Chapter 76 Henry, the Truth Doesn't Really Matter Anymore!
Henry barely got three hours of sleep. When he woke up, he found himself holding Grace tightly. Her silk nightie was a bit ruffled, showing a glimpse of her silky shoulder in the dawn light. She was still snuggled up in his arms.
He buried his face in her neck, feeling the warmth. After a moment, he got out of bed.
He had an important meeting at the company that morning.
Henry quickly washed up and changed into fresh clothes. While tying his tie, he walked back to the bedroom. Grace was awake, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking dazed. She looked up when she heard his footsteps, and their eyes met.
After a few seconds, she seemed to remember last night. "Henry, the truth doesn't matter much anymore. It's been so long, and I don't care as much. We should move forward."
In the morning light, Grace looked calm and logical. "Think about what I said last night."
Henry stayed silent, moving closer with a husky voice, "Help me with my tie. I can't get it right." His voice quivered slightly, memories of their three years together flashing in his mind.
Surprisingly, Grace didn't refuse. She knelt on the bed and tied his tie while he leaned in to make it easier. They were so close their breaths mingled.
Grace was skillful, and the tie looked perfect. She glanced at it and brought up the earlier topic again. "Henry, we..."
Before she could finish, Henry wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, kissing her gently. If she resisted, he would wait, savoring the moment, his breath brushing her face, his touch firm but gentle on her back.
Her moon-white silk nightgown contrasted with his dark suit pants.
Henry, not yet 30, felt his desires stir. He stopped kissing, leaning on her shoulder, breathing lightly, his voice hoarse. "Grace, do you want to make love? I really want to."
Grace replied indifferently, "Don't you have to go to the company?"
Henry's gaze deepened. He didn't really want to make love; he just wanted to see if Grace still had feelings for him. He checked, but during the contact, he was still disappointed.
Grace stayed composed. Adjusting her nightgown, she calmly said, "Aren't you supposed to head to the office soon?"
Henry checked the time and left. After he left, Grace lay back on the bed.
She stared at the ceiling, trying to hold back tears. All her forced calm and strength collapsed after Henry left.
How could she let it go?
Because of a scheme, she lost her youthful passion, three years of her life, and was trapped in a cold marriage for three years.
How could Henry's "let's start over" make up for all that?
She didn't want his compensation or him!
Her sobs were low and suppressed; she needed this release. After all, she had endured for three years. No one knew how she had lived through these years, and no one knew her misery.
At three in the afternoon, Grace went out alone. She drove her white Maserati, bought long ago but rarely used. She used to prefer the chauffeur's car because he would call her Mrs. Montague when opening the door. Now, thinking about it, it seemed ridiculous.
Grace couldn't stop worrying about Juniper, so she set up a meeting at a coffee shop.
Juniper got there first, sitting by the window, watching Grace pull up. When Grace walked in, Juniper raised an eyebrow. "Why are you driving yourself? Don't rich ladies always have chauffeurs?"
Grace smiled faintly and said, "I want to drive myself from now on."
Juniper got the hint. "You really want to leave? I thought Henry was doing better lately."
Grace didn't want to get into that. She asked, "What about you and Frank? What's your plan?"
Juniper looked a bit embarrassed, fiddling with her hair. She dodged the question, only mentioning the good parts. "What could happen? It's just the usual man-woman stuff. Who can't live without whom?"
Grace stayed silent.
Then Juniper got real. "He's holding onto my resources! If I completely fall out with him, how will I survive in the industry? Grace, I don't want to live in poverty again. I've become completely corrupt!"
Grace knew Juniper didn't mean it. Juniper was like a floating duckweed, drifting without a home. Grace could see Juniper had feelings for Frank. Now that Frank had a fiancée, Juniper was just pretending not to care.
Grace clasped Juniper's hand, a serious look in her eyes. She pulled out a check for $800,000 from her handbag.
Juniper froze. She knew Grace didn't want to take money from Henry, so this must be from selling her own house. She couldn't she take it. She knew that if she took the money, she would be ashamed to face Grace.
Grace squeezed Juniper's hand, her voice tense. "I'll support you!"
"Maybe I'm still stuck in this marriage with Henry, but I'm different now. I have more leverage! Juniper, listen to me, once Frank gets engaged, leave him! Leave completely! Go to another city, or go abroad, anywhere!" Grace said firmly.
Juniper felt a lump in her throat as she looked at Grace. Grace was just as she remembered—gentle and refined. With her petite face and slender frame, Grace exuded a deep understanding, always open and attuned to Juniper, the one person who truly got her.
Juniper loved Frank. It wasn't love at first, but it grew over time.
But she knew Frank didn't think much of her, and his family would never let him marry a girl with a bad reputation. His fiancée, Thalia Green, was the Cavendish family's ideal choice.
Juniper's bark was worse than her bite, but she didn't have the courage to leave. Grace had pierced that veil.
In the busy coffee shop, Juniper cried like a fool. At that moment, she felt like she was back in her childhood, standing on the rooftop.
Grace opened her arms and said calmly, "Juniper, come to me! I'll support you!"
Juniper got into her sports car, clutching the $800,000 check Grace had given her, and called Frank. "Frank, let's break up! I'll pay the $600,000 termination fee! You go your way, I'll go mine, and we'll have nothing to do with each other."
Frank was silent for a moment before speaking. His voice was very light. "Juniper, is this a breakup? It's the end of a sugar daddy arrangement! Take your money and yourself and get out of my sight, far away, and don't let me see you again!" He hung up, guessing it was Grace's idea.
Grace was much smarter than Juniper, knowing that Frank cared about his reputation and wouldn't want to take the money.
Grace's generosity saved the money and kept Juniper.