Chapter 101 She Never Thought They Would End Like This
Early in the morning, Henry got a call from the hospital.
Elodie's doctor said, "Ms. Williams felt unwell last night, but she's fine now, thanks to the whole medical team."
Henry rubbed his temples. "How's Grace? Did she have another fever?"
The doctor hesitated.
Henry sat up. "What happened to her?"
The doctor felt uneasy. Was Henry more worried about Grace than Elodie?
He couldn't hide it anymore. "Mrs. Montague had recurrent fevers last night, and we were short-staffed. Luckily, the villa staff managed to bring her fever down. She's better now."
The doctor's words was a understatement. But Henry smashed a crystal ashtray.
He couldn't believe it. His wife, in his own hospital, had to rely on physical cooling! He couldn't imagine her pain.
As he got up to leave, he noticed a pair of diamond cufflinks on the carpet, stained with tears and a bit of blood.
'Did Grace buy these for me?' he wondered.
The night before, she had asked him to come home early to give him these cufflinks. She even wore a sexy silk robe, but he had dismissed her, saying, "That nightgown you use to seduce me was bought with my money."
Grace had never heard such harsh words before.
Henry pocketed the cufflinks, suppressing his emotions.
At the hospital, Grace was awake, with Juniper by her side.
Juniper had rushed over early in the morning and found Grace unconscious and pale. She regretted the advice she had given Grace to live a good life.
When Henry entered, Juniper lost it. She grabbed his coat, eyes red. "Do you know how much pain Grace went through last night? She was calling your name in her worst moments! But you were probably with your lover! Henry, it's fine if you want to save your lover, but Grace is still your wife. Treat her like a human being!"
Juniper's hearing aid fell off as she shook.
Losing her hearing, her cries turned eerie, but Juniper was oblivious. With all the strength she had, she fought for Grace's justice, even if it felt like she was biting off more than she could chew.
Grace hugged Juniper, whispering, "Don't say anymore, Juniper! I'm fine!"
Juniper couldn't hear her and kept sobbing, "Bastard! Bastard!"
Those words, even if incomplete, held the utmost value in Grace's heart.
Grace gently put the hearing aid back on Juniper and wiped her tears. "Don't cry anymore!"
When Juniper calmed down, Grace looked at Henry, calm and without resentment.
Grace said softly, "I'll arrange my discharge and make space for Elodie. Henry, I'm willing to let you go. I wish you both a long and loving life together."
Henry frowned. "Last night was an accident, it was..."
Grace interrupted, smiling faintly. "The whole hospital was on standby to save her. What a grand gesture, Henry. I don't care anymore. What I care about is you being affectionate with her while still saying sweet words to me. Aren't you tired, Henry? There's no room for three people in a marriage. I was foolish before, but not anymore."
"As for the hospital, there are plenty in Evergreen City. We don't have to stay here." She turned to pack her things.
Henry grabbed her hand. "Grace, listen to me!"
He took out the cufflinks and placed them in front of her. "These are the birthday gift you gave me, right? That night, you wanted to celebrate my birthday early, didn't you?" He realized she had dressed up to please him.
Henry's throat tightened. This was the life he had wanted when he pursued her, but he had humiliated her instead.
He asked Grace for another chance.
Grace looked at the cufflinks, dazed.
They were proof of her love and her foolishness. The joy she felt buying them was as intense as the humiliation she felt when he pressed her against the desk.
Grace's voice was light and distant. "No more! Never again! Henry, it's over between us!"
Despite the pain, she packed her things and left.
Juniper went to handle the discharge.
Alone in the ward, Grace took off her hospital gown and underwear. She had said she would leave those branded items behind when she left Henry.
She didn't avoid Henry. Like a machine, she took off the expensive clothes and changed into the affordable ones Juniper had bought.
She didn't cry. She remained dignified.
After dressing, she said softly, "Henry, even if we can't be husband and wife, I don't want us to be enemies. Life is long; why waste time on each other? I'll wait for your decision."
As she walked past him, Henry instinctively wanted to grab her.
But Grace walked quickly.
It wasn't until she left the ward and went downstairs that Henry came to his senses. He looked at the neatly folded clothes on the bedside table, the hospital gown, and her underwear.
She left him, even leaving her underwear behind. How strong was her determination to leave?
Henry clenched his palm, the cufflinks digging in, causing pain. He couldn't help but think, 'Was Grace a thousand times more pained than I was that night?'
Grace was discharged, determined to separate from Henry.
She planned to return to her apartment.
But at the hospital entrance, Elodie harassed her. The supposedly dying woman, in a wheelchair, was determined to torment her.
Elodie grabbed Grace's hand, crying. "Mrs. Montague, you misunderstood Mr. Montague. He was just concerned about me. In his heart, you are the most important!"
Grace tried to shake her off, but Elodie held on tightly. "Mrs. Montague, you really misunderstood me!"
Juniper was hailing a cab.
When she finally got one and turned around, her blood froze.
A black sedan, out of control, was rushing towards Grace and Elodie. The two were struggling and didn't see it. Juniper screamed, "Grace!"
Grace had a chance to dodge, but Elodie kept entangling her.
At the critical moment, Henry ran over, calling Grace's name, telling her to dodge.
He could only save one!
In that instant, his rationality overcame his emotions. Because Grace could run and Elodie was in a wheelchair, he chose to push Elodie away!
He believed Grace could dodge, and she did.
But in the direction she dodged, a white bus was speeding towards her.
"Grace!" Henry's voice trembled. He locked eyes with her, seeing the disbelief and despair in her eyes.
Her slender body was thrown into the air, blood splattering, the blood mist blurring Henry's vision.
Grace was thrown high and fell to the ground.
She was covered in bright red blood. She moved slightly, each movement causing immense pain, her whole body feeling shattered.
Her eyes still held the previous scene.
Henry rushed over, pushing Elodie away. When Grace fell, she saw Henry gently holding Elodie's shoulder, like a loving couple.
Grace had imagined countless times how she and Henry would end, but never like this.
She quietly looked at him, seeing his seemingly anxious expression. The corners of her mouth twitched into a self-mocking smile. Her pupils slowly lost focus, no longer holding Henry's image.