Chapter 91 Henry, Why Are You in My House?
In the dead of night, Frank went back to the hospital.
Juniper barely glanced at him before burying her head in her knees again, still too scared to get close.
Frank swallowed hard and backed out.
He walked down the empty hallway, his leather shoes echoing. At the end, he opened a window, letting the night wind sting his face and blow away the scent of perfume.
Footsteps behind him signaled Henry's arrival.
With shaky hands, Frank lit a cigarette. The glow reminded him of nights with Juniper.
Frank spoke softly, "When I first saw her, I was smitten. I did everything to win her over. But I knew I'd never marry her. It's impossible, unrealistic. The best thing I can do is let her go, so she can live in peace."
He looked at the cigarette, his voice even sadder. "With Grace by her side, I feel better."
Henry was silent for a while, then said, "I brought in top specialists. She's got permanent hearing loss in her right ear and will need a hearing aid for life. Frank, are you sure about this?"
Frank put out the cigarette and said lightly, "Only the strong have choices, Henry. You know that best."
Frank left an $8 million check, enough for Juniper's lifetime.
As he left, he glanced back, eyes moist.
For the rest of his life, no matter how stunning a woman he faced, that whispered word, "If it were you, I would be overjoyed to get engaged," that night remained unmatched in its significance.
Henry handed the check to Juniper.
Juniper clutched it, crying silently, knowing how strange her voice sounded.
Grace held her, made her look into her eyes, and mouthed, "You still have me! Juniper, you will always have me."
Juniper looked dazed.
Grace, eyes teary, smiled and mouthed again, "You still have me! Juniper, you still have me!"
Juniper's lips trembled, and then she cried out loud. Though the sound was harsh, Grace cried with her, leaning on Juniper's thin shoulder, murmuring, "You scared me! Juniper, you scared me a lot, do you know that?"
Henry stepped out of the ward, stood where Frank had, lit a cigarette, and let the night wind blow the smoke away, softening his heart but not his resolve.
Henry chuckled softly. He muttered, "Only the strong have choices!"
Two days later, Juniper tried on the hearing aid.
Grace cried when she heard Juniper's first words.
Juniper wiped away Grace's tears and smiled. "Why are you crying, silly? I can hear now! And $8 million is enough for me to live on for a lifetime."
Grace nodded, tears in her eyes. "Yes, you can hear now!"
But she couldn't forget Juniper's breakdown. Juniper loved being a star, loved modeling. She wanted to shine so the person she liked could see her.
Now, Juniper had no chance. The $8 million bought out her relationship with Frank and ended her career.
That night, in her rented apartment, Grace opened a small bottle of wine. She felt sad and wanted a drink. But after drinking, she felt even more depressed. Half-awake, she vaguely felt something furry brushing against her face.
She opened her eyes to see Sherry lying on the couch, wagging its tail. How did it get here?
Grace remembered, but the alcohol made her dizzy, and she leaned softly against the couch.
Henry came over with a glass of warm water and saw her like this.
Her head was slightly tilted back, her eyes half-closed.
The buttons of her silk shirt were undone, her chest heaving, and the hem of her shirt was rolled up, revealing a slender waist. She exuded a mature allure, tempting Henry.
Under the orange light, Henry quietly gazed at her, his Adam's apple moving slightly.
It had been a while since their last intimate moment. He couldn't help but want her, especially with her lying so enticingly in front of him.
He set down the glass, the water inside swaying.
Henry kept his eyes on Grace, loosening his tie and tossing it onto the couch. Then he removed his cufflinks, placing the small diamond pieces on the table, where they sparkled under the light.
He leaned in to kiss her.
Grace was drunk, but she knew this was wrong. She shouldn't be doing this with Henry.
She tried to evade him, to escape his kisses, but he always found a way to capture her lips, kissing her deeply. He guided her hand to his waist and his belt.
Their clothes stayed on, but it was already unbearable.
Grace lay weakly beneath him, her words fragmented. "Henry, why...why are you here? No, we can't do...this."
Henry gently caressed her flushed face.
His voice was tender. "Is it that we can't, or that you don't want to?"
Grace looked at him helplessly, gasping for breath.
Her trembling body betrayed her true feelings. They had been intimate often before, and over time, she also had developed needs.
But she still insisted, "I don't want to!"
Henry's gaze deepened.
After a moment, he took her hand, guiding it to his face. His features were well-defined, and just touching him evoked feelings. Her fingers brushed against his nose.
Henry gently removed her hand, not letting her touch him anymore.
He whispered in her ear, "Still saying you don't want to? You're almost addicted to touching me!"
Grace's chest heaved even more, and Henry lowered his head to kiss her again.