Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 1564

Chapter 1564: Maybe a little

Grace and Haines’s night usually started with her birthday dinners. Even now, she hadn’t changed her mind about catching up to his age. Perhaps, at this point, it was out of spite. Not toward him, but toward the feeling that either of them had been born too early or too late.

After the short celebration, Grace jumped into the car where Haines was already waiting.

“I did my best to leave as fast as I could,” she said with a grin.

Haines cast her a brief glance and wordlessly started the engine. Her brows arched slightly; she could still sense that strange air around him.

I think I’m just imagining it.

The two of them had been fine all this time. Even before the birthday dinner, he’d sent her a short message letting her know he would be late. There was no reason to think there was something they needed to discuss. Nothing that could even remotely qualify as their first argument.

Brushing off the nagging feeling, Grace let the silence settle in the car for a while.

“By the way, are you coming tomorrow? I’m planning to move the venue a little closer, so you can just wait for me at my place,” she said after a moment. “Sounds good, right?”

“Mhm.”

Her brows rose again, and she gave him a quick side-eye. “Haines, do we have a problem?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Mhm.”

“Then…” Grace huffed. She could no longer just throw the idea to the back of her head. There’s definitely something wrong.

“…why do I feel like there’s something we should talk about?”

Haines didn’t answer. His expression remained stoic as he focused on the road ahead, unfazed. But his mind was elsewhere, replaying the conversations she hadn’t heard at the birthday party.

He had arrived just as Grace stepped out with Hugo—and unfortunately, he heard everything the ladies had been saying:

“Hugo Bennet and Grace are a good match.”

“She’s pretty, and he’s handsome. He’s a respectable soldier, and she’s a successful lawyer.”

“But isn’t that a little complicated, since his line of work is dangerous?”

“The only danger I see is her getting pregnant before they even marry. He looks like a beast in bed.”

Then came the giggles, mischievous and giddy.

Normally, that kind of talk wouldn’t bother Haines. But somehow, this time, it did. Not because Grace was being linked to his nephew, but because they were right.

Grace had a long list of suitors. And yet, she was with him. An old man with a limp.

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Haines, hun,” she called gently, tilting her head to look at him. “Aren’t we going to talk about it?”

He remained silent, and her frown deepened as she crossed her arms under her chest.

“Fine,” she muttered. “If you don’t want to talk, then I’ll just pretend we’re okay when clearly we’re not.”

As the silence dragged on, Haines rubbed his leg absentmindedly, wincing slightly.

Grace, despite her frustration, noticed.

She pressed her lips into a thin line. Is it the leg?

Her gaze softened, guilt washing over her at the thought. He’s probably enduring pain in his leg, she reasoned. That must be why he’s so quiet tonight.

Considering he’d been driving her every night without fail, it wouldn’t be surprising if the strain had finally caught up with him.

Her frustration with his silence slowly faded, replaced with guilt. She stared at him apologetically, reminding herself to be more mindful. Be kind to the old man.

Over half an hour later, they arrived. The car eased into the parking space and halted. Still, neither of them moved. They didn’t even unbuckle, simply sitting in silence.

“Let’s go,” he said at last, the click of his seatbelt echoing in the quiet.

Grace glanced at him, lips pursed. “Mhm.”

Without another word, she pressed the seatbelt release and climbed out of the car. This time, Haines watched her silently before following.

Still, no words passed between them—not in the car, not in the elevator.

“I’m not angry,” he said finally, his voice low and tired. “I’m just… tired.”

Grace looked over at him and nodded, but said nothing in return.

Silence reclaimed the space between them. If not for the “DING!” of the elevator, it might have stretched forever.

Haines kept a step behind her as she walked, stopping only once she stood in front of her apartment. She tapped in the code, and the door unlocked with a familiar chime. Grace opened it, stepped halfway inside — and paused.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking back at him.

He raised a brow. “Why are you sorry?”

“I should’ve been more sensitive about your driving and your leg,” she sighed. “I forgot you’re still healing, and driving could’ve strained it. It hurts today, doesn’t it?”

Her eyes shone with concern, but Haines’s expression turned to quiet surprise.

That wasn’t why he’d been silent.

A defeated chuckle slipped out as he shook his head and stepped closer, stopping just in front of her.

“That’s not why,” he murmured, his eyes scanning her face, taking in every detail of her poised, sophisticated beauty. He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His lips curled up, his gaze softening.

“It’s not that,” he repeated under his breath. “Rather, it’s me.”

“Hmm?”

“Your friends… they were talking about you and your lover,” he said. “They thought it was Hugo.”

The apologetic look in her eyes evaporated in an instant. She blinked—once, twice—then again.

“You were jealous?”

“No, not that—”

“You’re jealous.” Grace bit her lip, barely containing the grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. She scooted over closer to him, looking up at him with expectant eyes.

“You were jealous, were you?” she probed, tugging the hem of his suit. Her cheeks flushed pink, eyes twinkling as if this was something to celebrate. “That’s so… cute.”

Haines opened his mouth, then closed it again, visibly flustered.

Finally, with a sigh, he shrugged. “Maybe… a little.”