Chapter 13 The Belated Kindness
Grace dashed back to her rented house. From a distance, she spotted Clara anxiously waiting downstairs with an umbrella.
Grace slowed down and asked, "Clara, what are you doing here?"
Once inside, Clara handed her a towel to dry her hair. "I was worried about you. It's pouring out there. Why didn't you grab a cab?"
Grace sighed, "It's tough to get a cab in this weather."
Clara urged her to take a shower. When Grace came out, Clara had brewed some ginger tea to warm her up.
As Grace accepted the tea, Clara hesitated before asking, "How are things with Henry?"
Grace paused, then replied softly, "He won't agree to a divorce. I can't find a lawyer willing to take the case right now, but I've applied for a separation. In two years, even if he doesn't agree, we can still get divorced."
Clara stayed silent, gently tending to Grace's wounds. As she applied medicine to the cuts on Grace's fingers, a wave of sadness washed over her.
Grace used to be a top student at the music academy, with many renowned musicians wanting to mentor her, including the maestro Gavin Garcia.
Now, she was playing the violin in such a place.
Sensing Clara's emotions, Grace reassured her, "Once Dad recovers and Oliver is released, I'll get back to my violin studies!"
Clara finally smiled. "I believe in you! You'll become a musician."
Grace smiled faintly. It had been a long time since she smiled like that, and when she did, she looked very cute.
Back in her room, Grace sat by the bed, carefully wiping her cherished violin.
At that moment, her phone rang. It was the manager from the performance company, informing her about a prestigious restaurant opening the next day that required a top-tier performance.
With a chuckle, the manager exclaimed, "Grace, you came to mind right away! Playing for four hours and earning $5,000—it's like a gift from above! I know your financial situation, so how about we split it fifty-fifty? Fair deal, right?"
$2,500 for four hours!
Grace stood up promptly. While she usually kept to herself, this time she offered a few kind words.
The manager specifically instructed, "Dress nicely tomorrow!"
Grace agreed and couldn't help but hold her violin, touching it repeatedly.
After a brief moment of delight, she proceeded to select appropriate attire.
After searching for a while, she found a white silk blouse and a black long skirt. Grace looked at them, feeling a bit dazed. She had worn this outfit when she was Mrs. Montague. It had been a long time since she last wore it.
The next night, the high-end restaurant in the prime area of Evergreen City was brightly lit. Waiters carried trays, moving back and forth.
Grace wore a silk gown, her blonde hair pinned at the nape of her neck, adorned with a pair of pearl earrings, looking exceptionally beautiful. Under the crystal chandelier, she played the violin gracefully and beautifully.
Through the floor-to-ceiling glass, a black Bentley was parked outside. Henry leaned against the car, smoking, dressed in a black shirt and black casual pants, looking more relaxed than his usual business attire. The smoke was quickly torn apart by the night wind.
It was Henry's first time watching Grace play the violin. The way he looked at her revealed a hint of a man's desire for a woman, and an unconscious possessiveness.
He didn't enter the restaurant, just stood outside waiting. He saw men occasionally approach Grace, handing her business cards, but she politely declined with a smile, only focusing on her violin. Henry was quite satisfied with that.
He thought, as long as Grace came back home with him, he could overlook her recent rebellion.
At 10:30 PM, the restaurant closed. Grace packed up her violin and said goodbye to the restaurant manager. The manager was quite pleased with her performance and promptly paid her, saying he would call her again if needed.
Grace expressed her gratitude once more. Stepping out of the restaurant, Henry caught sight of her and was on the verge of calling out when someone else preempted him.
"Grace!"
Grace looked in the direction of the voice. A few steps away, Lucas had just parked his car and lowered the window to wave at her. "Get in! I'll give you a ride home."
Grace felt it was too intimate. Just as she was about to refuse, Lucas took out a container from the passenger seat, remarking, "My mom made sandwiches and asked me to bring them to you."
