Chapter 89 He Isn't That Sincere About Love!
Grace was stunned for a moment and turned to see Frank. He looked awful—haggard face, bloodshot eyes—nothing like the spirited guy in his engagement video.
"Where's Juniper?" Frank's voice was rough, and his grip on Grace's wrist hurt.
Grace snapped out of it and met Frank's eyes. "She was at home in Evergreen City when we talked yesterday. Frank, aren't you getting engaged? Why are you looking for her?"
Frank let go of her and lit a cigarette, a thin gray mist rising.
He flicked the ash and said softly, "I haven't been able to reach her since last night! Grace, it's not that I don't want to let her go; I can't let myself go!"
Grace murmured, "Frank, you're getting engaged! Do you want Juniper to be your mistress? If you keep bothering her, do you think your fiancée will let Juniper go? Juniper has nothing; she's just an orphan, while Thalia comes from a powerful family. It would be easy for her to deal with Juniper."
Frank's voice was hoarse. "I won't let Thalia hurt her."
Grace's eyes narrowed. "What makes you so sure? You can't even reach her now."
"Please, try to stay calm," Frank urged.
Grace stepped back, her voice trembling. "If you knew what Juniper has been through, you'd understand why I can't stay calm! Frank, you can get engaged and have a happy marriage, but don't hurt Juniper. She's not like you; she has nothing! When she's hurt, all she can do is hide and lick her wounds, telling herself it doesn't matter."
Grace's fingers shook as she dialed Juniper's number. Instead of Juniper's voice, she got a cold, robotic message. The call failed. She tried again and again, but it was always the same.
In the past, Juniper traveled a lot, so this wasn't unusual. But today, Grace felt uneasy.
That night, Grace woke up from a nightmare. She dreamt of Juniper, standing at the edge of a cliff, covered in blood, saying, "Grace, this time I might really be leaving!"
"Juniper!"
Grace woke up drenched in sweat, her clothes soaked. She stared into the dark, still trapped in the nightmare.
The phone rang, breaking the silence. She thought it was Juniper and answered immediately, "Juniper?"
But it was Henry.
In the deep night, Henry's voice was low and gentle. "It's Henry. Grace, did you have a nightmare?"
In the middle of the night, people are most vulnerable. Even though their relationship was strained and Henry wasn't someone Grace wanted to rely on, she still said in a hoarse voice, "Frank came to see me this afternoon. He said he couldn't reach Juniper. Henry, I'm afraid something might have happened to her."
Thinking of the dream, she curled up and started crying softly.
Grace wasn't a savior; she wasn't the formidable force she once was. Back then, the Windsor family was wealthy and influential, and Grace could protect anyone she wanted.
In those days, she could shield Juniper from harm, ensuring her safety.
Zephyr City.
Henry had been busy all night, and the trade fair was almost settled. In a hotel in a foreign city, he suddenly felt lonely and wanted to hear Grace's voice.
As he listened to her soft sobs, a wave of empathy washed over him. In that moment, it felt like he could see the vulnerable young Grace, longing for her mother's comforting presence.
Henry's voice was low and gentle, like a husband, a lover, and even a guardian. He told her not to cry, saying he'd be back in Evergreen City tomorrow and would arrange for someone to find Juniper.
After a while, Grace stopped crying.
Henry held the phone, listening to her soft breathing, and couldn't help but say, "Grace, I tell you not to cry, but I like it when you do. Every time you cry, I want to mess with you more, make you cry out loud, hold my neck, and softly call my name, asking for more."
Grace hung up. The beeping sound came from the phone, but Henry just chuckled.
He pressed the intercom button, summoning Celeste to his room again. Celeste, who hadn't gone to bed yet, made her way to Henry's door, wondering if this frequent summons might mean she should ask for a raise.
When she entered, she found Henry reclining in his chair, tapping away on his phone. He gave a nonchalant command. "Find out where Juniper is."
Celeste was stunned.
Henry smiled faintly. "Start with Frank's fiancée, Thalia. If something happened to Juniper, it would be related to her."
Celeste took a moment to process this. Then she softly asked, "Would Mr. Frank Cavendish break with his family for Juniper?"
Henry's gaze turned serious. "No! The Green family and the Cavendish family recently collaborated on a billion-dollar project. Both sides are shrewd and don't trust each other. Only by marrying their children can they feel secure. If Frank breaks off the engagement now, Vincent Cavendish would probably kill him."
'Besides, Frank isn't that simple. He's not that sincere about love; Juniper is just a small drop of blood in his heart,' Henry thought but didn't say.
As Celeste left, she leaned against the door, contemplating the intricacies of male relationships. Men like Henry and Frank seemed to view their affection for women as mere acts of charity. She mused that perhaps it was unwise to take their gestures of love too seriously.
In the past, Celeste envied Grace; now she pitied her.
Henry was much more complex than Frank. At 20, he graduated from a top university. At 22, he returned from studying abroad and joined the Montague Group, climbing to the top through countless struggles, bringing Aurora back home.
Celeste knew best how ruthless Henry could be.
The next day, Grace was restless. Even Gavin noticed and said her violin playing was terrible, suggesting she go home early.
Grace softly apologized. She walked out of the music center and dialed Juniper's number again, but it still didn't go through. She thought about calling the police but was afraid the other party would kill Juniper. She felt like she was going crazy.
A black Bentley pulled up beside her, the window partially lowered to reveal Henry inside. Dressed in a dark blue shirt and a sleek black coat, he exuded refinement and elegance. Casting a glance at Grace, Henry's features softened as he said, "Hop in."
Grace didn't hesitate; she knew she needed his help. Opening the passenger door, she was surprised to find a small dog on the seat, its big, dark eyes fixed on her and its tail wagging joyfully.
Henry picked up the dog and repeated, "Get in the car!"
Once Grace was in, he placed the dog in her lap. The small, soft body made it hard for Grace to refuse. She almost stiffened as Henry fastened her seatbelt. He was so close she could smell his faint scent.
Grace lowered her eyes. "Henry, I told you I have nothing to thank you with."
Henry looked up, his dark eyes staring into hers. Under such a purely masculine gaze, Grace's body trembled slightly. She couldn't help but think of that night, remembering what he said to her afterward, "So red and soft."