Chapter 174 Long Time No See! Grace, Is There Someone with You? 2
When Henry got back, it started pouring. He flicked on the wipers, and the city's neon lights turned into a blurry mess through the rain-splattered window.
The night was cooling off.
After about five minutes of driving, he spotted a white Maserati broken down on the side of the road. A woman was holding an umbrella and fiddling with the car hood, then went back inside—it was Grace.
Henry slowed down and pulled up next to her, observing Grace through the window. She looked lost, rummaging around in the car, probably for a business card or something.
After what felt like forever, Grace looked up and saw Henry.
They just stared at each other, neither saying a word, like they were both stuck in the memories of a few years back, unable to snap out of it.
Raindrops slid down the window, like a lover's tears.
After who knew how long, Henry got out with an umbrella and walked over to her car, gently tapping on the window.
Grace seemed to snap out of a dream.
Slowly, the window rolled down.
Grace's face was a bit pale from the cold, and a strand of her neatly tied blonde hair had fallen to her cheek, giving her a delicate look.
Henry never thought of himself as a lecher, but he liked the way Grace looked.
His blue eyes locked onto her face, his voice soft. "Car trouble? I'll give you a ride home, you can sort this out tomorrow."
Grace put down her phone and didn't agree right away. "That might not be appropriate."
Henry's gaze was intense. "Worried I'll cross a line?"
He was so blunt that Grace gave a faint smile and got out of the car. "Mr. Montague, you're overthinking it! With your status, plenty of women would love to be with you."
Henry held the umbrella for Grace.
He helped her gently, not wanting to annoy her, and only after she was in his car did he softly say, "We used to sit like this all the time, remember?"
Grace buckled her seatbelt, her tone indifferent. "It wasn't just me sitting next to you, Henry. Let's not dwell on the past, just focus on driving."
Henry's blue eyes darkened. "Still living in the same apartment?"
Grace just hummed in response.
Maybe time had smoothed things over, and they weren't as confrontational as before, more peaceful. Or maybe they were just avoiding touchy subjects.
Nevertheless, their growing distance stemmed from the fact that they were no longer husband and wife.At a red light, Henry leaned back in his seat, silently watching the traffic ahead, and after a while, asked in a rough voice, "How's life over there?"
Grace gave a faint smile. "Not bad! I started Serene Petal Dining a couple of years ago, and it's doing pretty well."
Henry took a white cigarette from the pack.
But he just held it between his fingers without lighting it. After a pause, he asked, "Do you still enjoy making desserts and cooking?"
Grace's smile faded a bit. "I have people doing it now; I rarely do it myself. When I'm not busy, I bake some small treats. Taylor loves them and even takes them to her friends at preschool. Kids that age have a lot on their minds," she spoke calmly and composedly.
Henry stared at her for a long time, almost whispering, "Grace, you've changed a lot."
She had become more composed and gentle.
Grace had fully matured, no longer having the taste of a young girl, but exuding the charm of a mature woman. Of course, there was no trace of her ever liking him.
Hearing this, Grace smiled. "Everyone changes, Henry. Haven't you changed too?"
Henry glanced over at her. Her face was exquisite and flawless.
He thought for a long time but couldn't figure out what Grace meant by her last sentence. But he couldn't deny it—there was something about her that pulled him in.
Between adults, some things went without saying.
Half an hour later, Henry parked in front of her apartment building.
The rain was still coming down.
There was a weird tension in the car.
They had been married, after all. They'd seen each other naked countless times, done all sorts of wild things together. Those memories didn't just disappear.
Grace said softly, "Thanks for the ride. I'm getting out now."
As she reached to unbuckle her seatbelt, Henry grabbed her wrist. She blinked, her voice tinged with anger. "Henry, let go."
Henry stared at her, his blue eyes holding a depth only a mature woman could understand. It was a man's raw desire for a woman, both physical and emotional.
Grace's breath hitched. She tried to pull away, but Henry's big hand held her slender wrist easily.
He didn't force her, just held her hand, not letting her escape.
His blue eyes locked onto hers, and he asked softly, "Do you have someone in your life?"
The air was thick with tension.
Grace leaned back against the leather seat. Her slender body made her clothes stretch tight, forming an enticing curve.
This reminded Henry of the past, the night she got drunk and looked just like this. That night, he couldn't wait to be with her.
Grace turned to Henry and softly said, "Henry, can I pass on that?"
Henry felt a pang of loss, but as a proud man, he would never act like a desperate fool, even though he had indeed suppressed his desires for years.
Henry's gaze deepened. His tone was gentle, almost indulgent. "Of course."
Grace didn't linger, opened the car door, and got out. She stood by the car, waiting for him to leave, as a basic courtesy.
Henry took one last look at her and had to drive away.
At the intersection, he stopped and glanced at the passenger seat, unexpectedly seeing a small, shiny object.
Picking it up, he saw it was Grace's pearl earring.
The smooth little thing lay in his palm, reminding him of those passionate nights. Grace had also lain delicately on the white bed, easily possessed by him.
Henry's heart skipped a beat. He quietly watched the red light ahead, thinking silently that he hadn't been abstinent all these years; it was just because Grace wasn't by his side.
Grace stood in the night wind for a long time.
When she returned to the apartment, Clara opened the door for her, speaking softly, "She just fell asleep. She was a bit fussy before bed."
Mentioning Taylor, Grace's expression softened.
As she bent down to change her shoes, Clara hesitated and asked in a low voice, "Did he bring you back?"
Grace responded, "Yeah. It went smoothly."
Grace didn't say much, and Clara didn't ask further, but her feelings were complicated. Grace loved Taylor, but Clara also cared deeply for Grace. It had been hard to cut ties with Henry, and now, for Taylor's sake, she had to deal with him again.
Seeing Clara's concern, Grace gently reassured her, "I'm fine, Clara."
Clara secretly wiped away a tear. "I'll go to bed now."
Grace watched Clara return to her room, then walked into the master bedroom.
In the moonlight, the bedroom was quiet, with only Taylor's sweet breathing. Hearing Grace's footsteps, Taylor woke up groggily.
Taylor, lying on the pillow, said softly, "Mommy, I had a nosebleed again today."