Chapter 13 The Belated Kindness
A million bucks. That was the biggest amount Henry had ever handed her.
After the Windsor family crumbled, she was desperate for cash. Even in her disgrace, she would've taken the hundred grand Henry had generously offered.
But now, with the card, she knew what it meant. Taking that card meant agreeing to be Henry's kept woman. She'd have to ditch any dignity and pride, becoming someone easily controlled again. She'd be that perfect wife again, with her only job being to serve him—obedient and humble. Her only responsibility would be to look pretty.
No one would care about her thoughts. Henry only wanted her body. And her dreams of playing the violin would drift further away.
Compared to a cold, futureless compromise, she craved freedom more.
She didn't take the VIP card, just stared at Henry with a mocking look. "Henry, ever heard the saying, 'A kindness delayed is a kindness denied'? Even now, you still don't get why I wanted a divorce."
Henry took a breath and replied mockingly, "Grace, shouldn't you reflect on yourself? Who was it that used tricks to get involved with me?"
"If it weren't for your value, do you think I would've kept compromising?" His tone turned icy. "Grace, know your place. Once you decided to do something, you should've considered the consequences. Do I need to teach you this?"
Grace didn't want to explain anymore; her mind was a mess. "Henry, does this million dollars mean I shouldn't interfere with anything between you and Elodie?"
He didn't reply, just silently agreed.
Grace sneered. "So you like Elodie so much, why don't you marry her? Didn't you think she was the one who awakened you? The million dollars and everything you have should belong to her, right? So why are you still coming to me?"
"You know what? Don't tell me; I actually don't care. If you had left right after we had sex, we could have saved all this trouble. I'm tired now. Isn't it good for us to divorce?" Grace looked into his eyes, trying to see his true thoughts. "It's good for both of us."
She pointed to the door. "Besides, this is my house. Mr. Montague, since you're trespassing, can I sue you?"
Henry gave Grace a long look, got up, and grabbed his suit, his eyes filled with heavy anger. He could see that Grace's words were sincere, without any disguise. She had changed. She no longer loved him.
Originally, he wanted to ask about the violin, but now, he pinched his brow, glanced at Grace, and left the room. The card remained untouched.
But Grace, in front of him, took the card and gently snapped it.
"Henry, I hope we won't have any more interactions in the future. It's good for both of us. If you don't want a divorce, the marriage will be automatically dissolved in two months." She said indifferently.
Henry paused, turned to look at the broken card, said nothing, and left.
When the door opened, Clara, who was sitting in the hallway, was about to speak, but Henry left without even looking at her.
Back in the car, Henry pinched his brow, feeling very irritated. Every time he closed his eyes, he would think of Grace's indifferent face. He didn't love Grace, but he hadn't put his mind on other women either. And all Elodie's matters were handled by Celeste.
The driver in the front couldn't help but be surprised, 'Mr. Montague doesn't like Mrs. Montague, right? But why is this business tycoon of Evergreen City now so troubled by a woman who wants a divorce?'
Pinching his brow, Henry looked up at Grace's house and said lightly, "Celeste, the day after tomorrow, there's a birthday party for Mrs. Young of Horizon Innovations Group. Come with me, dress nicely. The project with Horizon Innovations Group depends on this party."
Celeste was stunned for a moment. Was Henry inviting her to attend the birthday party with him? A fortune was being showered upon her.
"Do you have other plans?" Henry propped his face with one hand, his deep eyes making it impossible for anyone to look directly at him.
Celeste quickly waved her hand. "No, I'll definitely do my best."
She straightened up, looking determined. "Mr. Montague, don't worry, I'll make sure to impress Mrs. Young."
Henry didn't say anything, just stared out the window at the rain. He couldn't stop thinking about Grace. Without her around, there was this constant emptiness. Maybe he had really gotten used to having Grace by his side.
In the car, Celeste straightened her back, glanced at Henry, and silently encouraged herself. Aurora had mentioned that Grace was supposed to go with Henry to this birthday party, but he invited her instead. Didn't that mean she was more important to Henry than Grace? Her years of dedication were finally paying off.
Clearly, Grace was just a replaceable wife in his eyes. Celeste believed these recent gestures of goodwill were just because of Aurora.
Celeste made sure she was fully prepared to impress Henry this time. Jewelry and dresses were all set, with the company covering the expenses. She happily splurged on items worth tens of thousands of dollars, including a white evening dress that matched Henry's black suit.
Just after buying them, Henry called her, and she answered the phone with joy.
"Mrs. Young wants Grace to go and mingle with other upper-class folks first. But I recommended you. I've sent you the address. Don't mess it up."
The call ended.
Celeste stood still, her clenched fists showing her excitement.
At this moment, she felt like she was Henry's real wife. Henry was clearly favoring her.
Henry, in a coffee shop, put down his phone, drank his coffee, and looked at Grace playing the violin in the tavern across the street.
In the morning, he was woken up by a call from Aurora. Just as he was about to explain, he got scolded. Feeling extremely agitated, just as he was about to discuss a project with Felix Rodriguez, he drove past a bar and saw Grace inside. She was wearing a white shirt, looking both pure and enchanting.
Felix, following his gaze, saw Grace and smiled. "Wasn't Mrs. Young's invitation for Grace? Are you afraid someone else might take an interest?"
Henry looked at him. "Just afraid of people like you taking an interest."
Felix laughed shamelessly. "Henry, didn't you used to not care about Grace at all? Have you forgotten that night? Now you're starting to pay attention to her? If it weren't for her back then, you might have married my sister."
Henry's eyes showed a hint of danger. "Felix, if you're dissatisfied with the project, you can terminate the agreement."
Felix laughed. "Look at you, why are you getting angry?"
"But," Felix's smile turned cold, "sometimes the tighter you hold, the faster she slips away, just like sand."
After finishing his coffee, Henry pushed the contract over. "Felix, if you want to waste your time, no one will stop you. My time is precious. I'll give you three seconds, if you don't decide, the contract is void."
Felix smiled and signed. "I've reviewed the contract, no issues."
He extended his hand. "Mr. Montague, looking forward to our cooperation."
Henry didn't fall out with Felix over Grace, besides, what he said was right. Grace, in his heart, was just a replaceable woman. If he wanted, there would be countless women vying to be with him.
But Felix thought it was different.
Henry had undeniably changed. In the past, when Felix mentioned Grace, it didn’t elicit the slightest reaction. Henry wouldn’t even flinch, let alone be disturbed during important negotiations. But now, just a few words from Felix seemed to ignite a flicker of panic in him.
A flicker? Yes, yet it was enough to speak volumes. This was Henry Montague, after all—he could clearly sense every subtle movement from a business tycoon of Evergreen City.
Felix glanced at the petite and delicate figure, indeed, Grace was very beautiful. No wonder Henry chose to marry her instead of abandoning her back then. But he could be sure that Henry's interest in Grace was probably just because of novelty. After all, no one had dared to defy him for a long time.
That being said, Grace was quite pitiful, cast aside when not needed and called upon at will, like a soulless puppet. With the Windsor family around, where could Grace run to?
In the afternoon, Henry received news. Celeste was kicked out by Amara, the woman who held the party and invited Grace, just ten minutes after she went in.