Chapter 164
After leaving the hospital, Richard didn’t head home to rest as his father had instructed.
Instead, he went straight to Grace’s residence at the Harding estate. He learned from the servants that Grace had been confined to the reflection indi on Henry’s orders, while Catherine had gone out and hadn’t returned all night.
The gray–haired Richard frowned, changing his plans. He headed toward Maple Grove instead. As he entered the main building, he noticed the servants whispering among themselves, their faces anxious and troubled.
Richard walked somewhat slowly, his breathing slightly labored from fatigue.
He had no idea what had transpired between Sophia and Henry, only assuming they’d both be in the second–floor bedroom.
Married couples always fought; making up afterward was normal. Since Sophia hadn’t returned to the hospital or called either him or William last night, he presumed things had been resolved.
The moment Richard stepped through the main entrance, the servants fell silent, ducking their heads as if afraid to meet his gaze. After a brief whispered exchange, they all seemed to shrink into themselves, not daring to speak.
Richard sensed something was wrong. He stopped and stood before one of the servants, looking down at her with authoritative eyes. “What are you all talking about?”
One of the more timid servants approached, pointing toward the second floor. “Sir,” she hesitated, “there are some things we simply cannot say aloud. Perhaps you should go upstairs and see for yourself.”
Richard climbed to the second floor, his mind racing with possibilities. Had Sophia and Henry gotten into another argument? He pushed open the bedroom door and froze at the threshold.
Bed on the bed lay two figures. A slender, pale arm curved around Henry’s neck. The arm was delicate, smooth as jade, and belonged to the last person Richard wanted to see.
He stood paralyzed by the sight, unable to believe his eyes.
Henry and Isabella were sleeping together in the bed!
Richard remained silent for a moment, making sure he wasn’t mistaken. He bellowed, “Henry! You worthless dog!” His face contorted with rage. “I’ll cut you to pieces for this!”
He grabbed a pillow from the nearby sofa and charged toward his still–sleeping son. “You little shit! Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?” he shouted. “Pulling a stunt like this in our home–are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
Isabella woke first, startled by the commotion. When she saw Richard standing beside the bed, looking murderous, she quickly pulled the covers tightly around herself, shrinking into the corner of the bed and beginning to whimper softly.
She wiped away tears that weren’t really there, secretly delighted. Now the entire Harding family would know she’d been “in bed with Henry. Would Sophia still want him after this?
Henry awoke groggily, disoriented by his father’s shouting. “Dad,” he mumbled, “what’s got you so worked up? What did I do?
After lying down last night, he’d experienced a sharp pain in his chest and then lost consciousness.
“Would I be hitting you if you were sleeping alone in your bed?” Richard snapped.
Only then did Henry notice the figure huddled in the corner of the bed, softly crying. At first, he assumed it was Sophia. “I’m sleeping with my o protested defensively. “Holding my own wife while I sleep–what law does that break?”
Richard’s brow furrowed deeply with fury. “Open your damn eyes and look properly! Is that your wife?”
Henry followed his father’s pointing finger and realized with a shock that the person wrapped in the bedsheets wasn’t Sophia at all! Afraid he might be mistaken, he circled the bed, stopping in front of Isabella. His intense gaze fixed on her face.
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Chapter 164
Isabella? How is it you?”
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