Chapter 116 A Woman Whose Heart Has Turned Cold Won't Be Swayed
Henry sat for a while until Grace was out of sight.
The car was dimly lit. He leaned against the leather seat in his formal wear, looking cold and elegant.
The driver was silent too. After a bit, he cautiously asked, "Mr. Montague, are we heading back to the villa?"
Henry was about to answer when his phone rang. It was Aurora.
Henry answered, his tone cold, "What is it?"
At the Montague Manor, Aurora, in a fancy robe, lounged on a brocade sofa, holding photos of Henry and Grace in a car, with Grace holding a dog.
Aurora questioned, "You divorced Grace. Why stay close? What will people think? What about the socialites wanting to marry into the Montague family?"
Henry shifted but stayed silent.
Thinking he was hesitating, Aurora continued, "I like Esme the most among the socialites. She's as good as Grace in background and looks. Henry, what are you waiting for? The Montague Group needs a Mrs. Montague."
Henry's tone was icy. "No feelings for her!"
He rubbed his forehead, voice even colder, "I told you, stay out of my private life!"
Aurora was furious, "I'm your mother! You care for Grace doesn't work now. A woman whose heart has turned cold will not be swayed; remarriage is off the table."
Henry was about to respond when there was a commotion on the other end.
"Mrs. Aurora Montague, Mrs. Seraphina Montague heard your call and fainted! She needs to go to the hospital!"
Late at night, At the VIP ward of the Montague Group's Hospital.
Seraphina had regained consciousness but refused to speak or eat.
Aurora sensed Seraphina was making things difficult for her.
Aurora didn't want to stay either. She stood up, adjusted her clothes, and said to Henry, "You stay and take care of your grandmother! I'll come back in the morning."
Henry sat in a single sofa by the bed, his suit jacket draped over the back. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands forming a pyramid, looking indifferent.
He responded with a light "hmm" without getting up.
Aurora, used to his cold demeanor, forced a smile and left the hospital.
As soon as she left, the door to the ward slowly closed.
Seraphina, who had been lying on the bed, suddenly came to life. She pounded Henry's shoulder, scolding him, "How could you divorce Grace without a word? Do you still care about me? Grace is so good, and you just bully her!"
Still not satisfied, Seraphina hit him a few more times, "I don't care, go get her back now, kneel and apologize, beg her to come back!"
Henry endured the beating and scolding.
When Seraphina calmed down, he spoke, voice hoarse, "I hurt her! She might never forgive me, might never come back!"
Seraphina's eyes were sharp, "What did you do to her?"
Henry was stunned. The things he did to Grace were too shameful to speak of.
Could he tell Seraphina that he had a group of psychologists studying Grace? Could he tell her what he did to Grace in the study that night? Could he say that in a critical moment, he chose to protect Elodie, causing Grace to lose her dreams?
He couldn't say any of it because each of these things was enough for Grace to leave him forever.
Henry fell silent, lost in memories.
Seeing his silence, Seraphina grew anxious and slapped his hand hard. "If you wronged her, go get her back! What if someone else pursues Grace while you delay?"
As the night deepened, Henry's heart grew heavier.
At Skysoar Tower, a prime location, there was a roughly 2,000 square feet shop under renovation by a famous and expensive company. It was perfect for a dessert business.
Juniper and Grace were inspecting it together. Juniper calculated and exclaimed, "The annual rent is $300,000, and the renovation costs $800,000. Grace, this shop's annual revenue is at most $3 million. How long will it take us to recoup the costs?"
Grace gently touched the wall and said softly, "This shop isn't meant to make money! I want to use it to build a reputation, then attract franchises. Once we have a name, the franchise shops won't need such a prime location or large space, reducing costs significantly! But the quality must not drop! We must control that."
Juniper nodded, though she didn't understand much about business.
As they were talking, a taxi stopped at the entrance, and Seraphina got out, holding a large rosewood jewelry box.
Seeing Grace, whom she adored, Seraphina's nose tingled with emotion.
She blamed Henry in her heart, 'How could Henry be a good husband? He doesn't even give enough money after the divorce, and he lets Grace work so hard outside. I should have dealt with him more forcefully last night!'
Seeing Seraphina, Grace was stunned. It took her a while to come to her senses and help Seraphina, "Mrs. Montague, what brings you here?"
Seraphina held her hand, tears streaming down her face, "You kept it from me! You still kept it from me! Henry admitted it, you two are divorced, right? What did he do to make you two come to this?"
Grace didn't want to talk about the past.
She wanted to send Seraphina back, but Seraphina refused. She pushed the jewelry box into Grace's arms, wiped her tears, and said, "I'm old, I don't know when I'll die! These things, I don't want them to go to Henry's mother, and they are a token of my affection for you."
Grace gently opened the box.
Inside was a set of necklaces, a complete set of pink diamonds, a top-grade ruby set, and other dazzling, priceless pieces. The box alone was worth at least $300 million.
Juniper was shocked. 'This is called a token of affection?'
She looked at Grace, thinking no woman could refuse this! But Grace closed the box and said softly, "Mrs. Montague, I can't accept these! I'll call Henry to come and take you back."
It wasn't that she wanted to see Henry, but she knew Seraphina wouldn't leave unless Henry came.
Sure enough, Seraphina agreed, "Let Henry come and get me!"
At the hospital, Henry was furious.
In the vast private hospital, in a VIP special ward, Seraphina had managed to run away!
Henry was fuming when his phone rang. To his surprise, it was Grace calling.
Henry stared at the phone for a few seconds, then walked to the window and answered, his voice low and gentle, "Is there something you need?"
Grace told him, "Mrs. Montague is with me. Can you come and get her?"
Henry sighed in relief.
When he spoke again, his tone was noticeably softer, "Please look after her for me. I'll be there soon. Send me the location."
Grace agreed and hung up.
Henry got into the car, and Grace sent him the location at Skysoar Tower.
He looked at it for a while, his long fingers unconsciously scrolling up to their last chat a month ago.
A few brief words, very plain, just like their marriage over the past few years. He couldn't help but feel sad.