Chapter 66
The elevator ride to Grace’s om felt exceptionally long. Henry still held my hand, his thumb occasionally brushing against my skin in a way that sent unwelcome shivers up my arth.
We had already reached a point of irreconcilable conflict, so why maintain this false image of a loving couple? I couldn’t understand it.
Billy skipped ahead of us down the corridor, blissfully unaware of the tension between his parents. Watching his carefree movements, I envied his innocence.
“Remember,” Henry murmured, regardless of what happens, I expect you to behave politely. She’s still my sister.”
I suppressed my urge to retort. This man who had threatened and manipulated me for five years was suddenly concerned about politeness? The irony was almost laughable.
As we approached Grace’s hospital room, I could hear Catherine’s dramatic sobs even before we reached the door.
Mother and daughter–a perfect pair of performers.
“My poor baby,” Catherine wailed from inside. “That… that woman deliberately pushed you! How could anyone be so
cruel?”
“I know, Mother,” Grace’s voice trembled with manufactured distress. “She’s always hated me. Just because Henry married
her doesn’t give that tramp the right to—”
“That bitch has been nothing but trouble since she entered our family,” Catherine continued, her voice dripping with
disdain. “To think that worthless woman dared to lay hands on my daughter!”
Henry’s hand suddenly tightened around mine, his jaw clenching visibly. I glanced at him, surprised by his reaction.
Would Henry actually be bothered by hearing them disparage me this way?
“Daddy, why is Grandma crying?” Billy tugged at Henry’s sleeve, his eyes wide with concern.
“Nothing to worry about, son,” Henry assured him. “Aunt Grace just had a little accident.”
“She said a bad word about Mommy,” Billy whispered, his small face serious. “Teacher says that’s not nice.”
A flash of something–was it guilt?-crossed Henry’s face before his expression returned to its usual mask of control. Without warning, he suddenly kicked the door open, making both women inside jump in shock.
The murderous expression on his face as he glared at his mother and sister was unlike anything I’d seen before. Catherine immediately stopped crying, her hand frozen halfway to her face, the tissue she’d been dramatically dabbing at her eyes. suspended in mid–air.
“H–Henry!” she stammered. “We didn’t hear you arrive!”
Her gaze shifted to me, then to our joined hands, and her perfectly made–up face twisted with contempt. “What is she doing here? After what she did to your sister?”
“Mother,” Henry’s voice was like ice, “be respectful to my people
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Catherine seemed momentally taken aback by his tone. She recovered quickly, her eyes narrowing as she stepped forward positioning herself between Grace’s bed and us.
You need to leave,” she said me, her volce full of venom. “Haven’t you done enough? My daughter is in a hospital bed because of you!”
I attempted to pull my hand free from Henry’s grip, hoping to retreat from this absurd scene, but his fingers only tightened around mine. The strength in his hand made escape
possible.
“Mother,” Henry’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Why can’t my wife be here?”
The room fell silent. Even Grace, who constantly played the victim, seemed stunned by Henry’s question.
“What do you mean?” Catherine finally managed. “You know your sister can’t stand her! You bring that woman here, hand- in–hand, just to upset Grace? What kind of brother are you?”
I tried again to free my hand, uncomfortable with being the center of this family drama, but Henry wouldn’t release me.
“Stop, he commanded quietly, his thumb stroking the back of my hand in what might have been meant as a reassuring gesture.
For five years, I had endured the Harding family’s contempt alone. When his mother made cutting remarks about my background, when Grace deliberately humiliated me at family gatherings, or when the extended family treated me like an unwelcome intruder, Henry had never intervened. His sudden defense now left me confused.
“I thought better of my sister,” Henry continued, his gaze fixed on Grace, who seemed to shrink under his scrutiny. “I expected her to have more dignity than to lie about what happened.”
“Lie?” Grace immediately went on the defensive. “I would never
“Before I get involved,” Henry cut her off, moving to stand beside her bed, his eyes cold and evaluating, ‘swear to me that everything you’ve told me is the truth. That Sophia pushed you. That she attacked you without provocation.”
Grace hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. She glanced at Catherine, who gave her a subtle nod of
encouragement.
“I swear,” Grace finally said, lifting her chin defiantly. “She slapped me, then deliberately tripped me when I tried to
defend myself. Ask my security team–they saw everything!”
On cue, the two security guards who had accompanied Grace to Billy’s school stepped forward from the corner of the room. They nodded solemnly, backing up Grace’s version of events.
Catherine turned to Henry with a triumphant expression. “See! You have witnesses! Now, are you going to punish that
woman?”
“Henry,” she continued, her voice taking on a pleading quality, surely you can see what’s happening? That woman has completely lost control! First that incident with Isabella, now attacking your sister! She needs to be dealt with!”
Throughout their accusations, I remained silent. There was no point in arguing–they had already condemned me without a trial. I glanced toward the door, calculating how quickly I could reach Billy and escape this nightmare.
Henry’s eyes met mine, and to my surprise, I saw some kind of understanding in his gaze. He silently released my hand, and I thought he was finally letting me leave.
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Instead, he turned to me and said, “Show them.”
I instantly knew what he meant. The moment Grace had appeared at the school, I’d suspected trouble and taken precautions. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone
I had a feeling Grace might try something,” I explained calmly So I recorded our entire interaction.”
Grace’s face visibly paled. “You’re bluffing.”
“Am I?” I tapped on my phone screen, and Grace’s voice filled the room:
“Obviously, I’m here for you. Our business isn’t finished!”
The video continued, showing Grace threatening to take Billy, attempting to order the security personnel to grab me, and finally, lunging at me before tripping over her own ridiculous heels.
Before the video could finish playing, Grace leapt from the bed with surprising agility for someone supposedly injured, lunging for my phone. Catherine followed suit, both women frantically trying to snatch the evidence from my hands.
I calmly let them take the phone, watching the comical mother daughter pair with detachment.
“I already backed everything up to the cloud,” I said coolly. “But please, feel free to keep the phone. You’ll need to reimburse me for it, of course.”
The two women froze, horror dawning on their faces as they realized their actions had only made them look guiltier. Their loss of composure in front of Henry was telling–their pretense and lies had collapsed without need for further attack.
Henry had witnessed it all. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he regarded his mother and sister.
“Apologize,” he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. “Now.”
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