hapter 127
Henry had dismissed these words at the time, considering them nonsense. But now, they seemed like a prophecy.
Catherine approached him from behind, her voice as gentle as possible with an underlying tone of placation.
“Henry, please don’t make your sister apologize to Sophia. You know how stubborn Grace is–she’d rather go to jail than humble herself to that woman,
When Henry remained silent, Catherine continued, her voice filled with pleading. “We’re family, Henry. Blood is thicker than water. Can’t you forgive her just this once, for family’s sake?”
Henry turned slowly, his face expressionless as he met his mother’s gaze. ‘So holding someone at knifepoint is such a trivial matter in your eyes?” His voice was cold, detached. “If that’s the case, I’ll turn the video over to the police tomorrow morning.”
Catherine’s mouth opened to protest, but Henry had already walked away, leaving her standing alone in the darkened room.
When he returned to the south wing, Henry found Sophia and Billy at the dinner table. After the terrifying ordeal, Billy had insisted on having his mother cook dinner, claiming he only enjoyed Sophia’s cooking. Though still shaken, Sophia had headed to the kitchen.
As Henry appeared in the doorway, Sophia suddenly realized something–she had, once again, unconsciously prepared all of Henry’s favorite dishes. Since deciding to leave him, she had been trying to break the habits of their married life.
She had failed.
Billy spotted his father first, his small face lighting up with concern as he noticed the bandaged hand. Without hesitation, he gently blew on Henry’s wounded hand, as if his breath could magically heal the pain.
‘Does it hurt, Dad?” he asked, his eyes wide with worry.
A soft smile played at the corners of Henry’s mouth as he gently ruffled Billy’s hair. “Not anymore. Thank you.”
The tenderness in this small exchange made something twist in my chest. I watched as Henry settled into his chair, his eyes moving between Billy and me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.
Soon after, Billy announced he was full and wanted to play with his new building blocks in his room, leaving Henry and me alone at the table.
I immediately stood up, gathering the empty plates. “I should check on Billy-*
‘I can’t use my fork, Henry interrupted, holding up his bandaged hand with a hint of that familiar arrogance. “My hand hurts too much.”
The implication was clear–he wanted me to feed him. I hesitated, feeling irritated by his manipulation although he had indeed been injured protecting Billy
and me.
With a resigned sigh, I sat back down and picked up his fork, spearing a piece of beef and holding it out to him. Henry’s eyes never left my face as he accepted the food, and despite everything, a strange intimacy settled over us.
‘Grace will apologize to you tonight,” he said casually between bites.
I nearly dropped the fork in shock. Since the day I’d married into the Harding family, Grace had made it clear she considered me beneath her. “Country girl,” ‘gold–digger,‘ ‘whore–these were her kinder nicknames for me.
‘She will? I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my voice.
Henry’s eyes narrowed slightly at my reaction. “You don’t believe me?”
I blinked, recovering quickly. As I offered him another bite, my face wore a mocking playfulness. “Well, she hasn’t apologized yet, has she? Perhaps Mr. Harding is being a bit premature with his promises.”
The Harding family adored Grace. They had indulged her every whim since childhood. This situation, like all others involving their precious princess, would inevitably be smoothed over, forgotten, forgiven.
