Chapter 104 Henry, I Won't Be There to Fix You
Henry walked into the hospital room, calm as ever.
The lights were harsh, and seeing Grace and Owen hugging was a punch to the gut—he was used to having Grave's tenderness all to himself.
Unlike Henry, Owen was on edge. He gently led Grace to the bathroom and told her to stay put. Then he took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves.
Owen's movements were slow but tense, just like Henry's.
They started fighting, throwing punches like there was no tomorrow. Owen, eyes red with anger, yelled, "What did she do to deserve this? She had guys lining up for her at the music academy. She must've been blind to pick you! If you don't love her, why not divorce her? Why not set her free?"
Henry shot back coldly, "And you? Did you chase her too?"
Owen straightened his shirt and admitted, "Yes! I liked her! But before I could say anything, she married you, you jerk!"
They fought again.
Half an hour later, Owen was in the emergency room, and Henry, also badly hurt, sat motionless against the sofa. The medical staff couldn't do much for him.
The VIP room was dimly lit. Henry leaned back, legs stretched out, craving a cigarette to calm his nerves.
Henry was all over the place. He'd never felt this way before, not even with the toughest projects at work. Only Grace could make him feel this way.
Owen said he didn't love Grace, but Henry wasn't sure about his own feelings. Lately, he'd been missing their life together, her smile, and the way she played in the snow with Sherry.
Henry once thought he'd never be happy.
But after getting Grace back, their time together was sweeter than most couples'. If that wasn't happiness, what was?
Grace came out of the bathroom but didn't see Henry in the dim light.
He grabbed her ankle, his hoarse voice breaking the silence, "Grace, let's talk."
Grace didn't want to. She had nothing left to say to him. She tried to go back to bed, but Henry picked her up and gently placed her on the carpet, handling her like a rare treasure.
He sat beside her.
After a long silence, Henry spoke, his tone bitter.
"That night in the study, you said I don't know how to love."
"Maybe you're right."
"When I was six, Neil left my mom and me for another woman. He abandoned the Montague Group and me. It was raining heavily the day he left, and he didn't even look back. His leaving made my mom even more controlling."
"I was raised to be what she wanted—cold and ruthless, like a money-making machine."
"Before marriage, I never liked women and had little need as a man."
"I suppressed my desires, thinking that would keep me from becoming like Neil—heartless and unfaithful."
Henry gently hugged Grace and softly pleaded, "Grace, you want to leave me, but I don't want to let go. Please, give me another chance. This time, I'll learn to love and respect you."
After three years of marriage and countless trials, he was finally opening up to her. But it was too late.
Grace leaned against the sofa, staring blankly at the night outside. After a long pause, she turned to him with a faint smile, "Henry, you're messed up, but I won't be there to fix you."
Henry's face went pale.
In the darkness, she couldn't see his injuries, nor did she care. His actions had already killed their relationship.
The night was silent. Henry sat on the sofa, letting the doctor treat him. Grace quietly leaned against the bed, holding a concert ticket Owen had brought her.
The first classical music concert in Harmony City was supposed to be her debut.
Grace kept staring at the ticket, unable to let go. It wasn't just her dream; it was also the Windsor family's hope, destroyed by Henry.
He still hoped they could reconcile and be a loving couple again. How ridiculous!
Late at night, Henry stood at the end of the corridor, smoking. The wind tore apart the thin smoke.
The ashtray in front of him was filled with cigarette butts, but it didn't ease his restless mood. He could feel Grace's despair, signaling the end of their road.
But he still didn't want to let go. He was selfish, right?
Behind him, a familiar voice called out, cautious and timid, "Mr. Montague!"
Henry didn't dislike Elodie initially, but her greed and entanglement had cost Grace her dream and ended his marriage. Now, he felt disgust.
He didn't turn around and kept smoking.
Elodie looked at him, feeling both moved and reluctant, "I'm going abroad for treatment tomorrow, Mr. Montague. Will you come to see me off? I want to see you one last time."
"No," Henry stubbed out his cigarette and said calmly, "I'll say it again, I have no interest in you."
Elodie trembled. "I don't believe it! Clearly that day—"
Henry walked up to her, bent down, and looked her in the eyes. She could smell the faint tobacco scent on him, which she was infatuated with.
Henry stared into her eyes and spoke harshly, "Elodie, what are you trying to prove? If you really want to know, I'll tell you. I've never had any fantasies about you, nor have I ever wanted you. It's always been pity, understand?"
Elodie's eyes filled with tears, looking disbelieving.
He bluntly said, "I don't want to sleep with you! I've never been interested!"
Finally, Elodie burst into tears.
Henry quickly left, his face expressionless. He thought of what Grace had said, "Henry, you're messed up, but I won't be there to fix you."
Indeed, he had always suppressed himself, and Aurora had sent Grace to his hotel room.
Grace's young and beautiful body satisfied his needs and unleashed his beastly nature. It was never that Grace couldn't leave him, but that he wouldn't let go.
Because Henry couldn't give up his medicine. Grace was the cure in his life, appearing unexpectedly and leaving like peeling an onion, pulling his heart into a dull ache.