Chapter 71 The Total Ending Between Grace and Henry
Henry froze as the slap echoed. He looked down at Grace, lying on the pillow, her chest rising and falling. Her silk nightgown had slipped off her shoulder, revealing her delicate skin. She was a mix of fragility and beauty.
"You're hitting me now?" Henry asked, his voice gentle despite the unreadable look in his blue eyes.
He grabbed her hand and pinned it above the pillow but didn't move.
Grace's nose was red. She looked up at him, her voice shaky. "Henry, are you trying to force me? If not, let me go!"
Henry didn't let go. He stared at her for a long time before saying, "When I said we should start over, I meant it."
Grace turned away, burying her face in the pillow. "There won't be any kids between us, and nothing else either! I can't do this anymore, Henry. We're done!"
Grace stopped resisting, lying beneath him, vulnerable. If Henry had chosen to be intimate, she couldn't have stopped him. Despite her inner conflict—Oliver—she had to continue as Mrs. Montague.
It was just humiliation, without love. Henry knew this. He understood he could claim her, maybe even get her pregnant. They were young; it wouldn't be hard for Grace to conceive. If not the first time, they could try again.
But he also knew that doing so would end their relationship for good. He stayed still, listening to Grace's raspy voice break the silence. "If you don't want to be intimate, then let me go!"
This time, she easily broke free, turned over, and lay with her back to him. She treated him coldly, even her back showing distance and indifference. Henry watched her, remembering how he used to treat her coldly, how indifferent he was to their marriage. Now, Grace was treating him the same way.
Henry didn't leave. He lay down beside her, his hand on her shoulder. He just wanted to touch her, to make sure she was still there.
But Grace's body stiffened. Henry's face turned pale.
In the afternoon, Celeste called, saying Elodie had been transferred back to the Montague Group hospital and wanted to see Henry.
Henry took his phone and went out.
He sat on the sofa in the study, rubbing his temples, looking tired. "Just tell her I'm busy!"
Celeste said, "If you don't come, Elodie won't cooperate with the treatment. Mrs. Williams is causing a scene at the hospital. Have you thought about sending Elodie abroad for treatment?"
Celeste was at her breaking point. Despite her good salary as a secretary, the constant hospital demands and managing Rebecca and Elodie were overwhelming. Plus, with her wedding a few months away, the pressure was mounting.
Hearing Celeste, Henry thought about it but knew he had to go to the hospital to calm Elodie down.
Back in the bedroom, he saw Grace still lying there. He knew she wasn't asleep. "I have to go out. Can you get me a set of clothes?" he asked softly.
"Do it yourself," Grace replied, her voice hoarse. "I'm done handling your personal stuff. Maybe hire someone else. You could even bring Celeste home and pay her well."
Henry frowned. "I don't want strangers messing with my things."
Silence filled the room until Grace spoke again, her voice firm. "Well, too bad. I'm done. If you think it's a waste to keep me around, divorce me. I don't need to be Mrs. Montague."
Henry stood there, processing her words. She was serious about not serving him anymore. She didn't care if Celeste took over; she didn't see him as her husband anymore. Maybe she thought one more affair wouldn't matter.
Henry snorted. "You've got it all figured out, huh?" He went to the closet to change.
Grace didn't look at him when he left.
At the hospital, Elodie's crying annoyed Henry. He didn't stay long; no one liked being in a hospital, no matter how fancy.
In the car, he had a paper bag with the burned remains of a wedding photo and Grace's diary. They were mostly destroyed, but he had found the best restoration expert, Donovan Murphy.
Henry watched Donovan closely as he inspected the items. Donovan smiled. "Mr. Montague, these aren't worth restoring. The photo's a fake, and the diary isn't from anyone famous. They're too damaged."
Henry didn't budge. "These are important to me. Please, take another look." He handed Donovan a check for $1.5 million.
Donovan sighed as he looked at the check. "I'll do my best, but remember, I can repair paper, can't restore missing words. No technique can fix a broken marriage."
Henry felt a deep sadness. Later, sitting in his car, Donovan's words echoed in his mind.
He stayed there from dusk till dark, until the windshield fogged up. Finally, he snapped back to reality.
Checking his phone, he saw missed calls from Celeste, his lawyer, and 13 from Elodie, but none from Grace.
Henry's heart sank. Grace's feelings for him were gone. She didn't just lack love; she didn't want him at all anymore.