Chapter 143 They Could Never Go Back!
When Grace came out of the bathroom, Henry had already put out his cigarette and was staring outside.
Hearing her footsteps, he didn't turn around. He placed his phone on the bar and said softly, "The Montague Group has tens of thousands of employees, mostly in Evergreen City. Grace, you know I can't just move to Vesper City on a whim."
Grace figured Henry had found out. She walked up, took the phone, glanced at it, and put it back. "You know."
"Know what?" Henry turned to her, calm. "Know you don't love me? Know you want to leave? Grace, is this your gentle way of ending things? Cool down our marriage until I don't care, then leave with the kid?"
Grace didn't deny it. Pretending would be disrespectful.
"Yes," she said.
Late at night, they finally dropped their masks and showed their true feelings.
Grace looked at Henry, her voice breaking. "Henry, I want to leave. Isn't it normal not to want to be with you? You say I don't love you, but what should I love? That you don't trust me? That you slapped me for Elodie? Or that you listen to music late at night, missing other women?"
"I thought we could get along for the child's sake," Grace continued. "That slap woke me up."
"Henry, if you want the truth, here it is: ever since you came back from abroad, every interaction with you has disgusted me," she said, agitated.
The night grew quieter.
Henry stood by the window, looking at Grace for a long time, realizing that she was serious. It wasn't April Fool's Day; she wasn't joking.
Grace wanted to leave him. Even during their intimate moments the previous night, with her perched on his lap whispering his name, it was all an act. In reality, she felt nothing but disgust for him.
Henry felt a deep sadness. He knew they could never go back.
He leaned against the window, feeling a chill.
His handsome face showed little emotion. "Grace, I also thought we could start over for the child's sake."
That day, Henry visited Seraphina. She said Grace was pregnant and told him to treat her well, and he promised he would.
So even though he knew she wanted to leave, he thought if she relented, he could pretend it never happened and still treat her and the child well.
But Grace was done, looking like she couldn't bear it any longer.
Henry's heart grew cold too. He even thought about letting her go right then, but he was afraid he'd regret it.
He stood there for a long time, waiting for Grace to change her mind.
Under the crystal chandelier, he looked at her with a dark, complicated gaze. Finally, he spoke softly, "We'll talk about our issues after the baby is born."
Grace trembled.
Henry looked at her quietly for a few more seconds, then opened the door and walked out into the night.
He thought, 'it's time to give up. Give up on this relationship, this hard-won marriage, and end it when it should end.'
Henry returned to Evergreen City that night.
Although they hadn't officially broken up, their marriage was on the rocks. Without the baby, how could they still share a bed after saying so many hurtful things?
Three days later, Grace also returned to Evergreen City.
After getting off the plane, she went straight to Dylan's law firm.
It was the same office, and Dylan was still sitting by the window with the blinds. The difference was that this time he chose black coffee instead of a cigar.
Dylan opened the file and looked at Grace across from him.
Grace's face was pale. Because Oliver's trial date had been delayed repeatedly, she guessed something was wrong. She asked Dylan, "Is there something hidden?"
Dylan didn't answer immediately. He took a few sips of coffee, then said carefully, "The Windsor Group is involved in too many cases, including several involving your father. The government departments have been unwilling to let go. The most troublesome one should have been resolved by Mr. Montague, but there's still a minor case where Oliver took the blame for your father."
Although it was cruel, Dylan told the truth, "I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee anything."
Grace felt a chill all over.
After a long time, she looked up and asked softly, "What's the worst-case scenario?"
"Two years," Dylan said. He got up and opened the blinds behind him, letting the sunlight in. He said softly to Grace, "I went to see Oliver. He said two years in exchange for your freedom is worth it."
Dylan turned to look at her, "Mrs. Montague, it's your choice."
Grace didn't answer Dylan.
On the way back, her car passed by the Montague Group's hospital. Through the car window, she saw a familiar figure, Elodie's father, Calvin.
Henry had once said that Elodie and her parents would never return to Evergreen City. Now Calvin was back.
With Henry no longer holding back on the Windsor Group's case, she might be facing a situation ready to collapse.
Grace, however, was very calm. She gently stroked her swollen belly. She knew this was the price of freedom.