Chapter 158
Grace stared at Henry, unable to process what was happening. Why was he still protecting Sophia after everything had been revealed? She stormed up to- him, pointing her finger at his face..
“Henry Harding, are you still my brother?‘ Her voice grew sharper. “Sophia is nothing but an outsider! You’re abandoning Isabella for some random womant Do you even have a conscience?”
Henry’s jaw tightened, but Grace was too furious to notice this warning sign.
“That bitch betrayed you,” she continued, spitting out each word unfiltered. “She made you raise another man’s child! Don’t you hate her for that?” She grabbed his sleeve, her eyes wild with rage. ‘Brother, why won’t you divorce that slut? Throw her out with nothing!”
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the banquet hall like a gunshot. Grace stumbled backward, her hand quickly covering her cheek where Henry’s palm had struck.
“Is this what the Harding family taught you?” Henry’s voice was dangerously low. “Sophia is your sister–in–law, not some slut for your filthy mouth to disparage!”
Catherine rushed forward, positioning herself between her two children. Tears welled in her eyes as she faced her son.
“Henry, Grace is your sister! Whatever the issue, couldn’t you discuss it calmly? Why would you hit her?”
Grace’s shock quickly transformed back into rage. She peered around her mother, her face contorted with hatred.
“She’s nothing but a whore! She’s completely bewitched you, making you forget Isabella! Trash! Trash! Trash! I’ll call her that in front of all of New York City if I have to!”
The murderous look that flashed in Henry’s eyes made even the security guards tense up.
“Care to say that again?” His voice had dropped to a whisper that somehow seemed more terrifying than his shouts.
Catherine noticed the anger in her son’s eyes and quickly intervened.
‘Henry, Grace is young. We’ll teach her gradually–she’ll improve. You’re siblings. Don’t let something like this damage your relationship.” She lowered her voice, adding, “Sophia clearly wants a divorce. A shameless woman like her–just let her go. Don’t let her affect the Harding business.”
Henry took a deep breath, visibly struggling to contain his fury.
“My affairs don’t require your concern, Mother. Perhaps you should focus on teaching Grace some manners. Her behavior today is indistinguishable from a common street brawler. If you’re unwilling to discipline her, I can find someone who will.” His eyes narrowed. “Though they’ll certainly be stricter than you.”
Catherine fell silent, recognizing the threat.
Just as the confrontation seemed to be winding down, she couldn’t resist one final jab.
‘Henry, the child isn’t yours. Why are you accepting responsibility for another man’s mistake?”
The question hung in the air, unanswerable.
From the day Sophia had entered the Harding household, Henry had known Billy wasn’t his biological child. This knowledge had been the foundation of hie coldness toward the boy.
In truth, Henry had never really looked at Billy.
Throughout six years, Sophia had raised him alone while Henry remained a distant figure.
In his mind, he’d already been generous–marrying Sophia, giving her and her child legitimacy, protecting them from public ridicule. He’d considered his. duty fulfilled.
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Chapter 158
It wasn’t until Sophia demanded a divorce that he truly began to notice Billy.
The child was undeniably adorable and handsome–those thick eyebrows, large eyes, high–bridged nose, and naturally curly hair. The more Henry looked at him, the more he saw reflections of his own childhood self.
Despite knowing there was no blood connection, he found himself secretly watching the boy, caring for him when Sophia wasn’t around, awkwardly attempting to fill the father role he’d never embraced.
Perhaps this explained why hearing Catherine and Grace call Billy a bastard had ignited such rage within him.
“Grace, you will reflect on your behavior today,” Henry said coldly before turning and walking away.
What should have been a joyous birthday celebration had devolved into a family spectacle. The extended family members would undoubtedly gossip for months. What a miserable day this had turned out to be.
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