Chapter 200 Their Love and Hatred Would Completely Disappear!
Back in Tranquil Heights, Henry and Grace had a laid-back and enjoyable month together. They took care of Taylor and sometimes, when Henry had social events to attend, he'd bring Grace along. They looked like a real couple.
Neither Henry nor Grace brought up the bad stuff. They were trying to forget, maybe 'cause they knew these were their last days together.
Henry once said he had to work late, but every night, he'd rush back before Taylor hit the sack. He'd bathe her, wrap her in a bathrobe, snuggle her in a blanket, and let her crash in his arms. Under the dim light, he'd tell her fairy tales until she zonked out.
After Taylor was out cold, Henry would hit the study to grind on work. By the time he was done, it'd be like one or two in the morning, and Grace and Taylor would already be out.
Just lying next to them made him happy.
But good times didn't last forever.
The day before the surgery, Henry ditched the office. He spent the whole day with Taylor.
In the quiet night, Taylor fell asleep, all cozy in Henry's arms, breathing softly. Henry gently stroked her hair, never getting enough of her little face.
After tomorrow, he might never hold her like this again. His heart was heavy, but he had no regrets.
Grace, awake as well, lay on the other side, quietly watching Taylor.
She softly asked Henry, "Is the surgery risky?"
Henry reached out and gently held her hand.
After a moment, he said softly, "I got Lucas to do the surgery. It's been simulated a bunch of times; there won't be any risk."
The surgery consent form he signed said that if anything went wrong, he'd ditch his own treatment to save Taylor.
Lucas was cool with it.
After Henry finished talking, he turned to look at Grace, at her beautiful face under the dim light.
This month, with all the surgery prep, they hadn't hooked up, not even once!
Henry never brought it up, and naturally, Grace didn't either.
But right now, Henry wanted to be close to her one last time because in less than 10 hours, he might never hold her again, see her, or feel her warmth.
Henry made the first move. He turned over and gently kissed Grace. At the same time, he turned off the only light.
In the dim light, Grace opened her eyes, looking into his deep eyes.
She didn't push him away but stayed quiet. Even when it felt good, even at the most intense moments, she just buried her face in the soft pillow, holding back the feelings Henry brought her.
Henry made love to her twice. Afterward, he lay beside her, both of them sweaty and tangled up. Henry whispered in her ear, saying he wanted to talk.
Grace, half-asleep, realized they were about to part ways.
Taylor's illness would be cured, and they wouldn't need to be together anymore, nor would they need to have a kid. But just now, they didn't use protection.
Henry kissed her, from her ear to her chin, whispering softly, "Say something, anything."
At this moment, they each had their own sadness.
Grace thought they were parting in life; she never imagined they might be parting in death. This night was their last night of intimacy.
After this night, Henry would go to the operating table, and he might never come back.
Their love and hate would completely disappear!
After reuniting, for the first time, she made the first move.
Grace snuggled into his arms like any regular couple, chatting about everyday stuff. She softly told Henry, "Juniper and Brent's wedding is set for the end of the year. By then, Taylor will be better. I can take her to Vesper City for the wedding. I'm thinking about what gift to give Juniper."
Henry didn't say anything. He just gently stroked her sweat-dampened hair, soaking in the moment of peace.
Grace didn't want to mess it up either. When she spoke again, her voice was a bit tense. She asked Henry, "Are you gonna go? I heard from Juniper that you and Brent have had some business dealings recently."
Henry lowered his head, his gaze deep. "Do you want me to go?"
Grace didn't answer directly. She gently touched his handsome features but brought up Amara's family. "Mrs. Young is also going. She's always had a good relationship with Brent. I also heard that Mr. Young recently wanted to remarry, but Mrs. Young didn't agree."
Grace rambled on, and eventually, she fell silent.
Henry asked hoarsely, "Why'd you stop? I like listening."
Grace lay lightly in Henry's arms. She had too many unbearable things in mind, too many things she couldn't say. Just saying one word, she felt she would be beyond redemption.
Grace suppressed her feelings. She constantly told herself that she didn't want Henry, that she didn't dare to love him again.
Henry knew this. They had been married for years, and he was a mature man. How could he not know Grace's thoughts? Besides, when they had sex, it was consensual.
If Grace really didn't like it, she wouldn't have agreed. Henry didn't say it either because he couldn't give Grace a future.
In the dead of night, when Grace was also asleep, he lay beside Grace and Taylor, his eyes deep as the sea, filled with a longing for the moment.
Henry wished time could stop.
He wished time could forever stay in this moment, so he would have the courage to say, "Grace, let's start over!"
Henry so desperately wanted to have her again! But he couldn't.
Henry couldn't sleep, tossing and turning.
He quietly got up to get some fresh air, but as he passed the living room, he saw the little bear that Neil had given Taylor.
Henry picked it up, looking at it expressionlessly for a long time.
Finally, he changed his clothes and drove out alone in the middle of the night. The black Bentley sped through the empty streets, stopping about half an hour later in front of an old apartment building.
Neil resided here. Middle-aged, he led a very impoverished life.
He worked in the mailroom of a company, earning a meager salary. But this salary was barely enough for his health needs, sometimes not even enough for medical expenses.
Henry knocked on the door in the middle of the night.
The autumn night was cold. Neil came to the door, thinking it was the landlord because he had no friends or family. No one else would come looking for him.
But standing at the door was his son, Henry.
Neil's refined face was pale, and he spoke with difficulty, "Why are you here at this hour? Come in, it's windy outside!"
Henry looked at him deeply.
After a while, he walked into the small, shabby apartment, roughly 400 square feet, with nothing of value, but plenty of books.
Neil was very nervous. He cleared a spot on the sofa for Henry to sit.
"I'll get some water," Neil said.
Henry didn't refuse. He watched Neil walk into the small kitchen, not very agilely handling the kettle. Perhaps because of the night wind, Neil coughed occasionally.
Henry suddenly asked, "Why don't you get treatment?"