Chapter 3 Please Behave Yourself

Three days later, Henry returned to Evergreen City.

As soon as he walked in, the housemaid greeted him, "Mrs. Montague's father had an incident a few days ago. She's been in a bad mood and is upstairs now."

Hearing that Grace was upset, Henry felt a bit annoyed. He pushed open the bedroom door and saw Grace at the vanity, organizing her things.

Henry noticed her silence. Tired from his business trip, he didn't feel like talking either.

He went straight to the walk-in closet, grabbed a bathrobe, and headed to the shower. As the water poured down, he thought about it.

Given Grace's usually meek demeanor, he figured by the time he finished his shower, she'd have calmed down, helped him unpack, and gone back to being the gentle wife.

Henry was so sure of Grace's reaction. So, when he came out of the bathroom and saw his suitcase untouched, he knew they needed to talk.

He settled onto the sofa and casually picked up a magazine. After a while, he looked up at her and asked, "How's your father doing? I already scolded Celeste about that night."

He spoke lightly, without much sincerity.

Grace put down what she was holding and looked up, their eyes meeting.

Henry had handsome features and an aristocratic demeanor, a very charming man.

Grace looked at him for a long time until her eyes felt sore, then she said calmly, "Henry, let's divorce."

Henry was visibly stunned.

Knowing Grace was upset about that night, Henry had quickly sent Celeste to the hospital when he heard about the Windsor family incident. But Grace hadn't appreciated his actions.

This was the first time Grace had gone against his wishes; she had always been obedient before.

Henry spoke coldly, "A few days ago, you said you wanted to work. Now you're talking about divorce? Have you been Mrs. Montague for too long and now want to experience life?"

"Grace, go out there and see how many folks are pulling overtime for a few grand, dealing with everyone's attitude. You're living in a 20,000 square foot mansion as Mrs. Montague. What more could you possibly want?"

Henry's tone was cold and heartless.

Grace finally couldn't hold back. She trembled, her lips quivering as she gave a dazed smile. "Mrs. Montague? Is there even a Mrs. Montague like me?"

She suddenly stood up, pulling Henry into the walk-in closet, and with a swish, opened the wardrobe door.

Inside were rows of jewelry cabinets, each secured with passwords. Grace didn't know these passwords; they were managed by Celeste.

She pointed at them, her smile tinged with self-mockery and sarcasm. "Is there any wife who has to report and register with her husband's secretary just to wear a piece of jewelry? Is there any wife who has to submit a request to her husband's secretary for every dime she spends? Is there any wife who doesn't even have cash for a cab when she goes out? Henry, tell me, is this how Mrs. Montague is supposed to live?"

"Yeah, my family's struggling, and you give me a hundred grand a month. But every time I take that check, I feel like a cheap woman, just a reward for satisfying someone's desires!"

Henry cut in abruptly, his tone icy, "Is that really what you believe?"

He gently pinched her chin. "Is there a cheap woman like you who doesn't know how to please a man, who can't even moan properly, just whimpers like a little kitten? Want a divorce, huh? Do you think you can live any kind of life without me?"

Grace felt pain from his grip and raised her hand to push him away.

The next second, Henry grabbed her hand, his cold eyes fixed on her empty ring finger. "Where's your wedding ring?"

"I sold it!" Grace's tone was sorrowful. "So Henry, let's divorce!"

This sentence almost exhausted all her strength. Henry was the man she had loved for six years. If it weren't for the outsider, she might have stayed trapped in this loveless marriage for many more years.

Yet, Grace had reached a breaking point; she no longer wanted to share a life with him.

Perhaps post-divorce, life would become more challenging, and she might have to endure the attitudes of others for just a few thousand dollars, as Henry had mentioned. However, she harbored no regrets.

After saying this, Grace gently pulled her hand away. She fetched a suitcase and commenced packing her belongings.

Henry's face darkened as he stared at her frail back. He had never thought Grace would have such a rebellious day, so determined to divorce him.

A surge of anger rose in his heart.

The next second, Grace was lifted by him and thrown onto the bed after a few quick steps.

Henry's tall body pressed down on her.

His face was close to hers, eyes meeting eyes, nose touching nose, their hot and intense breaths mingling.

After a while, Henry's thin lips moved to the soft flesh behind her ear, whispering dangerously, "You're making a fuss because of Elodie, aren't you? Grace, wouldn't it be better to be honest? Didn't you scheme and plot to become Mrs. Montague? Why don't you want it now?"

Grace trembled under Henry.

Even now, he still believed that what happened back then was her doing.

Henry remained unaware that he had misinterpreted her. The events of the past concealed hidden truths, and even now, he found himself ruminating over them.

Maybe it was the physical contact, or maybe it was Grace's weak posture, but Henry suddenly became interested. His eyes on her took on a deeper meaning, and he pinched her chin and kissed her, one hand reaching over to loosen her nightgown.

Grace was beautiful, her body translucent and delicate.

Henry couldn't stop once he touched her; he couldn't go a night without making love several times. He kissed her tender neck, pinning her hands to her sides, fingers interlocked.

He was always dominant in bed, and Grace often couldn't resist, always yielding to his desires.

But now they were getting a divorce; how could they still do this?

"No, Henry, no."

Grace's voice trembled, making her seem especially fragile during lovemaking, beautiful enough to make one want to tear her apart and possess her.

Henry pressed against her soft red lips, invading wantonly, saying dirty words. "We're still legally married, so why not? Every time we make love, you say no, but when was it really no, hmm?"