Chapter 144 He Slowly Got Used to Life Without Grace
After that night in Vesper City, her relationship with Henry hit rock bottom.
Henry barely came home, and when he did, it was just to change clothes. They hardly talked; he got updates on Grace's pregnancy through Celeste.
As Seraphina's health worsened, Henry and Grace took turns being with her, avoiding each other by an unspoken agreement—one visited during the day, the other at night.
Seraphina knew what was happening but couldn't change it.
Rumors about Henry occasionally surfaced.
One morning in late summer, Grace sat at the dining table. The weather outside looked great through the floor-to-ceiling glass, with lush green trees.
Next to her was the morning paper, featuring Henry's scandal.
Henry and a beautiful actress were spotted at the same hotel. The photos showed them walking separately in the hallway of the hotel's presidential suite floor. It wasn't overly intimate, but the atmosphere was suggestive.
Grace stared at it for a long time. The maid, worried she might be upset, softly said, "Mrs. Montague, the milk has gone cold. Let me get you a hot cup."
Grace didn't want to refuse her kindness and softly replied, "Okay."
Just then, another maid walked in, looking troubled, and said, "There's a Ms. Johnson here to see you. Do you want to meet her?"
Grace got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling glass. Sure enough, she saw a high-end nanny van in the courtyard. The very elegant Saskia Johnson was surrounded by two assistants, looking poised and reserved.
The maid behind Grace angrily said, "How shameless! And she calls herself an actress! Mrs. Montague, let me send them away!"
Grace smiled faintly. She didn't know if Henry had an affair with Saskia, but since Saskia had released the scandal and Henry hadn't dealt with it, it seemed he had some interest.
Grace returned to the dining table and calmly said, "Send her in."
The maid was quite angry but went out to invite her in anyway.
Moments later, Saskia walked in.
As soon as Saskia entered, she noticed Grace's rounded belly, about six or seven months along.
Grace was different from what Saskia had imagined. She expected to see a jealous, raging socialite, but Grace was very calm. She even said gently, "If you're looking for Henry, he's not home."
Saskia took off her sunglasses. "You don't mind me coming here for him?"
At that moment, the maid brought in the hot milk.
Grace took a sip and then said nonchalantly, "Ms. Johnson, you're not the first woman to come to my door, and you certainly won't be the last. But you should know, if Henry really wanted to be with you, he wouldn't need you to make a move; he would make room for you himself."
Saskia felt a bit humiliated. She and Henry had just happened to stay at the same hotel.
She had released the scandal, and Henry hadn't denied it, so she thought she had a chance. She didn't expect to be mocked by Grace.
Saskia coldly smiled. "A man like Mr. Montague has many temptations outside! Mrs. Montague, you must be exhausted dealing with it all with pregnancy!"
Grace remained indifferent. "If a man really wants to indulge, a woman can't stop him."
Saskia wanted to say more, but Grace issued an eviction order, speaking gently to the maid beside her, "Please see Ms. Johnson out."
Saskia was stunned that Grace was actually kicking her out.
The maid, not one to tolerate Saskia, said very unhappily, "Leave! If Mr. Montague finds out about this, it won't end well for you!"
Saskia didn't believe it. She thought Henry had feelings for her.
A week later, Saskia was blacklisted in the entertainment industry.
Saskia was clueless about the target of her offense at first. After some digging, she found out it was Henry's doing because she had gone to Grace to assert her dominance.
Saskia wanted to plead with Grace.
An insider told her, "Mrs. Montague didn't hold a grudge. It was Mr. Montague who was unhappy! Don't bother pleading; Mr. Montague doesn't fall for that."
Saskia was completely stunned.
Late one autumn night, with a fine drizzle, a Rolls-Royce Phantom slowly drove into the villa, its body wet from the rain, glistening under the lights.
The driver got out, opened the umbrella, and then the back door, softly calling, "Mr. Montague, we're home."
Inside the dim car, Henry leaned back with his eyes closed, resting.
Lately, work had been hectic, and Seraphina's health was failing. She often called out "Neil" in her sleep, and Henry went to care for her almost every night. But no matter how filial he was, he couldn't fill the void in Seraphina's heart.
Neil had been missing for over a decade, and now that Seraphina was near the end, she still couldn't see him.
Seeing Henry's bad mood, the driver was even more cautious.
Henry walked into the foyer, and the maid greeted him softly, "Mr. Montague, would you like a late-night snack? Mrs. Grace Montague just went to bed. She was taking care of Mrs. Seraphina Montague all day. I noticed Mrs. Grace Montague has gotten quite thin these days."
In the bright light of the crystal chandelier, Henry's expression softened a bit. He changed his shoes and quietly said, "No late-night snack." Then he slowly went upstairs.
Holding the railing, he ascended the stairs, vaguely realizing that he hadn't seen Grace for about a week. They hadn't even exchanged a phone call or a Facebook message in that time.
Counting it up, this near-separation had lasted almost four months.
Henry seemed to have slowly gotten used to life without Grace, used to not having a wife, used to a future without her. Once she gave birth, maybe he could completely let go. By then, when they met, they would just be Taylor's mom and dad.
In the soft light, Henry thought, 'since she despises me, why should I keep her trapped?'
Reaching the second floor, he opened the bedroom door to find it pitch dark inside.
The maid had said Grace had trouble sleeping at night. He knew it was because of Oliver's case, but she had never asked him for help, never opened up to him.
Henry didn't disturb Grace. He sat on the bed, loosened his tie, and then lay down beside her. He didn't embrace her, just lay there quietly for a while. Then he reached under the blanket and gently touched her rounded belly.
Seven months pregnant, Grace's belly was round, but her body was still slender, her face still sharp, with just a few light freckles on her nose.
Henry touched her for a long time, and Grace woke up.
Knowing she was awake, he withdrew his hand and softly asked about the baby. They chatted indifferently for a few minutes. Fortunately, with the lights off, neither had to face the other.
Finally, Henry lay flat and softly said, "I didn't sleep with that actress. I don't even know her."
Grace smiled faintly and said, "She didn't hurt me. You don't need to explain."
The rain continued through the night.
Henry's mood worsened because of Grace's words, but he didn't say anything more to her, just silently digested his bad mood.
They lay there in silence, in the cold night, without giving each other a hug.
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