Chapter 166 The Truth Revealed: It Was Grace Who Had Awakened Henry 1
Henry had bugged the doc a bunch of times, asking if Grace was ever gonna change her mind. The doc always hit him with a hard no, saying Grace was dead set on the divorce and didn't wanna see him ever again.
Every time he heard that, Henry felt like someone punched him in the gut.
After a while, it was the Montague family's gathering. Henry sent Grace some delicious food and photos of Taylor, hoping it would lift her spirits.
Tonight's dinner was at the Montague family Manor, but the place was dead quiet. Seraphina was nowhere to be found, and Grace was also absent.
But Aurora? She was on cloud nine.
Henry brought Taylor along, and as soon as he stepped out of the car, he frowned a bit.
A servant whispered to him, "Mrs. Aurora Montague invited Ms. Rodriguez over for dinner. She's already here."
Henry spotted a white Bentley nearby and figured it was Esme's ride. He knew what Aurora was up to.
The servant, who was tight with Seraphina and worried about Grace, couldn't help but say, "Mrs. Grace Montague is still your wife. Ms. Rodriguez's eagerness doesn't look good on her."
Henry didn't say a word, just kept that poker face, which made the servant even more anxious.
Aurora was definitely scheming. During dinner, she kept dropping hints and even gave Esme a pair of bracelets, saying they should come in pairs.
Esme took them, all shy, and glanced at Henry, who still looked like he couldn't care less.
After dinner, he was out on the terrace, smoking.
Esme joined him, leaning on the railing.
She looked at Henry's handsome face and said softly, "Henry, I know I'm being super forward! Even though Aurora invited me, I shouldn't have come, considering you're still married to Grace. But I couldn't help it. I wanted to see you, to see you in a legit setting. I can't say I love you like 18-year-old Grace did, but my love is more mature, and I think it suits you better now."
Esme paused, then continued, "I'll take good care of Taylor! Not just because she's your kid, but also because Felix liked Grace a lot. He'd want me to treat Taylor well."
Esme said a lot, but Henry just kept smoking, silent.
Finally, he turned and stubbed out his cigarette. "You just said it yourself, I have a wife! What right do you have to take care of my and Grace's daughter?"
Esme felt super embarrassed. She hadn't expected Henry to shut her down after all that.
But she didn't lose her cool. She'd gotten a lot more chill lately.
Later, Henry went back to the hall and saw Esme holding Taylor, gently coaxing her with a red apple, looking all sweet.
Taylor actually smiled!
Henry watched, feeling a stab of guilt. Taylor did need someone to look after her.
Aurora, next to him, whispered, "Henry, Esme is the perfect match for you!"
Henry stayed quiet. He hadn't finalized the divorce with Grace yet. He still had a tiny bit of hope that Grace would come around and they could patch things up.
Aurora saw his expression soften and added, "Taylor also needs a mom."
Henry's voice was barely a whisper. "I'll think about it."
He didn't want to give Esme any false hope. He knew he had to end things with Grace before he could even think about being with someone else. Even if it wasn't about love, even if it was just to find someone to take care of Taylor.
On the ride back to the villa, Henry sat in the back seat, holding Taylor, lost in his thoughts.
As they pulled up to the villa, the driver slammed on the brakes, making Taylor cry out.
Henry comforted her and asked, "What's going on?"
The driver recognized Sierra standing in front of the car and turned to Henry. "It's Ms. Williams! She was reckless! Mr. Montague, I'll go check."
Henry thought for a moment and handed Taylor to the nanny. "I'll handle it."
Sierra stood there, looking at Henry with hopeful eyes.
She knew Esme had been at the Montague family Manor tonight, probably picked by Aurora as the next daughter-in-law, so she was desperate. She had rushed over, hoping to use Elodie to spark some memories in Henry.
Sierra had been standing in the snow for three hours, freezing.
Henry, looking all distinguished, seemed like he was from another world. His attitude was even colder, like he never cared for her. He told her not to come again!
Sierra pulled out a film strip, still warm from her body, and carefully handed it to Henry. "This is what Elodie left behind. It should be that violin piece."
Henry knew Sierra was trying to get on his good side.
He took the film strip and said flatly, "I'll have Celeste send you a check."
He didn't say another word and turned to get back in the car. Behind him, Sierra called out desperately, "Mr. Montague, are you gonna marry Ms. Rodriguez?"
Henry didn't answer and got into the car.
The black car slowly drove through the fancy black gates, leaving Sierra standing alone in the snow, her tears falling one by one onto the ground.
Back at the villa, Henry didn't immediately listen to the piece. He put Taylor to bed and waited until she was sound asleep.
Henry suddenly woke up, realizing he had dozed off.
He had a dream about that argument in the study. He dreamt that Grace said the film strip wasn't Elodie's but a piece she had played. He didn't believe her and slapped her.
Henry suddenly walked to the study and put the film strip Sierra had given him into the antique record player. It was that piece. But the sound quality and rhythm were all wrong.
If this was Elodie's playing, then the previous one definitely wasn't hers.
Henry looked shattered!
As the truth started to unravel, his heart ached almost unbearably. He couldn't accept that he had wronged Grace; it was Grace who had awakened him that year, not Elodie.
It had been Grace all along!
She had once told him the truth, but he didn't believe her and slapped her.
Now, the Grace who had once awakened him was locked in a private sanatorium by him!
He had said, "Grace, when you get better, I'll give Taylor back to you." But he knew deep down that she probably wouldn't come back!
Was he lying to her, or to himself?
In the dead of night, Henry's eyes were slightly red, and he gave himself a hard slap.