She felt a bit embarrassed. "She still remembers!"
Lucas smiled warmly and leaned over to open the passenger door. "Get in, I'm heading that way anyway."
Grace couldn't resist any longer. She got in and buckled her seatbelt. "Thanks," she murmured.
Lucas, with his hands on the steering wheel, glanced at her holding the sandwiches, his gaze warm. "If you're hungry, go ahead and eat. They're still warm."
Grace didn't want to seem too familiar, and she was also afraid of dirtying his car, so she shook her head. "I'd rather eat at home."
Lucas didn't push it, gently accelerating the car. After a brief pause, he remarked casually, "Eating at home can be just as nice!"
The white BMW slowly drove away.
About 30 feet away, Henry watched the car leave, his face dark with anger. He took out his phone and made a call. Soon, he got a reply. As he suspected. The owner behind the restaurant was Lucas.
Grace, possibly exhausted, drifted off to sleep in the car. When the vehicle came to a halt, she remained in a peaceful slumber.
Lucas turned to look at her, at her delicate yet slightly haggard face, at her soft body under the silk gown. He had never looked at a woman so openly before.
In the past, Grace was just a little girl in his eyes. But over the years, she had grown into a mature woman, and it was Henry who had shaped her into the alluring woman she was now.
Lucas felt a mix of emotions. He couldn't help but lean over and gently touch her soft cheek, whispering in a hoarse voice, "I knew you first."
Grace awoke, her eyes fluttering open as she glanced around. "Are we here already?"
When she met Lucas's gaze, she froze for a moment, clutching the container in her hands tightly. Having matured, she quickly grasped the situation.
A $200,000 check, specially delivered sandwiches—it was too much to attribute to past feelings. There was only one explanation: Lucas liked her.
Grace thought for a moment and spoke softly, "Lucas, I can handle my family's issues. You don't need to worry about it anymore."
Lucas looked at her quietly. They were both adults, and it was clear what she meant. Grace had guessed his feelings and rejected him! She was probably concerned about Henry and didn't want to affect him.
Lucas didn't complicate matters for her. He gently tapped the container in her hands and offered a faint smile. "Okay! If you need anything, feel free to come to me!"
It was impossible for Grace not to feel touched. Anyone would be grateful for help in a time of need. But in the adult world, there were always too many concerns.
Later, Grace stood in the night wind, watching the white BMW slowly drive away. Once the car was gone, she slowly walked towards the old staircase.
The light in the stairwell had been out of order for days. With no property manager in sight, repairs were progressing at a snail's pace, leaving the area shrouded in pitch darkness.
Grace was about to use her phone for light when a strong male arm wrapped around her. After a few stumbles, she was pinned against the stairwell wall by Henry.
Through a sliver of moonlight from the window, Grace saw Henry's angry face, looking like he had caught a cheating wife.
Grace reached out to push him. "Henry, let go of me!"
Henry stared at her, his blue eyes cold enough to freeze. His hard male body pressed against Grace's chest, the whole posture humiliating.
The sandwich slipped from Grace's hand. Her slender wrists were held high above her head by Henry, firmly pinned.
The faint scent of his stubble brushed against her soft ear. "Is it because of him that you want to divorce me?"
Grace shook her head, as if about to say something, but then unexpectedly let out a long, soft scream.
Henry and Grace had been married for three years. He knew how to arouse her quickly, how to make her feel good, how to make her body go weak.
In the dark, old stairwell, they tangled together. They had both received elite education from a young age. Grace was the epitome of a proper lady, and Henry was so particular about his environment that he was almost a germaphobe. But at this moment, he didn't care at all.
Henry just wanted to see Grace break down, to have her cry in his arms, and then call his name in a weak, hoarse voice.
Grace was nearly breaking down, remarking, "No! I didn't!"
Her voice was raspy, trembling, which only fueled Henry's desire to dominate.
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