Chapter 208 Grace, That Agreement Was Just a Joke!
Grace's lips were quivering, and she was barely holding it together. Right then, her phone buzzed.
She shot a look at Henry, fished her phone out of her bag, and, to her surprise, it was Frank calling. He was all polite, inviting her to hang out, saying it was to welcome her.
Grace hesitated for a sec but then said yes.
After she hung up, Henry gave her a look. "You tight with Frank?"
"Just keep in touch sometimes," Grace said, trying to play it cool.
She pulled herself together and looked at Henry, memories flooding back from over a year ago when she was about four months pregnant with Avery.
Back then, Juniper and Brent were tying the knot.
Before the wedding, Grace kept hoping Henry would show up. If he came to Vesper City and saw her pregnant, what would he think? Would he regret his choices?
But Henry never showed. She lost hope right then and there.
After Juniper's wedding, she stopped expecting Henry to come around. She slowly let go of that old flame. A few days ago, Owen confessed his feelings, and she said yes.
Thinking of Juniper made Grace a bit sad.
Grace said softly, "Brent's gone! Juniper's planning to bring kid back and live here. It's tough for a woman to run a business solo. I met with Frank just to keep things smooth."
Henry didn't push it. He watched her and suddenly asked, "When they got married, were you waiting for me in Vesper City? Grace, were you still hung up on me then?"
Grace tilted her head slightly. "What's the point of bringing that up? Henry, it's all ancient history."
Henry gave a bitter smile. "Yeah! You've got a new guy now."
Seeing her shivering in the cold wind, he offered to take her home. Grace refused, but Henry insisted, even having the driver bring the car around.
Henry said, "I want to talk about the kids."
He said "kids." Grace was stunned for a moment. She didn't argue and got into the car with Henry.
Henry got in with the driver's help, who stashed the wheelchair in the trunk and helped him into the back seat. Grace instinctively gave him a hand.
Henry's body stiffened for a moment.
The car started rolling, passing by the graffiti wall, the playground where she and Henry had taken Taylor, and even the rehab villa.
The car ride felt like a trip down memory lane of their marriage.
Inside the car, no one spoke.
Grace wanted to ask so many things but didn't dare. The current Henry seemed even more twisted and messed up than before.
"Things not going well with Esme?" Grace asked Henry softly.
She thought, 'Just showing some concern for an old friend; after all, Henry is the father of my kids.'
Henry sneered. "We're fine! In every way."
Grace found Henry boring. He kept talking about physical needs. She thought she should've suggested he see a urologist ages ago; maybe he had some kind of hypersexuality.
Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of her apartment building. Grace didn't get out.
She turned to Henry. "Didn't you have something to say?"
Henry leaned back in his seat, thought for a moment, and asked the driver to get out and wait outside.
The car door opened and closed again.
Inside the car, it was just the two of them. The tight space made their breaths mix, no way out.
The sad part? Grace was right there, but she wasn't his anymore.
Henry cracked the window halfway, staring out quietly. His voice was soft, almost gentle. "Where are the kids? Why didn't you bring them back? Avery must be about two now, right?"
Even though she was ready for this, Grace's eyes still got misty.
So Henry had known all along.
He knew she was pregnant, knew about Avery, but still chose to stay out of it. And she had stupidly waited for him in Vesper City for so long.
But she couldn't say that out loud; it would just be more humiliating.
Grace kept her cool and shot back, "So what do you want?"
Henry's face was blank. "I remember we signed an agreement. If you got pregnant, the kid would be mine. If it was a boy, he'd inherit the Montague family business."
Grace glared at Henry, her eyes red, her voice shaking. "Henry, are you threatening me again?"
Henry gazed at her sorrowful expression.
He suddenly asked, "If I told you to leave Owen and I'll give you custody of the child, Grace, what would you decide?"
But before Grace could answer, Henry had already turned away. He looked at the night outside the car and smiled faintly. "Just kidding! I'll have a new family someday, maybe more kids. Why would I make things hard for you? Grace, that agreement was just a joke! Yeah, just a joke between us!"
Henry added, "Grace, it was an illusion that made me mistake guilt for love."
He went on, "I never loved you, never! Be happy with Owen!"
Grace's whole body was trembling.
Her slender fingers gripped the car door handle, ready to get out, even though her legs felt like jelly. Behind her, Henry's soft voice came. "When I want to see the kids, can I?"
Grace's nose tingled, and she said yes.
Henry watched her back, and he said softly, "Sorry about tonight! I didn't mean it."
He had been swept up in emotions, consumed by jealousy, unable to accept the situation for a moment. But as he looked down at his paralyzed legs, he realized he could accept anything.Did he want Grace to take care of him for life, even during sex, always sitting on his lap? No, Henry couldn't accept it.
As Grace closed the car door, Henry suddenly grabbed her hand.
She was outside the car, he was inside. He stared at Grace for a long time, his expression calm, and asked, "Do you love him?"
Grace's slender throat moved slightly. She didn't have to answer his question, but she thought if an answer could put an end to their past, she was willing to tell Henry.
After about ten seconds, she answered softly, "Yes, I do."
In that moment, Henry's eyes showed a hint of disillusionment, but in the darkness, Grace couldn't see it. She gently let go of the car door and said softly, "I'm leaving."
Henry sat still, watching Grace walk into the lobby and head towards the elevator until she was out of sight.
His left hand trembled as he took a cigarette from his pocket and lit it with one hand.
The glowing cigarette tip lit up his gloomy face.