Chapter 43 Besides Henry, Who Else Can Help Grace?
Grace hadn't reacted yet when Henry pulled her into his arms. He lowered his head and kissed her, pressing his lips against hers.
In the years they had been married, their intimate moments were frequent, but they rarely kissed. Grace was very inexperienced in kissing and never took the initiative, but Henry didn't mind. From a man's perspective, he preferred his wife to be a bit inexperienced.
He liked to see Grace's pale face gradually turn red.
Just like now!
Henry kissed her with fervor, exploring various angles and depths, surrounding her with his alluring scent. As the passion escalated, she gravitated towards him, reciprocating his urgency by drawing near.
Pausing, he gently brushed her crimson lips, murmuring words reserved for a husband, "Mrs. Montague, you're absolutely captivating at this moment! I believe any man would be willing to give you the world."
Despite his words, a trace of mockery lingered in his tone. Their marriage had transformed from Grace's unrequited love into a transactional arrangement.
He convinced himself that he didn't care. All he needed was a Mrs. Montague, and Grace seemed to fit the role perfectly.
While he provided her with financial support, his heart remained untouched. Grace had long relinquished her own heart, and Henry showed no interest in it either.
Henry carefully slid the wedding ring onto Grace's trembling finger. Her fingers curled instinctively, showing her mixed emotions. She met Henry's intense gaze, hesitated, then straightened her fingers to let him place the ring. The diamond sparkled brilliantly on her slender finger.
With a voice full of emotion, Henry said, "Mrs. Montague, welcome back!"
Grace felt a tremor run through her. She silently acknowledged her return to Henry's side, realizing she had fully surrendered to him. But now, she wasn't just Henry's wife; she was Mrs. Montague.
Henry didn't stay overnight. The next day, he sent Dylan to the hospital to meet Grace.
Dylan arrived with two sets of documents: a share transfer agreement for the Montague Group and materials pertaining to Oliver's case.
Grace met Dylan in the hospital's small living room. Seeing him in person, she felt his intimidating presence even more than on screen.
Noticing her gaze, Dylan smiled slightly. "Mrs. Montague is more fragile than I imagined!"
Without waiting for her response, he said, "Let's sign this transfer agreement first. Once you sign, you'll own 2% of the Montague Group's shares!"
He added, "Many wealthy women never get a fraction of their husband's wealth. Your marriage is very successful!"
Grace mocked herself, "Then I should be grateful to Henry."
Dylan smiled politely and pointed to the signature line.
Grace lifted her hand to sign. As she reached for the pen, her hospital gown slipped, revealing faint scars on her arm. Dylan noticed and realized those scars told a story of pain and struggle—Grace had self-harmed.
Dylan suddenly felt the urge to smoke but remembered he was in a hospital. While he wrestled with his thoughts, Grace finished signing the document.
He meticulously reviewed the document before passing her another file folder and excusing himself for a smoke break. As he smoked, the haunting image of Grace's scars lingered in his mind. They were unforgettable.
Dylan finally understood why Grace was so cold to her generous husband Henry. In high society, there really was no true love.
In the hospital room, Grace eagerly scanned the documents. Dylan's professionalism was impressive, making the case seem promising. As she flipped through the pages, she felt warmth in her eyes.
Standing by the door, Dylan spoke softly, "Mr. Montague has entrusted me with $30 million. Rest assured, we'll win this case."
Grace looked up, and Dylan saw a hint of moisture in her eyes.
After Dylan left, Grace wandered into the hospital's small garden. Enjoying the cool autumn breeze, she realized it had been a week since she last came downstairs. The maple leaves had turned a vibrant red, creating a picturesque scene.
Lost in thought, she was startled by a familiar voice. "Grace?"
Turning around, she saw Felix. He was there with his mother, Ophelia King, who was picking up medication. Ophelia got caught up in a conversation with an old friend, leaving Felix to wander around. By chance, he ran into Grace.
Seeing her in a hospital gown, Felix frowned. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Grace, sensing his concern, felt hesitant about getting involved with Felix. She nodded slightly and attempted to leave, but Felix grabbed her wrist. Startled, she pulled back. "Felix, let go of me!" she demanded.
Felix was about to speak when he noticed the wedding ring on her finger. The dazzling ring caught his eye. With a hint of sarcasm, he said, "I thought you were tougher than that! Jumping back into Henry's arms so fast?"
Felix, born proud, had always desired Grace but couldn't have her. In his anger, he lost control and tried to kiss her. When he grabbed her shoulders and leaned in, Grace instinctively slapped him, snapping him out of it.
Felix had never been treated like this by a woman. He grabbed her hand, but then he saw the deep cuts on her arm. They were fresh.
Was this why she was hospitalized?
As Felix stood in shock, Grace pushed him away, her voice trembling. "Felix, do you know how to do anything besides making life hard for women? Not everyone has it as easy as you! Have you ever felt true desperation? The Windsors went bust, Oliver's locked up for a decade, and Henry's my man. So what if I'm leveraging myself? Who else can drop $30 million to bring Dylan home? Who else is giving out 2% of Montague Group's stakes? Is my choice off-kilter? And why does any of this concern you, Felix?"
Felix stood there, stunned. After a while, he whispered, "I don't know."
Grace took a step back. "Felix, you don't know the pain of ordinary people! In your world, there's only want and don't want. You're just like Henry. You don't understand other people's difficulties. You only care about your own happiness and satisfaction. What others think and feel doesn't matter to you!"
With that, she walked away, leaving Felix standing there, lost in thought.
Ophelia finished her conversation and found Felix. Seeing his unusual demeanor, she asked with concern.
Felix forced a wry grin. "Mom, don't worry, I'm okay."
As he left, he glanced in the direction Grace had gone, unaware of a figure standing in the hospital lobby.
It was Henry.
Henry's gaze was deep and unreadable. After a long time, he looked away and walked towards Grace's hospital room. Inside, he found her organizing her belongings, preparing for her discharge the next day.
Unexpectedly, Grace hugged him tightly. Henry, his voice a bit hoarse, leaned close to her ear and asked, "Did you just saw Dylan off?"