Chapter 238 The Relationship Is Mostly Pain
Grace's voice was soft, almost a whisper. "What do you want me to ask?"
Henry yanked her closer, his grip so tight it hurt. "Ask me why I didn't go in!"
"Why didn't you go in?" Grace asked, her voice flat. She didn't wait for his answer. "Henry, you weren't always like this! You can choose to go or not. I can't keep babysitting your feelings, guessing if you're gonna blow up or not! We'll both burn out."
She finally let it out! But then, she felt a pang of regret and softened her tone. "Henry..."
Henry didn't let her backtrack. He let go of her hand, turned to face the floor-to-ceiling window, and got lost in the darkness outside. His voice was gentle, almost blending with the quiet night, "Grace, love can hurt as much as it heals."
Grace stood right there, just a step away.
Her eyes welled up, but Henry didn't see. He just wanted her gone, out of his heart, out of his life.
Grace didn't leave, but the crack was there.
The kids and the chaos at home patched things up a bit, but it wasn't enough.
Grace hardly slept in the master bedroom anymore. Sometimes she crashed with the kids, sometimes in the study.
Occasionally, Henry would come to her room for some late-night action, but it was different now. They were silent, restrained. Henry was rough and impatient, often finishing before Grace felt anything. Even when she was sore and exhausted, she'd still get up to clean them both up.
Henry never stayed the night. After he left, Grace would sit on the carpet for ages, the trash can beside her holding the used condom.
This whole thing drained Grace. She didn't mind taking care of him, respecting his quirks. If he didn't want to go out, fine.
But his coldness was unbearable, dragging her back to the past, back to the marriage where Henry hurt her without a second thought.
In two months, Grace had lost a lot of weight.
Sometimes, she wanted to talk to Henry, but they were never on the same wavelength. Henry shut himself off, and Grace could feel he regretted it.
He regretted their relationship.
As days went by, Grace didn't know what she was holding on to. Maybe she was waiting for a miracle, for Henry to get better and things to go back to how they were.
In early November, Owen came back with a young girl he met abroad who looked a lot like Grace at 20.
Owen invited Grace to dinner. Besides catching up, he brought her some materials. It was some rare foreign literature about Henry's condition, which Owen had gotten through a client.
While Grace was looking through the materials, Owen's young girlfriend stayed close, sticking to him like glue. Grace could tell the girl came from a good family and was very innocent.
Maybe Grace stared at the girl too long, making Owen uncomfortable. He eventually sent the girl back to their suite.
When he returned, he could finally talk to Grace.
He sincerely apologized to Grace because he had broken his promise. He had fallen for that girl.
Grace held the materials, genuinely pleased. "Owen, these are so important to me! As for the rest, it's all fate."
"Yeah, it's all fate!" Owen smiled faintly, a bit bitterly. But he didn't say more. After dinner, he walked Grace to the parking lot.
Grace was wearing high heels, and there was a pothole on the ground. She lost her balance and stumbled.
Owen naturally supported her waist. Maybe this touch reminded him of the past, and his gaze softened.
He said, "I hope these help you and make Henry better soon!"
Grace smiled warmly. "Thanks, Owen! I'm heading back now!"
Owen opened the car door for her, the night wind ruffling his hair. He gave her one last look, eyes full of admiration. He knew this was it; there was no chance for them anymore.
Because Grace had always loved Henry.
It wasn't out of pity, but real, deep affection. The bond between Henry and Grace was special; others might be better in some ways, but they couldn't replace what they had.
The night wind was biting.
Owen gently hugged Grace, his lips brushing her hair. "Be happy, okay?"
Grace's voice caught in her throat. "I will!"
They hugged briefly and let go. There were no regrets, just well-wishes. Maybe that was how it went; a subtle feeling, leading to different paths.
Across the parking lot, a black Rolls-Royce was parked. The rear window was half-open, revealing a distinguished man. It was Henry.
Henry watched them leave the hotel, watched them hug and say goodbye, saw the reluctance in Grace's eyes.
Henry watched, expressionless. He thought he should be grateful that Grace saved face by meeting Owen behind his back.
He wondered how many times they did it in the hotel suite or if she felt better with a healthy man.
These thoughts gnawed at Henry's already dark heart.
When Grace got back to the villa, it was nearly ten.
The kids were asleep, and most of the servants were too. Only a small night light in the hall was on, waiting for her return.
Grace, not wanting to wake the kids, took off her high heels as soon as she entered and carried them upstairs.
"Where were you? Why are you back so late?" In the dim light, a familiar voice sounded.
Grace jumped. She looked towards the voice and saw Henry sitting on the living room sofa. Dressed in black, he blended into the night, making him hard to spot.
Grace didn't hide anything. She turned on the light and said softly, "Owen's back! I had dinner with him..."
Henry cut her off.
His face was stern, his words harsh, giving Grace no room. "Did you sleep with him? How many times? It must feel better with him than with me, right? At least you don't have to sit on a cripple and do all the work. Or do you find it more exciting with someone like me?"
On that autumn night, Grace felt a chill. She knew their relationship had issues and that Henry had extreme thoughts, but she never imagined he'd say such hurtful things. What did he take her for? Just a woman with desires?
Grace tightened her thin coat, feeling a metallic taste in her mouth. "Henry, you seem a bit agitated. Let's talk later."
Henry refused. He looked at her quietly. "I am very calm right now! Grace, I don't need your pity, and I don't need your charity. Just go!"
She stood there and softly asked him why.
Henry didn't answer right away.
His blue eyes stared at her for a long time before he pulled out a crumpled cigarette. He lit it with one hand but didn't smoke. He just watched the smoke swirl.
After a long time, Henry spoke in a low voice, "You've always wanted to know if I knew you were pregnant back then, right? I knew! The day you left, Celeste brought your pregnancy test to me. She said you were pregnant, that you had taken a flight back to Vesper City, and that I should go after you. Grace, do you know how I felt at that moment? I really wanted to go after you, but I was sitting in a wheelchair. I couldn't do anything. I even fell to the ground and couldn't get up. That day, I knew very clearly that I was different from normal people!"
He continued, "Knowing there was someone by your side, I still couldn't resist after you came back. But every time we were together, I kept thinking, maybe it should end. The relationship is mostly pain, besides the sweetness and excitement."