Chapter 28 The Hidden Joy of That Time
Elodie came to the balcony, watching Henry drive away, clenching her fists tightly.
Elodie's father, Calvin Williams, looked at Elodie with some concern. "Elodie, did we go too far? Your mom pushed Mr. Windsor, landing him in the operating room. She also slapped Ms. Windsor and had Ms. Windsor's stepmother sent to the police station and detained. We've definitely made enemies with the Windsor family now!"
Elodie sneered, "It's okay, Dad. As long as Henry marries me, Grace can't cause much trouble."
"But what if Mr. Montague doesn't marry you, Elodie?"
Elodie bit her lip, looking determined. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll make sure to hold onto Henry's heart."
She looked down at her legs, which had been re-pinned with steel plates and were faintly aching, her eyes growing colder.
In the park below the hospital.
Grace sat on a swing, swaying gently. The dim light cast a lonely aura over her.
She didn't know how long she had been there, only that she had stayed in the park for a long time. The sky gradually brightened, and the first rays of sunlight fell on her face.
But she couldn't feel any warmth.
She knew she had been pushed to a dead end.
Oliver had said that life had many paths, but the only path in front of her was to beg Henry.
Even though Elodie had caused her father to have a stroke and undergo surgery, Clara had been framed and sent to the police station, and she had been slapped hard by Rebecca, she still had to humbly beg him.
As for the cost, she knew it all too well—it meant returning to the Montague family, becoming his alone, a plaything in bed that wouldn't resist.
At that moment, someone gently pushed the swing, lifting her feet off the ground. The rays of sunlight shone on her body, creating a dreamy effect.
She turned her head in confusion, only to find that the figure behind her was Lucas.
He had returned.
He had flown overnight to be with her.
His eyes were gentle, filled with tenderness and guilt.
Grace used her feet to stop the swing, and Lucas came in front of her, blocking the sunlight.
He reached out and placed his hand on Grace's head, gently ruffling her hair, and said softly, "I'm sorry, I'm late."
Grace's nose tingled, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
This scene was reminiscent of when she was a child, when she fell, and Lucas would come with a lollipop, ruffle her hair, and say, "Grace, don't cry. I'm here. I'll give you a lollipop."
Lucas chuckled, "This time, I don't have a lollipop."
Grace heard him clearly, lowered her head, and wiped her tears, not wanting him to see her vulnerable side.
Because she didn't want to burden him anymore. This was her choice back then, and she should bear the consequences herself.
Now it was time to put an end to that reckless night.
She wiped her tears, looked up at Lucas with gentle eyes, and smiled, "Lucas, long time no see."
Lucas sat next to her, swinging together. The first rays of sunlight shone on them, and a thin mist enveloped them, creating a dreamy scene.
But Grace knew this was just a dream. She had to face reality. She pretended to be nonchalant as she tucked her hair behind her ear, "Lucas, I'm planning to go back to Henry."
Lucas's body trembled, and he looked at the fragile Grace in front of him with a wooden expression, "You..."
Grace chuckled and continued, "I think there's nothing wrong with going back to being Henry's wife. I can have whatever I want, and I won't have to work hard for my dad's medical bills."
Lucas didn't say anything, but he felt as if Grace had shattered.
"I can..." Lucas wanted to persuade, but Grace interrupted him.
She stood up, hands behind her back, her eyes filled with the last bit of tenderness, and smiled, "Lucas, thank you. If it weren't for you, I might not have my dad anymore."
She turned around, the sunlight casting a hazy glow on her, "But I have my own path, and so do you, Lucas."
Lucas raised his hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight, looking at Grace's figure in the soft light. He knew she was no longer the little girl who would hide behind him and cry.
He felt a sense of helplessness, but more than that, an unspoken pity.
But what they didn't know was that Elodie was watching them, capturing this intimate moment and sending it to Celeste.
In Frank's villa.
