Chapter 111 Henry Regrets the Divorce
When Grace came downstairs, she bumped into Celeste.
Celeste was on the sofa in the hall, looking tired like she'd been waiting a while.
Seeing Grace, she stood up and said, "Mrs. Montague!"
Grace paused and said softly, "I just signed the divorce papers with Henry. I'm not Mrs. Montague anymore."
Celeste looked disappointed. She hesitated but said, "Mr. Montague cares about you! He and Elodie aren't serious. Grace, do you want to reconsider? You've been through so much together."
Grace glanced at the bandage on her arm and murmured, "Yeah, we've been through a lot. And now it's all gone."
Celeste felt sad, too.
Grace was already heading out. She walked with determination. She had said she didn't want to stay and be Henry's cure.
Celeste watched her leave until she was out of sight, then slowly went upstairs.
The lights on the second floor were bright, and the long corridor felt oppressive.
Celeste found Henry in the living room.
He was leaning on the sofa, staring at the divorce papers on the table. Without looking up, he said, "Have lawyer Clayton Saunders handle this agreement ASAP. Also, file the equity transfer documents for the shareholders' meeting tomorrow."
Henry was calm, but there was a hint of loneliness.
Celeste couldn't help but say, "Mr. Montague!"
Henry leaned back, his voice hoarse. "Am I really letting her go just like that?"
Celeste didn't dare respond.
Henry slowly opened his eyes, staring at the chandelier above, a tear glistening in the corner of his eye.
He thought, he couldn't bear to let her go, but he shouldn't regret it.
Just as Grace said, for someone like him, power and influence were everything. So why regret? Taking back the equity and pushing forward with that billion-dollar project was the right move, wasn't it?
But his heart felt empty.
They officially completed the divorce a week later.
With Henry's connections, it was handled quickly. The staff finished the paperwork in two minutes, thinking it was a shame—they looked so perfect together.
After finalizing the divorce, Grace heard Henry say, "Congrats, you're free!"
Grace forced a smile, didn't reply, and got up to leave. Henry lightly grabbed her hand. "I'll take you."
Since they were divorced, she didn't see a reason to ride with him and said, "I'll take a cab."
Henry didn't let go, his eyes intense. "One last time. I won't do anything, I promise."
It was still that black Bentley.
She sat in the passenger seat, but as he said, it was the last time.
The car was suffused with the icy breeze that had swept in, mirroring the chill in their failed marriage, leaving no warmth.
Through the window, Grace saw light snow falling. She vaguely remembered that night in the study, the multiple snowfalls this year, and how this winter felt especially long and cold. Her eyes welled up.
Henry held the steering wheel but didn't start the car for a while.
Finally, he turned and said softly, "Sherry's been looking for you."
Grace turned away. "Drive."
Henry looked straight ahead, then started the car. He drove slowly, the black Bentley moving through the light snow, taking them past scenes they had never seen together.
In three years of marriage, they had missed so much.
Now separated, looking back, they couldn't remember many sweet moments; only hurt and deceit remained.
A 20-minute drive took Henry an hour.
But no matter how slow, the road had an end. Finally, the car stopped at her place. Henry turned to her and softly said, "We're here."
Grace nodded, got out of the car.
Henry's fingers curled on the steering wheel, but he didn't stop her. He watched her walk to the elevator and disappear.
In front of the car, the windshield wipers blurred his vision.
After a long time, he took out a small box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was Grace's wedding ring, its light reflecting off the one on his finger.
Yes, even though they were divorced, he still hadn't taken off his wedding ring.
Henry stared at the ring for a long time. The phone in the glove compartment rang; it was Celeste. Her tone was all business. "Mr. Montague, the project kickoff meeting starts in half an hour."
Henry replied, "Got it."
The Montague Group's new project launched successfully, raking in huge profits and making many companies envious.
Henry went back to his old workaholic self, working late every night. Over time, Celeste thought marriage had become insignificant to him.
