The Ex-Wife's Redemption: A Love Reborn Chapter 155

A flicker of worry crossed my mind. I rose from my seat, intending to check on him. Henry immediately stood up too, his tall frame blocking my path. His sudden movement made me instinctively retreat a step, my body tensing with suspicion.

"What are you doing?" I asked, eyeing him warily.

Henry noticed my apprehension and quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Don't worry, I mean no harm," he said hurriedly. "I just wanted to see if I could help you with anything. I only want to help, nothing more."

I relaxed slightly, though not completely. "I want to check on Billy," I said, keeping my voice neutral.

"Let's go together," Henry suggested, already moving toward the staircase.

As we walked up the stairs, I noticed something odd about Henry's pace. He was deliberately slowing down, matching his steps to mine. Each stride was measured and unhurried, as if he was trying to prolong our time together.

I didn't care about this change in him. As far as I was concerned, Henry Harding was already my past. The soul-crushing pain he'd inflicted was something I never wanted to experience again. The familiar surroundings, the familiar furniture, the familiar man beside me—none of it stirred anything within me anymore. My heart was like a dried-up well, incapable of rippling with emotion.

We reached Billy's bedroom door, and Henry gently pushed it open. Inside, we found Billy curled up on his bed, fast asleep, clutching his favorite toy against his chest.

I saw the flash of satisfaction in Henry's eyes before he masked it. This was exactly what he'd wanted.

"What do we do now?" he whispered. "Are you sure you want to wake him? The little guy's exhausted."

I hesitated, looking at Billy's peaceful face. I couldn't bring myself to disturb him.

"Let me help," Henry offered, already moving toward the bed.

He carefully lifted Billy and placed him properly on the bed, gently removing his shoes and pulling the covers over him. Every movement was tender, a side of Henry I rarely witnessed.

After tucking Billy in, he turned to me and unexpectedly took my wrist, guiding me out of the room. He closed the door behind us with his free hand, still holding onto me as he started walking down the hallway.

I remained rooted to the spot, refusing to move. When Henry turned back to look at me, he saw the disgust in my eyes. In that moment, he suddenly understood how I had felt all those times he'd dismissed me in the past.

He immediately released my wrist, his expression contrite. "I'm sorry, I forgot. Please don't be upset."

I watched his hand retreat and nodded slightly. "It's nothing," I said dismissively, stepping around him to walk ahead.

Henry stood there, staring at my retreating form. He looked down at his empty palm, his expression complex. Perhaps he was wondering why he hadn't been kinder to me six years ago.

I was done caring about Henry's feelings. Getting away from this man was my only viable path forward.

Across town, in a stark hospital room, the damp cold of the changing season created a miserable atmosphere. Isabella sat up in her bed, anxiety etched across her face as she questioned Nancy.

"Nancy, did you call Henry? Did he say when he's coming to see me?"

It had been a full week since Henry's last visit—seven days that felt like seven years to Isabella. She'd even considered sneaking into Maple Grove to find him, consequences be damned!

But Catherine had already warned her: "The access codes to Maple Grove have been changed. Even I don't know them. Security has also been tightened. Anyone trying to enter needs Henry's explicit permission. They'll call him directly."

In the past, Isabella could have used Henry's name to gain entrance through the main gate. Now, attempting to visit would only result in humiliation.

Nancy finished peeling an apple, tossing the skin into the trash before slicing the fruit. "I called, but he never picked up," she replied without looking up. "I think he might have blocked my number too."

She glanced at Isabella, carefully considering her next words. "Miss Scott, why don't you ask Mrs. Harding or Miss Harding for help? They're Henry's family. Even if they overstep, he won't do anything to them."

Isabella perked up at Nancy's suggestion. While Catherine couldn't help, Grace certainly could! If Grace brought her to Maple Grove, what could Henry say?

Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and dialed Grace's number.

"Grace, it's me!" Isabella's voice immediately sweetened. "How have you been? Everything good?"

After causing a scene at Billy's birthday party, Grace had been confined to a detention room.

Henry had cut off all her allowance and reclaimed many of her luxury items, throwing them out on the street where they were quickly snatched away by passersby.

He had even arranged for someone to record videos of people scrambling for Grace's belongings and sent the footage to her.

When Grace saw her prized luxury items being treated like garbage on the street, she cried even harder than if her face had been pushed against the ground.

After Richard realized his failure in raising his daughter, he issued strict orders to those guarding Grace: Don't let her eat her fill, just one meal a day—enough to keep her alive! Catherine is not allowed to visit! Anyone who lets Grace out without his permission would be fired immediately!

On the first day of Grace's confinement, a servant helped Catherine enter to secretly check on Grace. When Richard found out, the servant was immediately fired.

After that, none of the servants dared to help Catherine anymore. At most, they would only pass messages between mother and daughter.

Grace had been living like this for ten days now. She was so hungry that her body felt weak, her feet unsteady, and she barely had the strength to speak.

What made it worse was...

Her brother and father weren't just confining her—they were humiliating her.

One imprisoned her freedom, the other destroyed all her luxury items.

She had cried until her tears ran dry in that detention room, wasting away to skin and bones.

Originally, she wasn't allowed to use her phone.

But Catherine had her ways and managed to have a servant deliver a phone to her.

This was the only thing that made Grace happy during her confinement.

It was late at night, and the servants on guard were asleep. Unable to sleep herself, Grace took out the phone hidden under her pillow.

She'd had enough of this place. If she didn't get out soon, she'd go mad.

They called it a room, but it only contained a small bed, a table, and a few books—nothing else.

For Grace, a pampered young lady used to luxury, this prison-like existence was torture. If they didn't release her soon, she would truly lose her mind.

But...

Until now, neither her father nor her brother had given any indication they intended to let her out.

What could she do?

Isabella's voice call came just when she was feeling most dejected.

Grace answered immediately: "Isabella, I'm not doing well! My brother and father have locked me in a detention room for over ten days. They barely feed me, don't let me drink enough, and won't let me out. I'm dying in here!"

"My brother even threw all my favorite luxury items onto the street for beggars to take!"

"Waaaah, Isabella, I'm suffering so much."

Unable to see Catherine, and without any sympathy from her father or brother, Grace burst into tears the moment she heard Isabella's voice.

At this moment, all the grievances she had suffered during this period poured out.

"Isabella, you don't know how terrible my brother is. He's so cruel! Can't you talk some sense into him?"

"Waaaah, if this continues, I'll really die in here, Isabella, please convince my brother!"

As Grace continued her desperate pleas, Isabella's hopeful heart gradually calmed down.

Grace was Henry's own sister, and even she was treated this way. This revealed just how important Sophia must be in Henry's heart.

It was definitely not as he had claimed: "It's nothing," "She doesn't matter," "She's just a woman."

Perhaps...

Henry himself hadn't even realized how important Sophia was to him. Recognizing that her position was threatened, Isabella's face slowly twisted in anger.

How could this happen?

Why wouldn't that bitch Sophia just die already?