Juniper cried and shouted, "Frank, are you still a man? Are you that afraid of Henry?"
On the large bed, Frank found it amusing. "You're even resorting to reverse psychology. So, is Grace really worth it for you?"
Juniper stared at him. "Just tell me if you'll help or not. If you help, I'll even have your child."
She knew that although they were passionate lovers, they would eventually part ways.
Once, in the heat of the moment, Frank had pinned her down and asked her to have his child.
But Juniper had refused. She still wanted to be a model, and she would become fat if she had child.
But now, for Grace, she was willing to agree.
Frank found it amusing. "Is it for Grace, or for Oliver?"
Juniper was stunned, not understanding how Lucas knew.
She had hidden it so well, even Grace didn't know.
Juniper didn't want to think about anything else now. "Frank, give me a straight answer. If you help me, I'll have your child. If not, we'll part ways, and I'll pretend I never knew you."
Grace was now isolated and helpless. She couldn't imagine Grace crying alone in the hallway.
Grace had once pulled her out of the darkness, and now it was her turn.
But Frank found it interesting and slapped her butt. "Juniper, are you threatening me? After all these years, I've never seen you so tough. Is Oliver that important to you?"
He became ruthless, tormenting her fiercely.
At night, the room was filled with constant wailing.
"Back then, you were a virgin, and I took you. Now, for Oliver, you want to have my child. Don't you find it ridiculous?"
Juniper wailed continuously, twisting around his waist.
"You're only good at talking but no real action, aren't you? Aren't you still afraid of Henry? If you won't help, there are plenty of others who will. I can always find someone else to have sex with!"
The more she screamed, the harder Frank fucked her.
All night, the entire villa echoed with Juniper's cursing. The servants didn't dare listen, it was too embarrassing.
In the middle of the night, Frank stopped, grabbed a towel, slapped Juniper's body, and went to take a shower.
Seeing this, Juniper took a cigarette from the nearby pack, put it in her mouth, got up, and went to the bathroom door. She opened the glass door and stood at the entrance, watching Frank. "We've made love. Give me a straight answer, will you help Grace or not?"
Frank was a bit annoyed, grabbed her slender wrist, pinched her chin, and whispered in her ear. "Is Grace really worth it?"
He played with Juniper's body, mocking her, "You've been fucked so many times. Even if Oliver gets out of prison, do you think he'll want you?"
Juniper was triggered. Being raped in her teens was a lifelong shadow.
And she knew she never deserved Oliver.
She didn't want to discuss this with Frank, her tone softer than ever, "Mr. Cavendish, you can play however you like. What I said earlier was just out of anger."
As she spoke, she pressed her body against his, seductive and sophisticated.
Frank had never seen her so tender and was momentarily lost. But thinking that it was all a facade for Oliver, he found it amusing. "Don't take me for a fool. You were just crying about finding another man, and now you're giving in?"
Juniper endured it this time, drawing circles on his chest with her fingers.
Her voice was soft. "Mr. Cavendish, I know I was wrong."
Frank pulled her into the bathtub, playing with her body, and said lightly. "You think you're smart, but you're foolish. You can't even guess Henry's intentions, and you want to play mind games with me."
Juniper was a bit confused.
Frank pinched her chin. "No matter what, Grace is Henry's wife and Mrs. Montague's personally recognized granddaughter-in-law. Do you think Henry would let Elodie frame Grace and harm her family without doing anything?"
Juniper frowned. "So he did it on purpose?"
Frank looked at her mockingly. "You're not that stupid."
Juniper clapped her hands. "I knew it. Henry wouldn't disregard the Montague Group. He is just to force Grace to come back, isn't it?"
Frank wanted to say more, but Juniper wrapped herself in his robe and left.
He just found it amusing.
At the Montague Mansion.
Aurora threw her phone in front of Henry, her tone very unfriendly. "Explain yourself. Do you really want Grace to be completely disappointed in you?"