Chapter 8 This Family is Broken
Henry was just about to grab his phone to call Celeste for some online stuff when she walked in. She had a bag in her hand and looked pretty pleased with herself. "Mr. Montague, I picked up your clothes from the dry cleaners."
Henry squinted, catching a whiff of the dry-cleaning solution. He glanced at Celeste. "Dry cleaned?"
Celeste nodded. "And ironed too."
She thought Henry would praise her. She'd been working hard by his side for years and often saw herself as Mrs. Montague. After all, she had tried to win Henry over before but got rejected.
In this villa, she often felt more like the lady of the house than Grace, the real one.
However, to her surprise, Henry's cold voice cut through the air. "Did I say you could touch my clothes?"
Celeste was stunned and was about to explain when Henry's low voice interrupted. "Next month, you're going to the branch office in Emerald City. Same position, same salary."
Henry was fed up with her. They were all adults, and he could easily tell which women had a thing for him.
Before, Celeste hadn't really bothered him. But now, the fireworks news, the ignored mission about visiting his father-in-law—Celeste had crossed the line.
Celeste trembled and forced a smile. "Mr. Montague, is that you don't like dry cleaning or..."
"I don't want to repeat myself." Henry pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly irritated.
Celeste was taken aback. She knew Henry had seen through her and wouldn't let her have feelings for him. Helplessly, she said, "I have a boyfriend now."
Henry still didn't respond.
Celeste's expression was complicated as she continued, "It's real, Mr. Montague. Next month, you will get my wedding invitation."
This time, Henry relaxed a bit, looked at her, and said, "Handle the online stuff about Elodie."
He fiddled with the ring that used to belong to Grace and said seriously, "Also, Mrs. Montague is short on money lately. Give her some, but not too much. You know how to handle it, right?"
Celeste quickly nodded. "Got it, Mr. Montague."
She looked at Henry's stern face and cautiously asked, "Mr. Montague, is it because of Mrs. Montague that you want me to leave?"
Henry's eyes narrowed, and he looked at her coldly. "What do you think?"
Knowing she shouldn't cross the line again, Celeste left the villa. She felt some resentment. Why wasn't she the one who married Henry back then? Instead, it was Grace who married Henry after a one-night stand. Now, it seemed Henry was paying more and more attention to Grace.
He used to never care about online rumors, but now, just because of Grace's habit of cleaning his clothes by hand, he was so close to firing her, his loyal assistant for years.
Celeste's little schemes were exposed, making her feel embarrassed. If she hadn't just saved herself, she might already be on a flight to Emerald City.
Men all liked beautiful women; Henry was no exception. This was why Celeste was only hostile towards Grace, even if it meant helping Elodie in the process— She saw Grace as the biggest threat, while the crippled Elodie wasn't worth worrying about. If it weren't for the fact that she woke Henry up and saved his life, Elodie wouldn't have garnered any of his attention, especially with her failed marriage and crippled leg, not to mention her parents' past as the Windsor family's driver and cook. Those were also what Henry's family would look down upon.
Celeste, as Henry's capable assistant, found out Grace was selling a house, and saw an opportunity to fulfill the task of sending Grace money without her knowing the buyer was Henry. Just like that, the last remnant of Grace's mother was traded for 25 million dollars.
A house worth $50 million was sold at a low price, because Grace couldn't wait any longer, even though Clara wanted to meet the buyer and scold them for their greed.
After repaying Lucas $2 million, though the remaining $23 million seemed like a lot, it was barely enough for her father's medical expenses, not to mention her brother Oliver, who also needed a large amount of legal fees.
"Don't worry, Clara, I have found a job with good pay. It's at an educational institution, as a violin teacher, and I can earn $100,000 a month," Grace comforted.
Clara looked at her pretending to be strong and felt incredibly bitter. She even thought about whether she should ask her family for help, but then she remembered she had been disowned. Going back would only bring ridicule.
After selling the house, Grace managed to see Oliver.
Oliver, once the leading business prodigy in Harmony City, had single-handedly elevated his family from modest beginnings to the upper echelons of wealth within a mere three years. But because of a wrongful conviction, he had fallen to this point.
He used to be so brilliant, but now he looked more weathered.
In his words, he revealed a piece of information. "Grace, find a lawyer named Dylan Miller. He can solve all our family's problems."
Grace silently noted the name, but before she could ask more, Oliver was taken away.
Grace hurriedly stood up, looking through the bars at Oliver, whose eyes were full of pain and reluctance.
Oliver looked at Grace, feeling bitter. Grace, who used to be the little princess adored by everyone, could have lived a carefree life. But because of one absurd night, she married the wrong person and suffered humiliation. Now, when his sister was burdened with responsibility, the brother she had always looked up to was powerless and helpless, unable to shield her from the storm engulfing their lives.
Bitterness filled his heart, his eyes reddened, and he looked at Grace with reluctance, leaving a final word. "Grace, take care."
Grace stayed where she was, watching Oliver being taken away. After her brother disappeared from her sight, she sat down on the chair, unable to come back to her senses for a long time.
She had to find Dylan! But she didn't even know who Dylan was, how could she find him?
She immediately thought of the only person who could help her now, that was Lucas.
Thinking of this, she took out her phone and made a call, her voice very anxious. "Lucas, can you do me a favor?"
Lucas heard the panic in Grace's voice and quickly put down his utensils, responding. "Grace, where are you? Did something happen?" His voice was gentle and slightly anxious.
At this moment, Grace felt a trace of gratitude. Henry, the man she had loved for six years, never showed up when she needed him the most, while it was an outsider she had only met a few times in childhood reaching out with a helping hand.
"Lucas, I want to find a lawyer named Dylan, but I have no leads."
Lucas agreed to help immediately.
"Thank you." Grace held her phone with both hands, a tear falling from the corner of her eye.
In the prison's visiting room, Grace's thin figure looked particularly fragile. She forced herself not to cry.
The Windsor family needed her.