mind. Something in the question must have triggered it. Before he could stop himself, the words were out. “I slept with Grace.”
Silence dropped over the room, absolute and suffocating, like someone had hit the mute button on the world.
Yancey couldn’t bring himself to look at Ethan, whose presence felt crushing. But his pride wouldn’t let him back down.
“We were childhood sweethearts, and things got intense between us. I failed her.” He added, his fists clenching and his fingers trembling, “Ethan, you’re visiting Eleanor today, aren’t you?”
The question served as a pointed reminder that Ethan had best keep the Yule family’s heiress, Eleanor, in mind.
Yancey’s heart hammered inexplicably in his chest. Ethan was Druville’s most distinguished man. There was no way he’d settle for Grace now that she was ruined.
Yancey didn’t mean to speak of Grace so crudely, but the bitter thoughts spilled out before he could stop them.
The silence stretched between them until Ethan finally broke it. “A man who respected her wouldn’t use those words.”
The simple statement spoke volumes about their differing character.
Yancey struggled to meet Ethan’s gaze but clenched his jaw and held his ground.
“Just making things clear, Ethan. Grace was mine once.”
“Get out,” Ethan muttered.
He didn’t even look up from his paperwork as he spoke in a flat tone. He was unfazed as if nothing Yancey had said mattered.
For a moment, Yancey wondered if he had read too much into things. Ethan and Grace? Impossible. But once outside, a sick feeling twisted in his gut, and his face went ashen.
A bitter idea took root-maybe Grace ending up with Hendricks was for the best.