Susie opened her mouth to speak, but when she looked up, Ethan was standing at the top of the stairs. His hair was damp, and he stood there silently.

She immediately shut her mouth, suddenly realizing she had said too much. She quickly turned to busy herself elsewhere.

Grace came up the stairs while holding a warm mug of milk and noticed water droplets still clinging to Ethan’s skin, his hair dripping.

“Mr. Henderson, you’ll get sick like this,” she said.

Ethan turned, moving slowly toward the bedroom door, where he leaned against the doorframe for support.

Grace set the milk on the table inside and rushed back to steady him. He didn’t pull away as she helped him inside, and together, they stepped into the room.

He was about to take a sip of the warm milk when Grace’s phone rang. It was Yancey.

Yancey had been on edge all day after leaving Henderson Group, unsettled by Ethan’s strange behavior. Unable to shake the feeling, he found himself calling Grace’s number almost without thinking.

Grace fumbled with the phone and accidentally put the call on speaker.

Yancey’s voice rang out. “Grace, if Alice and I don’t end up getting married, would you…”

Her chest tightened sharply. What was he thinking? Alice was pregnant, and now, he was talking about backing out? Fat chance!

Fearing she might lose her composure before Ethan, Grace quickly left the room with her phone in hand. Her voice was edged with urgency. “What are you talking about?”

Ethan watched her leave, his grip tightening on the mug just slightly. He looked down at the milk, saying nothing.

Grace walked down the hallway and only snapped once she was sure Ethan couldn’t hear her. “What the hell is going on with you? Alice is carrying your child, and now, you’re backing out?”

Yancey had been nursing his drinks all night as Ethan’s strange behavior gnawed at him. He hated the dark thoughts creeping in, but he needed some kind of confirmation.

“Grace, do you still care about me? You’ve been distant lately. I’m not in a good headspace and had a few drinks. Where are you?”

Grace gritted her teeth, panic rising as the thought of him actually sabotaging his own wedding took hold. She ended the call abruptly, then unblocked Alice’s number and pressed dial.

“Alice, Yancey’s drunk. You need to get him.”

Alice’s response was quick and laced with venom. “How do you know he’s drunk, Grace? Been all over Yancey again? Are you really that much of a bitch?”

Her voice cracked with fury, her lips trembling. Liam’s newfound softness toward Grace had already set her on edge, and now, it seemed like Yancey was paying her attention too.

She was losing control. She wasn’t even pregnant, for heaven’s sake. The whole thing was a scheme to get Yancey to marry her. Once everything was in place, she’d hand Grace over to Hendricks, and her job would be done.

But Yancey’s recent behavior was raising red flags. Even when they were eating together, it was clear his mind was somewhere else.

Suddenly, Alice’s face twisted into something menacing. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and let out a dry, bitter laugh.

Grace had done this to herself!

Alice inhaled sharply before saying, “You’re the reason Ethan’s legs got ruined. Do you have any idea how much the Hendersons loathe you? Grace, no matter what you do, they’ll never accept you. Even if Yancey doesn’t end up with me, you’ll never be the one he picks!”