Chapter 130 Am I Asking for Too Much?
Late at night, Henry slipped into the bedroom.
The room was dim, and Grace's shallow breathing showed she was asleep.
He undressed and lay down behind her, his face close to her warm neck. Without a word, he gently touched her, trying to wake her.
After a bit, Grace's breathing got heavier.
Henry knew she was awake. He whispered in her ear, "Do you still love me?"
Grace opened her eyes but couldn't answer. She could be his wife, go to events, and take care of him, but she couldn't lie about loving him.
Their relationship was a transaction. Love wasn't part of the deal.
Grace stayed silent, and Henry's heart sank. He turned her over and pressed her beneath him. In the moonlight, he looked at her with deep, intense blue eyes.
"Henry, what's wrong?" Grace asked, her voice husky and mature, oozing that irresistible charm.
She lifted her body, touching his lips.
Henry didn't respond.
Seeing this, Grace leaned over, opened the bedside drawer, took out a small box, and murmured, "Can't sleep? Want to do something else?"
Henry's eyes darkened.
She'd rather make love than lie to him.
Suddenly, he grabbed her wrists and pressed them against the pillow.
Grace arched her body, trembling, "Henry!"
Henry slowly ground against her, his handsome features more mature and attractive than when they married. He stared at her, his voice low, "Do you want to make love? If you want it, I'll give it to you now!"
He knew her body well, teasing her without satisfying her.
Sweat beaded on Grace's nose, her breathing shallow.
Then, Henry let go of her.
He rolled to the side, his tone flat. "Go to sleep!"
Grace sighed in relief. She turned her back to him, put the small box back in the drawer, and was pulled into Henry's warm embrace.
His arms were warm, holding her tightly.
Grace, muffled in his embrace, whispered, "Henry, isn't this fine?"
He didn't respond.
After about ten minutes of silence, Grace thought he wouldn't answer. She relaxed, ready to sleep, but then Henry spoke in a hoarse voice, "Am I asking for too much?"
Grace couldn't answer.
That night didn't change their lives.
On Sunday, Grace's dessert shop, Sweet Serenity Delights, opened. Apart from her and Juniper's acquaintances, friends and socialites from Henry's business circle came, making the event lively.
After greeting guests, Grace walked back to Juniper.
"A beautiful start!" Grace and Juniper smiled at each other.
Grace put down her champagne glass and adjusted Juniper's dress, "Now it's perfect! From now on, everyone will call you Ms. Davis!"
Juniper adjusted Grace's outfit.
For the occasion, Grace wore a white Chanel suit, and Juniper wore a high-end black dress. She was grateful to Grace; without her, she'd still be stuck in a miserable life.
Looking at Grace, she asked softly, "How are things with you and him? Is he treating you well?"
Grace smiled. "Pretty good! Don't worry about me!"
Juniper's eyes welled up. "Grace, I can never repay you! If he doesn't treat you well, tell me, and I'll stand up for you!"
Grace called her silly, "Really! I'm doing fine! Just take care of yourself!"
As they talked, a sales associate came over and whispered, "Mrs. Montague, I just saw Mr. Montague come in. Just letting you know!"
Henry had arrived. Grace looked around but didn't see him. She nodded to Juniper. "It's almost time for the ribbon-cutting. I'll go find him!"
Juniper smiled. "Go ahead!"
Henry was in the atrium, standing by the blue floor-to-ceiling windows, quietly smoking.
He was dressed to the nines in a white pleated shirt and a tailored velvet suit. But his smoking posture screamed loneliness.
Henry had been there for half an hour. When he arrived, he saw rows of congratulatory flower baskets. One bouquet of tulips stood out, signed by Lucas. Grace must have liked it; she placed it in the center.
Meanwhile, the eight flower baskets Henry had sent were off to the side, ignored.
So Henry didn't go in.
As he smoked, he couldn't help but think about last night. Did she have someone else in her heart, which was why she couldn't say she loved him?
Grace found Henry and saw his lonely figure.
She walked over, stood beside him, and looked up at his handsome profile. She sensed his sadness, but feelings couldn't be forced.
Grace placed her hand on his arm, stood on tiptoe to remove the cigarette from his lips, and softly said, "Don't smoke so much! The ribbon-cutting is about to start. Shall we go in?"
Henry's blue eyes stared straight ahead, silent.
Grace adjusted his tie, gently saying, "You've been smoking a lot lately; it's not good for your health."
"Do you care about me?" Henry asked, just as his phone rang. It was Elodie calling.
Last week, Elodie had found a suitable kidney and heart donor. She had a twenty percent chance of survival. After discussing with her doctor, Henry decided to go ahead with the surgery. Whether it would be successful depended on Elodie's fate.
Grace saw the caller ID. She was silent for a moment, then gently said, "You should take the call. I'll wait for you in the store." She turned to leave.
The next second, Henry grabbed her wrist.
He pulled her back, turned her around, and looked down at her, asking softly, "Did I say I was going to take her call?"
Grace smiled slightly, "Henry, I thought you wanted a considerate wife."
"I don't want that!" Henry's blue eyes fixed on her.
He dropped all pretense and spoke his true feelings, "Grace, I don't want a considerate wife. I want a wife who loves me! She wouldn't let me take calls from other women. She would be jealous if I talked to someone else. She wouldn't willingly sleep with me just to keep the peace!"
Grace's smile faded. She wanted a peaceful life.
But Henry wasn't satisfied. He pushed her to love him, pushed her to be jealous of Elodie.
'What a joke. If I don't love him, how could I be jealous?' she thought.
Henry's phone rang again, but he didn't look at it.
Grace's voice was soft. "Then Henry, do you love me? You say you want me to be jealous. Now I ask you to stop all medical help for Elodie immediately. Can you do that? You can't! So why should I bother?"
She knew he couldn't answer.
She lowered her eyes, mocking herself. "Henry, life is long, but I don't want to waste my time on you or on feelings anymore! Loving someone so passionately is too foolish! Besides, I haven't forgotten how we got divorced, and I never will!"
With that, Grace left.
A phone call finally broke the peace between them.
Their superficial harmony became more apparent.
Even Amara noticed. She held a glass of champagne and gently advised, "Men are all the same! Since you chose to come back, sometimes it's better to turn a blind eye. It makes life easier!"
Grace forced a smile and softly agreed.
At that moment, Henry came in from outside, his eyes filled with deep emotion.