Chapter 122 You Don't Need to Be Responsible
The coordinator looked at Grace with some hesitation.
Grace stood her ground, "In any case, don't put the flowers in my room. I'm worried about pollen allergies."
Even though she wasn't particularly allergy-prone, she couldn't handle having this many flowers crammed into one hospital room.
Left with no choice, the coordinator had the flowers transported to the back garden downstairs.
After the flower cart was wheeled away, scattered petals remained on the floor.
Grace turned to the aide, "Could you please clean up the room a bit?"
"Of course, Ms. Foster. I'll take care of it right away."
Grace turned to Henry. "Would you like to sit for a while?"
She noticed Henry showed no signs of leaving.
"Sure."
Henry settled onto the sofa in the hospital room.
Grace sat down on her hospital bed.
The two of them sat in relative silence.
Grace glanced out the window, noticing the late hour. "Max should be getting out of school soon."
Henry nodded with a smile. "I really like Max."
Grace felt awkward for a moment. "Max is adorable, so everyone loves him."
Henry replied, "It's not just because he's cute. It's more a case of loving everything about someone you care for."
Grace's face flushed hot, and she found herself at a loss for words.
Henry suddenly spoke with serious intent, "Grace, this might seem forward, but I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to my mother."
---
Crest Corporation.
Conference Room.
Jeremy paused the meeting and entered. "Mr. Hayes, Ms. Foster refused the flowers from Eden Hill Florist."
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Refused?"
Jeremy nodded, leaning in to whisper, "The coordinator called to say Ms. Foster was with a man—reportedly Henry, the future director of Radiant Wellness Center."
Hearing that name, Alexander shot to his feet so abruptly that papers scattered from the table to the floor.
He fixed his stare on Jeremy's face, his expression darkening, "Are you certain? That man is the future director of Radiant Wellness Center?"
"Yes, sir."
Alexander turned away. Below, his subordinates exchanged glances, the silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.
"Today's meeting is canceled. Dismissed." Alexander left that statement hanging as he strode toward the door.
Jeremy hurried to catch up. "Are you heading to the hospital, Mr. Hayes?"
"Get the car ready."
"Yes, sir."
---
The Hospital.
Alexander arrived in haste.
Unable to wait for the elevator, he took the emergency stairwell, rushing directly to the hospital room.
From a distance, he spotted Liam pacing back and forth outside the room, clearly anxious and agitated.
When Liam turned and saw Alexander, his eyes widened as if he'd seen his savior, and he immediately sprinted toward him.
"Daddy!"
He threw himself into Alexander's arms, grabbing his tie while pointing toward the room with his other hand, urgently calling out.
Alexander's expression changed. "What's wrong?"
Liam was too frantic to organize his words properly. In his desperation, he tugged on Alexander's tie and pulled him toward the room.
Alexander let Liam lead him to the doorway.
The hospital room door was tightly closed.
Through the small window, Alexander could see several people inside.
Grace sat on the hospital bed wearing a knitted cardigan. Henry stood nearby. On the sofa sat an elegant woman, impeccably dressed and refined in appearance.
She was holding Max in her arms with obvious affection, her expression showing regret, tenderness, and above all, reproach.
Mrs. Phillips looked at Henry with mild disapproval, "Henry, you should have told me about this earlier. Grace gave you a son, and you've kept it from me all these years. Were you afraid I wouldn't accept this grandson?"
---
Half an hour earlier.
Henry had brought his mother to the hospital room.
Grace wasn't sure what Henry intended, though she remembered owing him a favor. If not for his help, getting Max's identity documents would have been much more difficult.
But she never expected...
Henry would actually tell his mother about Max.
Max and Liam had just returned from school and entered the room when Henry picked up Max and confessed to his mother, "Mom, there's something I've been keeping from you all these years. Seven years ago, Grace had a son—my son. We lost touch for all this time, but now that I've finally found Grace, I want to take responsibility."
Grace was stunned.
She knew perfectly well that Henry understood Max wasn't his child. Although Henry's name appeared on the birth registration, Henry knew better than anyone that Max had no blood relation to him.
Grace looked at Henry with some suspicion.
Henry pressed his hand on her shoulder, signaling her to remain quiet for now.
Surprisingly, Mrs. Phillips was absolutely charmed by Max.
Over the years, Henry had been busy with his studies and work, while Mrs. Phillips worried about his personal life.
She had carefully selected numerous potential marriage partners for him, all of whom Henry had rejected.
Now, seeing that Henry and Grace had such an adorable son, and with Henry expressing his earnest intention to take responsibility for Grace, Mrs. Phillips was naturally delighted.
In Mrs. Phillips' view, Grace came from a decent background, had good education and breeding—as a daughter-in-law, she was quite acceptable.
Most importantly, she had given Henry such an adorable son as Max, which naturally earned Grace extra points in her estimation.
Mrs. Phillips looked at Max with loving affection, then gazed gently at Grace, asking Henry, "Henry, since you say you want to take responsibility for Grace, are you planning to marry her?"
Henry nodded. "I'm just afraid Grace might not be willing."
Mrs. Phillips looked at Grace with some concern. "Grace, would you be willing to marry my son and become part of the Phillips family?"
Grace looked at Mrs. Phillips, momentarily unsure how to refuse. After a long pause, she carefully began, "Mrs. Phillips, I'm very touched by your kindness, but..."
The door was suddenly pushed open.
"She's not willing."
A man's cold voice cut through the room.
Grace stared at the doorway in shock as Alexander entered carrying Liam, who was squirming like a kitten in his arms.
"Alexander?" Grace was momentarily speechless. "How did you get here?"
Alexander glanced at her briefly before fixing his gaze on Henry, speaking coldly, "She doesn't need you to take responsibility."
Henry straightened up, turning to face Alexander with composed elegance, smiling as he asked, "Mr. Hayes, this is a private matter between Ms. Foster and myself. You have no right to interfere."
Mrs. Phillips looked bewildered. "Who is this gentleman...?"
Alexander replied expressionlessly, "I'm her..."
Grace interrupted, "He's my ex-husband."
Alexander's expression instantly turned ice-cold.
Mrs. Phillips' face also froze with awkwardness. "Henry? Grace has... been married before?"
Henry said calmly, "Mother, Grace did indeed have a very brief marriage with this Mr. Hayes."