Celeste believed Henry was different from ordinary men. For him, emotions were just a splash of color in life; power and wealth were his main focus.
A week later, the Montague Group held a celebration banquet for the project team.
At eleven that night, Celeste was helping a very drunk Henry out of an upscale club. His steps were unsteady, and she kept reminding him to watch his step.
In the parking lot, they couldn't find the driver's car. While Celeste was busy making calls, she turned to see Henry slapping the hood of a black Cullinan, making a loud noise.
Inside the car was Felix, with a girl who looked somewhat like Grace at first glance.
Henry was banging on the hood, shouting, "Get out! Felix, get out! Grace is my wife!"
Celeste tried to pull him back, but Henry was too strong.
Felix got out of the car, cursing, "Who isn't your wife! And even if Grace is in my car and dating me, so what? Is she your wife? Didn't you get divorced?"
Henry stepped back, panting, staring at Felix.
Felix called him crazy.
Felix pointed at Henry and said, "Yeah, Henry, I can't compete with you in business because you're ruthless! Shouldn't you be proud? The billion-dollar project is about to launch! What the Cavendish family needed a marriage for, you did all by yourself! Shouldn't you be happy? Why are you drowning your sorrows in alcohol? Why are you coming to me for a wife?"
"Are you afraid Grace will be with someone else?"
"Then why did you get divorced? If I were you, if I really loved her, I'd drag her down with me for life! Since you chose your career, stop pretending to be so sentimental!"
Felix ranted on.
Just then, Henry's driver arrived. Henry coldly looked at Felix, then went back to the car, grabbed a small hammer, and started smashing Felix's million-dollar car.
Felix pulled the girl out of the car.
He didn't stop Henry; he just watched him go crazy. When the car was thoroughly wrecked, he sneered, "Henry, you still dare to say you don't love her? If this isn't love, what is it? You're a coward, only admitting to yourself after drinking that you can't live without her, that you'll go crazy without her!"
He then said to Celeste, "No one but Grace can keep this mad dog in check!"
Celeste gave a bitter smile, "The check will be sent to your company tomorrow, Mr. Rodriguez."
Felix quickly left with the girl.
Celeste went to support Henry. Wearing a coat and holding the small hammer, he took two steps back, looking at the wrecked car. He suddenly covered his face with one hand and said softly, "She said she didn't want to stay and be my cure."
Celeste was about to comfort him but noticed the company's middle and senior management nearby, all watching Henry.
They were surprised. The most popular version of the story of Mr. Montague's divorce was that he got bored and had a new lover, so he divorced Mrs. Montague. Only after witnessing this scene did they realize it wasn't like that!
It turned out Henry was dumped! It turned out Grace didn't want Henry anymore, and he was now heartbroken, even going crazy!
With a glance from Celeste, those people took a detour.
In the car taking Henry back, Celeste occasionally looked in the rearview mirror. Henry leaned against the back seat, his head slightly tilted back, not saying a word. He seemed to have sobered up.
Celeste wanted to say something but couldn't. As a woman, she knew it wasn't easy for Grace to get this divorce. Since she had jumped out, why get back together?
Slowly, Henry would forget too.
In the dead of night, the shiny black luxury car drove into the villa. As soon as the car stopped, the servant opened the door and exclaimed, "Mr. Montague has been drinking!"
Henry's Adam's apple moved slightly, just about to speak, when a small snowball jumped into his arms—it was Sherry!
That little one, with a soft body, jumped into his arms, her bright black eyes full of innocence, just like a little girl.
Henry suddenly remembered what he had said to Grace.
He said, "Grace, let's have a child."
He said he wanted to be a father, he wanted a daughter, so that when he came home from work, his daughter would run over and hug his leg, asking to be picked up by daddy.
Henry hugged Sherry, slowly burying his head in the dog's fur. He had sobered up, but the feelings couldn't be salvaged.