Regret Came Too Late

Grace was already up by 5:00 am the following day. She sat down and quickly sorted through every strength and weakness Lambert Group had, compiling over 80 pages of a detailed report.

The deeper she dug, the more natural it all felt like smuscle memory she hadn't even realized she had.

She thought briefly about the professional certificates she had found tucked away in her files. Sof them were among the hardest credentials to earn in the global finance world. What had she been doing before she lost her memory? The thought flickered through her mind, but she shoved it aside, focusing back on the report. At the rate things were going, the company might survive another two years, max. In that time, she would have to catch the next big wave, land the right projects, and push the company to new heights.

Otherwise, even a miracle wouldn't be enough to save it.

She had barely arrived at the office when her phone buzzed. It was Selene calling.

"Damien is giving a talk at Druville College soon," Selene said. "The next five years are all about Al. There's a genius coming out of Druville College's Al program, and every major company is trying to recruit him. Are you thinking about making a move?" It lined up perfectly with Lambert Group's business. They made consumer electronics, but sales had been steadily falling. The company just couldn't keep up with the times.

Most of the executives were out-of-touch relics, and all the current product lines- TVs, air conditioners, you nit were outdated models. The only people still buying them were from the older generation.

Smart homes, Al-driven devices, and hrobots were the future. Landing an Al prodigy could change everything.

Selene's voice cagain over the line. "Didn't Liam study this stuff?" At the mention of Liam, Grace's heart dimmed.

Selene immediately realized she had said the wrong thing. Everyone in their circle knew the Lambert family was struggling. Grace's nwas too well-known in the industry. Most people were just waiting for her to fall flat on her face. "Grace-" Selene was about to say something comforting when Grace cut her off. "I'll check out Druville College." Hearing that spark of determination, Selene finally relaxed.

It was still early, so after hanging up, Grace got in her car and headed toward Druville College. But as luck would have it, just as she was approaching Druville College, Ethan's car crashed into hers.

She was already annoyed and ready to step out and confront the driver until she saw the familiar license plate. For a second, it was like her whole body locked up, and her nerves grew tense.

Hadn't she promised Ethan she'd treat him to dinner once the land deal was settled? But then Jodie got involved and stirred up all kinds of trouble. Her frustration with him made her forget that promise completely.

Technically, the car behind was at fault, but she had no intention of arguing. She turned to head back into her car when the rear window slowly rolled down.

At that point, pretending not to see him wasn't an option anymore. She braced herself and walked over.

"Mr. Henderson, what a coincidence. You're headed to Druville College too?" She was a graduate of Druville College herself, though after the memory loss, she couldn't even recall what she had majored in.

Ethan's gaze landed on her face. She couldn't tell if it was just her imagination, but every ttheir eyes met, it felt like he was holding something back it seemed to simmer just beneath the surface.

"Yeah." That was all he said at first. Then, he added, "How much should I pay you?" He was asking about the damage car compensation.

Grace thought about the five million dollars he had given her before. Then, she thought about the beating she received from Jodie.

Her lips curled into a smile that wasn't quite genuine as she said, "Five million dollars." She was obviously joking.

She didn't expect him to pull out his checkbook without missing a beat, scribble down a number, and hand the check over like it was nothing. It all happened so fast that she almost didn't react in time.

He lifted his gaze, his voice as cool as ever as he asked, "I that n©tM enough There was no way someone like Ethan didn't know what her car was worth. Was he just... playing dumb by letting himself be overcharged? Grace wasn't one to act coy. If he wanted to be a generous sucker, she wasn't going to argue. She took the check without hesitation. "That's enough."

She was flat-out broke. So, the moment she had that Check in hand, her attitude switched instantly.

"Mr. Henderson, you're headed to Druville College too? Once things wrap up, do you want to grab a bite? Jenson Group had long been a sponsor of Druville College, and so had Henderson Group. With Damien giving a talk, it wasn't surprising for Ethan to show up as well. Still, for someone like him to actually leave the house was rare.

The media had been trying to get a word out of him for years with no luck.

"Alright." It was a single-word response again. Then the window rolled up slow and deliberate.

Grace stood outside for a moment, stunned. She had stepped out of the car, made a few casual remarks, and walked away five million richer? Getting money from Ethan was almost too easy.