Chapter 244 You Still Care About Me, Don't You?
Grace spotted Aurora and was instantly reminded of those dark days from the past.
She pulled her coat tighter and said coldly, "I'm here for the kids, not for you."
Aurora, hearing this, knew Grace was willing to see Henry and teared up. "I get it!"
Despite Aurora's humility, Grace stayed stone-faced.
Later, in the car, Grace kept quiet. Aurora tried to speak a few times but held back, finally sighing, "Grace, I know you hate me!"
Grace turned to look at the snowy landscape outside the window and said softly, "Those days are burned into my memory. I can't forgive you."
Aurora covered her face. Maybe it was her age or the trauma she'd been through, but she started reminiscing about when Grace was young and would greet her sweetly. She used to like Grace, but once Grace married into the family, she treated her harshly.
But the past was gone for good.
They didn't say another word.
The black limo slowly rolled through the ornate gates and stopped in front of the mansion. Grace got out first without waiting for Aurora and walked up the steps into the foyer.
This used to be Grace's home; she knew every inch of it so well she could navigate it blindfolded.
Aurora watched her hurried steps and turned to Sawyer, her voice choked with emotion. "I can see she still cares about Henry, she just won't admit it!"
Sawyer consoled, "Mrs. Montague is in a lot of pain."
Aurora wiped her tears and followed inside without saying more.
Grace was there to comfort Henry. He'd been plagued by nightmares and delirium. Luckily, his fever had broken!
Henry's delirious words were bold and explicit. Lucas and Celeste stayed on the first floor to avoid hearing such private confessions, and Neil and Aurora had also left. The large bedroom was left with only Grace watching over Henry.
Grace couldn't wake him. He was sweating profusely; large beads of sweat rolled down his hot skin, tracing the bulging veins that looked terrifyingly out of place with his refined appearance.
Henry was never refined at heart.
Grace was momentarily lost in thought, and in that moment, Henry grabbed her slender wrist.
Henry opened his eyes, bloodshot and maybe driven by fever or something else.
He held her tightly, his hand like a vice, his gaze fixed on her, openly displaying his desire.
Their eyes met.
"Henry!" Grace called his name in shock, trying to bring him back to his senses.
Henry wasn't lucid; he was delirious. The moment he opened his eyes and saw Grace leaning by the bed, dressed in a silk blouse and skirt, her face radiant and gentle; she looked so inviting.
With one hand, he easily pulled her over. She wanted to call for help but couldn't bear the embarrassment.
Grace pushed against his shoulder, desperately resisting his advances, but the delirious Henry was unstoppable. His strength was terrifying, and he kissed her delicate neck, touched her body, and even peeled off her thin stockings from her slender legs, exploring the softness of her skin.
Over and over again!
"Henry, stop." Grace propped herself up on him, trying to get up.
Henry looked at her with his blue eyes and asked softly, "Are you uncomfortable? We're already aroused!"
Then he continued slowly.
Grace couldn't help but let out a soft gasp, her body giving in, but her mind screaming that this was wrong.
They couldn't keep doing this!
Grace's body was being roughly handled, her posture undignified, and the door wasn't even fully closed. She couldn't imagine how embarrassing it would be if someone walked in.
She had no choice but to slap Henry, snapping him out of it. In that moment, Henry came to his senses.
His blue eyes looked at her, slightly dazed, as if he couldn't understand what had just happened. But his hand was still on her body, and when he realized and pulled back, they both felt humiliated.
He wanted her so badly it hurt, and she was truly embarrassed.
As she pulled away, she couldn't help but scold softly, "Had enough? Let me go if you're done."
Henry lay on the bed, his thin robe soaked with sweat, making him look irresistibly sexy.
He let her get off the bed and watched her walk into the bathroom.
Grace cried in the bathroom, not because of what happened to her body—she was no longer a little girl, being touched a few times wouldn't make her lose her mind—but because she felt sad.
After washing her face and calming down, she looked at the torn stockings Henry had pulled off and decided to wrap them in a bag and throw them in the trash. She then went to the closet to find a pair she had worn before.
When she returned to the bedroom, Henry was still lying quietly, staring at the chandelier above.
Hearing Grace's footsteps, he knew she was out and apologized softly, "I didn't mean to. I thought it was a dream. Grace, I miss you so much. Only in my dreams can I do those things to you."
Grace's nose turned slightly red, and she retorted, "Wasn't being with me painful? Why would you still think about such things?"
These words were spoken in anger. Grace thought for a moment and then said rationally, "Henry, if you have physical needs, you should find a woman to be with."
She thought it wouldn't be hard for him to find a woman who truly cared for him given his conditions.
Henry didn't respond, his blue eyes just staring at her.
Seeing him drenched in sweat, Grace didn't attend to him but said softly, "I'll call a nurse to help you. If you keep lying like with wet clothes, you'll get sick again."
With that, she was about to leave. As she passed the bed, Henry reached out and grabbed her again, turning his head to look at her, asking softly and seriously, "You still care about me, don't you?"
Grace didn't respond because it was meaningless. They were adults, and their separation was well thought out. Besides, with two kids involved, it wasn't as simple as wanting to break up or get back together.
Grace called a male nurse to come in. She gave Henry all the dignity he deserved, avoiding the room while the nurse tended to him, so Henry's pride wouldn't be hurt.
Grace went downstairs, where Lucas and Celeste were resting in the guest rooms.
Aurora and Neil were arguing again. Of course, it was mostly Aurora's complaints and resentment. Most of the time, Neil remained silent, letting her vent.
Neil felt powerless because every time he interacted with Aurora, it was suffocating, just like before.