Chapter 81 I'm Done Dealing with You!
Grace stayed quiet, her eyes locked with Henry's as he grabbed her hand. "I'm heading back to Evergreen City to fix this now! Grace, I'll control the damage and minimize the fallout."
Grace looked down, then gave a bitter smile. "How can you control it? 100,000 shares, Henry. How?"
Henry clenched his fist and left the room. Elodie's mess wasn't just a Windsor family issue; it threatened the Montague Group too. If not handled quickly, their stocks could tank.
As Henry reached the theater entrance, regret hit him. He glanced back at Grace, standing alone under the spotlight, looking fragile and alone.
Grace softly asked the theater manager, "Can I be alone for a bit?"
The manager, understanding, quickly replied, "Of course, Ms. Windsor. I'll clear the place for you. Stay as long as you need. We close at six."
Grace thanked him quietly. Once everyone left, she picked up her violin and played Donna's favorite piece with her eyes closed. She remembered summer nights as a child, falling asleep in Donna's arms as she hummed softly.
Suddenly, the violin string snapped under the pressure. Grace lowered the violin, feeling the weight of disappointment. After standing in silence for what felt like forever, she reached for her phone and called Nathan. He answered after three rings, and they both stayed silent.
Nathan's shallow breaths told Grace he knew. Tears welled up as she struggled to speak. "Dad, I'm sorry!"
Nathan was silent for half a minute. When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse, showing his torment. "Grace, I never wanted you to sacrifice your whole life for just ten years with Oliver."
Tears streamed down Grace's face as she clutched the phone, sinking to the floor, overwhelmed by pain. Her body, heart, and soul ached deeply.
The family Grace had always been proud of didn't fall apart when Oliver went to prison; it shattered when Elodie walked into Tranquil Heights.
Reflecting on her situation, Grace wondered if her teenage crush on Henry led her here. The weight of her actions was heavy, especially the burden on her father, Nathan. How could he bear such shame? And her mother Donna, who had always lived with such integrity, now deprived of peace. Grace was restless, trapped by her choices. She collapsed, tears streaming down her face.
Grace stayed in the theater until evening. After leaving, she didn't go back to the hotel but walked quietly along Grand Avenue.
The sunset was fiery red, painting the sky and earth. The distant traffic and old buildings highlighted Grace's loneliness.
Grace walked from dusk to dawn. By the time she got back, the scandal had been hushed up. Elodie's photos were gone from social media, but everyone in Evergreen City's high society knew that Elodie had took photos in Tranquil Heights.. It was a cruel irony.
At seven in the morning, Grace returned to the hotel. As she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Henry leaning against the wall opposite her room, staring at the door number, deep in thought.
Hearing her footsteps, he turned. Their eyes met, and time seemed to freeze. Henry's voice was hoarse. "Where did you go? I looked for you all night."
Grace walked up to him but didn't open the door. She leaned against it, looking pale and tired under the hallway light. Her voice was calm, almost too calm. "Henry, are you here to talk about divorce?"
Henry's eyes tightened. "I never thought about divorce."
Grace smiled and bent down to take off her high heels. After hours of walking, they had become painful. She sighed in relief, feeling the comfort of being barefoot again.
Holding her delicate high heels, she spoke softly, "You let Elodie take wedding photos at Tranquil Heights, the place my mother built with her own hands! Henry, you used to call her Aunt Donna. Even if our marriage is unbearable, the deceased should be respected. But your indulgence and compensation for your mistress far exceed our marriage. My family and I can't get even a little respect from you."
Tears filled Grace's eyes as she leaned against the door for support, her slender neck tensed, her lips trembling.
"Henry, you always talk about starting over with me, but do you truly love me? Your affection is conditional, confined. Your aim is to fix your own chaotic life! It's always about you in the end. My well-being, happiness, and willingness hold no significance to you. It all boils down to mere compensation. Yes, you have wealth, able to buy me material things and attempt to win me over. And if that doesn't work, you resort to negotiation. You're well aware of my vulnerabilities, of my fear to walk away. But Henry, can a love that stems from coercion truly be called love?"
After pouring out her heart, Grace took a moment to collect herself, the weight of her words making it hard to breathe. With a heavy sigh, she turned towards the door, her hand reaching for the handle.
Henry wanted to follow her in, but Grace blocked the door. "I'm very tired! I'm done dealing with you."
Henry didn't let go, so as Grace closed the door, his fingers got caught. Despite the pain, Henry seemed unfazed. His stare bore into Grace's eyes, intense and unreadable.
They had been married for three years. He knew her well enough to sense her disheartenment. He could feel she wanted to leave him, but he didn't want to let go.
Henry spoke softly, saying it was Celeste's fault, not his intention, and that he could compensate.
Grace lowered her head without responding. She asked him to let go so she could close the door. Henry didn't force her anymore. Just as the door was about to close, he said hoarsely, "I'm sorry."
The door closed, and Grace leaned against it, lost in thought.
Outside, Henry stood there. The spotlight cast on his face, outlining his features sharply. He stared at the door for a long time, then slowly took two steps back and leaned against the wall.