Chapter 242 Grace, Don't Go!
Grace wasn't having it.
Henry's blue eyes zeroed in on the rose she was holding. "Did Mr. Wright send that?" he asked, sounding all cool and detached.
Grace had bought the flower herself, but she wasn't about to admit it. "Whoever sent it, it's got nothing to do with you, Mr. Montague," she shot back, just as cool.
The mention of "Mr. Montague" made Henry's eyes darken. He kept staring at Grace but spoke to Sawyer in the front seat, "Sawyer, ask Ms. Windsor to get in the car."
The tension between them was thick, making Sawyer feel super awkward. But he sucked it up and got out of the car to invite her. "It's snowing like crazy! Please get in the car, or Mr. Montague might get mad at me."
Sawyer's eyes were sincere; he had a way of getting through to Grace.
Grace got in the car. Inside, it was roomy and dim. They sat next to each other in silence for what felt like forever.
Sawyer broke the silence. "I'll drive slow in this snow; safety first."
Grace stayed quiet, her face turned to the window, watching the snowy world outside. The bright snow contrasted sharply with the dim car interior. She was lost in her thoughts.
Out of nowhere, Henry grabbed her hand. She turned to look at him.
Henry's face was blank, like he wasn't even aware he was holding her hand. When she looked over, his grip tightened. Despite his lack of emotion, the situation felt oddly ambiguous, given their deep familiarity as a married couple.
Grace didn't say anything either. She yanked her hand away and went back to staring out the window. The snowflakes danced, blending the sky and earth into one.
"Did Landon send the flowers?" Henry asked again.
Grace turned to face him. They were so close they could smell each other's scents—Henry's faint aftershave mixed with Grace's light perfume, creating a unique atmosphere.
But she was clear-headed. She looked into Henry's eyes and asked softly, "Are we going to replay that cycle? I invest myself, only for you to claim distress and shut me out of your world. Henry, this is futile."
Grace's voice dropped. "Feelings shouldn't swing back and forth like a pendulum."
At this point, she felt genuinely sad for their relationship and their marriage. Grace had been the one doing all the chasing with Henry, but wasn't it every woman's wish to feel chosen with certainty?
It was he who didn't want it, he who lacked the courage to love; and she was just tired of it.
Even in the dim car, Henry saw the tears at the corner of her eyes. He didn't ask about the flowers anymore. He looked at Grace with a gentle gaze, like a husband looking at his wife, and told her not to cry.
He asked her, "Are you starting a new life?"
Grace's eyes were red. She looked outside and softly said, "Yes."
After that, they didn't say a word. He didn't try to hold her hand again either. They just sat there, waiting to reach their destination, or maybe just waiting for the end of their relationship.
The sky eventually darkened.
Streetlights flickered on, casting a soft glow into the car, making their faces even harder to read.
Finally, the luxury car pulled up in front of Grace's villa.
The snow kept falling, covering the car's hood in white.
As Grace got out, Henry instinctively grabbed her hand. Her gaze was calm, almost distant.
Henry let go and handed her a cashmere scarf. "You forgot this."
Grace took it, thanked him softly, and walked away.
Henry stayed in the car, watching her walk through the snow with the rose. He asked Sawyer quietly, "Did I bother her?"
Sawyer quickly replied, "No way! Mr. Montague, you never used to say stuff like this."
Henry smiled faintly. "I never used to be like this either."
He sat up straight, his handsome face barely visible in the dim light. "Let's go back."
The snow started on Christmas Eve and didn't let up until New Year's Day.
New Year's Day was supposed to be a time for celebration. But Henry came down with a high fever that wouldn't break. The housekeeper called Celeste. When Celeste saw how bad he was, she immediately called Lucas.
By the time Lucas arrived, Henry was burning up, barely conscious.
Lucas gave Henry a fever-reducing shot and some meds. While waiting, he called the nurse, Mia, to ask about Henry's usual condition.
Mia, scared of getting in trouble, spilled everything.
Mia said, "This week, Mr. Montague has been pushing himself in rehab! I tried to advise him, but Dr. Fitzwilliam,, you know how stubborn he is. How am I supposed to get through to him?"
Lucas didn't blame Mia and told her to leave.
Once she was gone, Celeste asked anxiously, "What's wrong with Mr. Montague?"
Lucas packed up his medical kit and said calmly, "It's a matter of the heart."
Henry was too strong-willed. He desperately wanted to stand up again, to have Grace back. His impatience had worn him out.
After Lucas finished speaking, he looked at Celeste and smiled.
Celeste immediately understood and felt sad. "Why does he do this?! When Grace was with him, he didn't want her. Now that she's gone, he misses her."
Lucas smiled helplessly. "Because of man's pride."
At that moment, the bedroom door opened.
Aurora came in with a bowl of herbal medicine. Seeing Lucas, she looked a bit uneasy. She had previously misunderstood Lucas as Neil's child and had said some harsh things, causing Heather a lot of trouble.
Compared to Aurora, Lucas was much more composed.
Lucas was about to leave when Henry, lying on the bed, suddenly started talking in his sleep. He murmured a name. At first, it was unclear, but then it became more urgent and clear.
"Grace."
"Grace, don't go."