Chapter 56 Dylan's Potential Assistance
Henry let Grace go with a shrug and headed to the bathroom for a shower. He came out dressed sharply, gave her a disdainful look, and left. He got into his black Bentley, lit a cigarette, and sat there smoking.
Grace was clearly struggling, and Henry wasn't exactly comfortable either. There was a cold distance between them, something important missing.
Thin gray smoke swirled around him as he thought about Grace and her questions about love. She wanted to know if he could love her, if he could truly invest his emotions.
Henry chuckled bitterly. Having grown up in a chaotic home, love was a mystery to him—something he never truly understood or sought. However, Grace's genuine affection intrigued him, leaving him perplexed by his own interest.
Maybe it was because he had secretly read her diary. The desire to have her close, to see her vulnerability and love—it all felt like a luxury to Henry. And luxuries always came at a cost.
Henry sneered, shook off the thoughts, and drove to work.
This incident kept their cold war going.
Henry hadn't been home for days, and he wasn't staying at the office either. Entertainment reporters caught him in another scandal, this time with Elodie in his car, looking at him with admiration while he remained expressionless.
Rumors spread about Henry buying a $15 million house for himself and Elodie, making her seem like his top choice over the glamorous Kimberly. Simplicity seemed to have a special charm that even a star like Kimberly couldn't match.
Even Elodie was dreaming about that mansion, hoping Henry would really buy it for her.
Rebecca encouraged Elodie to stay calm. "Kimberly's out of the picture now. Mr. Montague was just playing around with her, and Grace at home is useless! It looks like Mr. Montague still cares about you the most."
Elodie smiled shyly. "That's because I woke him up from his coma. His feelings for me are partly out of gratitude."
Rebecca was happy for a moment, then whispered, "Elodie, you mustn't tell anyone about the impersonation, or we'll lose everything."
Elodie's face turned pale. "Mom, what are you talking about? I didn't impersonate anyone. It was me who woke him up, not Mrs. Montague!"
Rebecca quickly corrected herself. "Oh, yes, right, I misspoke!" Only then did Elodie cheer up.
Grace was seen as a pitiable figure like Mrs. Montague. Juniper's angry call labeled Henry a scoundrel and accused Elodie of seduction. Why else would she stay by Henry's side, looking so alluring?
After a brief chat, Grace ended the call and set the phone down. A servant's voice came from the doorway, breaking the silence. "The driver is ready, Mrs. Montague. Are you leaving now?"
Grace replied, "I'll be down in a moment."
The servant hesitated. "Earlier, Celeste returned some of Mr. Montague's clothes. Mrs. Montague, are you..." She trailed off, knowing Henry had asked Grace to pack some clothes for him since he wouldn't be home for a while.
Grace understood Henry was too upset to come back, but surprisingly, she felt no resentment.
Grace carefully picked out some outfits and accessories for Henry, thinking about his preferences. As she packed, a mischievous thought crossed her mind—if he kept staying away, maybe she could train his mistress to cater to his needs.
She handed the clothes to the servant, who grumbled, "Mrs. Montague, why are you..."
Grace shrugged it off. "Just doing my job!"
Compared to Henry's petty torments, this was nothing.
Grace didn't know Henry was also in the car, hidden by its dark windows. The staff thought it was just the assistant in the special car.
As the car door closed, Henry leaned back and asked, "What did Mrs. Montague say?"
Lately, Henry had been a ticking time bomb at work.
The assistant replied cautiously, "She didn't say much! But it seems Mrs. Montague is going out."
Henry didn't ask further. As the car started, he thought, 'Grace seems to be very busy lately!'
Before noon, Grace went to Dylan's law firm. He had some case updates for her.
The 300-square-foot office felt cozy rather than luxurious. A whole row of bookshelves was packed with books of all kinds.
Dylan, in a three-piece suit, sat at the desk by the window, with the half-open blinds casting shadows on him. Holding a cigar, he looked sophisticated but was sharp and to the point when discussing the case. He told Grace that based on the latest evidence, there was an 80% chance of acquittal.
Grace murmured, "So there's still a chance of change."
Dylan's smile was faint as he tossed a document in front of Grace. Leaning back, he took a puff of his cigar before dropping a bombshell. "Let's cut to the chase, Mrs. Montague! The biggest wild card in this trial is you. Can you guarantee your marriage to Mr. Montague stays solid despite his recent scandals?"
Grace opened the file and was stunned. It was the divorce agreement Henry had signed back then, but it lacked his signature.
Dylan raised his hand slightly. "Obtained through special channels!"
Grace kept her composure, her silence speaking volumes. Dylan's gaze lingered on her, eventually drifting to her wrist. Even though hidden by her clothes, he couldn't help but imagine the scars beneath, a reminder of the emotional turmoil Grace had endured.
He asked directly, "Why not insist on a divorce?"
Grace's inner struggles were laid bare. Meeting Dylan's gaze with steely composure, she said firmly, "Because, besides Henry, no one can win the lawsuit for Oliver. Dylan, you know this best."
Dylan didn't back down, his eyes intense. "But as far as I know, there are plenty of young talents eager to pursue you, Mrs. Montague! Many are willing to spend $30 million, and they can afford it!"
He added, "Lucas approached me!"
He smiled slightly, his tone sharp. "I can tell this Lucas is a gentleman. He probably wouldn't cheat after marriage, nor would he make his wife sad."
Grace lowered her eyes, her long lashes trembling. After a while, she said softly, "Could you please not tell Henry about this?"
Dylan still smiled faintly and assured, "Don't worry, I won't say anything."
When Grace got up to leave, her legs were weak. As she grasped the door handle, Dylan's voice came from behind. "Mrs. Montague, here's my business card. Perhaps after Oliver's case is over, you'll need it!"
Grace turned to face Dylan, his figure obscured by the backlight. At that moment, a memory flooded back to her—a vivid recollection of Oliver's plea, "Seek out Dylan, Grace. He can help me, and he can help you too!"