Chapter 55 Henry's Humiliation
Grace met Henry's gaze and smiled softly. "Alright, I'll be in the living room," she said calmly.
As she got up and brushed past him, Henry grabbed her wrist, pulling her close until her cheek rested on his shoulder. Grace blinked.
Henry seemed to forget he had just caused a scandal in Crystal City, upsetting Elodie enough to come looking for him. Shouldn't he be comforting her now?
Grace gently pulled away, smiled politely, and headed upstairs. Her graceful figure was a sight to behold. She had been back with him for a while, and the hardships she had faced were no longer visible. Raised in luxury, she exuded an air of nobility. Henry rarely lost his composure.
Elodie, nervous, twisted her fingers around her sleeve and stammered, "Mr. Montague, we came because we were worried about Mrs. Montague!"
Rebecca chimed in, "Yes! We came to keep Mrs. Montague company! Mr. Montague caused a scandal in Crystal City, so Mrs. Montague must be upset."
Henry snorted derisively, his expression icy as he settled into the chair Grace had occupied. The coffee she left still had some warmth. He took a sip.
Elodie grew more uncertain as Henry stayed silent, his thoughts hidden. Anxiety crept up on her, making her palms sweat. She noticed an uncanny similarity between Henry's posture and Grace's, which made her feel inadequate.
After a long silence, Henry's steely gaze met Elodie's. His voice, cold, cut through the tension, "Does my wife need your company?"
Rebecca and Elodie felt guilty and couldn't respond. Finally, Elodie, trembling, said, "Mr. Montague, I promise this is the last time. We won't bother Mrs. Montague again. Please believe me, okay? Even if it's for the help I gave you in the past."
Henry looked at Elodie and her fractured legs, realizing she struggled to regain mobility despite numerous surgeries. Standing on her own again seemed a distant dream.
His features softened slightly. Without addressing Elodie directly, he instructed the housekeeper to arrange a car to take Ms. Williams back to the hospital and inform the gatekeeper not to let her in again.
The housekeeper quickly agreed and made the arrangements.
Elodie felt humiliated, tears streaming down her face, but she didn't dare cry out loud.
As Henry left, he threw out a final remark, "Enough is enough. My patience is limited!" Elodie couldn't hold back and started crying loudly.
Henry walked to the second floor and heard a car starting in the yard. It seemed Rebecca and Elodie had left.
He knocked on the bedroom door and walked in. Grace was on the living room sofa, reading a book with a plate of snacks in front of her. She seemed in a good mood.
Henry walked over, leaned down, picked up a snack, and stared at her serene face with his blue eyes. He mimicked what she had said to Kimberly: "Mr. Montague has a low fever. Remind him not to engage in strenuous activities!"
His tone was sarcastic, revealing his wry humor. Grace understood the underlying message.
She put down her book and looked up at him. "What else should I do, Henry? Should I adopt a stern tone with her over the phone, asserting my position as Mrs. Montague? Yet, when your mistress arrived at our doorstep, she conducted herself with decorum, and you saw her off with propriety. So, tell me, what choice do I have but to show generosity?"
Henry sat down across from Grace, staring at her for a long time before asking in a hoarse voice, "Elodie came into our home, and you're still so calm! Grace, do you really not care anymore? Are you planning to keep this marriage cold, to keep me cold?"
His unusually gentle words caught Grace's attention. Despite her resolve, a sliver of emotion stirred within her. Yet she held firm, her mind clear and unwavering.
Henry moved closer, gently pressing her down and kissing her tenderly. She felt heartbroken. She caressed his face and softly asked, "Then Henry, do you love me?"
Henry's silence on the matter of love was a denial in itself. Grace, aware of his reticence, couldn't shake off a twinge of sadness. "Then do you want to love me? In this marriage, are you prepared to give love?"
Henry, ever honest, leaned in close, his touch soft against her lips, and whispered, "No."
Grace closed her eyes. She accepted his kisses and caresses but still found time to talk about marriage and feelings. Her voice trembled with emotion, interrupted by his kisses. "Henry, you don't love me, so why should I love you? You have so many women outside. Isn't it easy to get their admiration?"
Henry watched her fall into a trance, knowing it was due to her physiological needs. As long as he wasn't too rough, Grace could still be satisfied each time. She gradually let go of her reserve and began to enjoy the pleasures of love, treating him as a tool.
Feeling uncomfortable, Henry wanted to torment her. He gently stroked her face and sneered, "Mrs. Montague, I'm not running a fever now. Can I engage in strenuous activities?"
Grace's eyes fluttered open, thoughts drifting to Kimberly, Elodie, and other unknown women entangled in his web.
Her face showed displeasure. She stared at him, her mind filled with images of Henry with other women. The feeling faded, leaving only disgust.
Grace suddenly pushed him away, ran to the bathroom, and retched uncontrollably. She was so uncomfortable that the veins on her forehead were visible, showing her great physical pain.
Minutes felt like an eternity before she dared to meet her reflection in the mirror. Her appearance reflected the turmoil within—disarrayed, a portrait of desolation and despair.
She once again felt Henry's cruelty. He couldn't get what he wanted, so he wouldn't even give her superficial peace. He wanted to torment her until she gave in until she begged for his forgiveness and affection like before.
Footsteps sounded at the bathroom door. It was Henry. Grace met his gaze in the mirror.
Henry lit a cigarette, his blue eyes staring at her, his tone mocking. "I thought you didn't care! So Mrs. Montague also finds a cheating husband disgusting. I thought you really didn't care about anything!"
Grace's lips trembled as she retorted, "So Henry, you also find yourself disgusting!"
Henry didn't explain. He stubbed out the cigarette, walked into the bathroom, and closed the door behind him. He lifted her onto the cold sink.
When they truly joined, Grace felt nothing. That's exactly what Henry wanted. He didn't allow her to feel anything.
As he possessed her, he humiliated her, "No matter how dirty I am, you still have to make love with me obediently, don't you? Mrs. Montague, you should see how pathetic you look right now!"
Grace's eyes closed slightly, tears at the corners. It seemed she and Henry had returned to the past, where he tormented and humiliated her. The difference was, she no longer loved him. Without love, it wasn't so hard to endure.