Pampered By My Three Brothers: The Return Of The Neglected Heiress - Chapter 993

Chapter 993: A promise he made to a ghost
Old Mrs. Pierson was the one who had arranged everything, except for the location of the dates. The current restaurant was Mildred’s idea, as it had a large park right next to it. It was a perfect place for people who wanted to take a walk after eating.

It was a good place for people on dates to get to know each other better by walking in the park. Who would have thought that Mildred would find herself in this park with her date?

“I guess those boys would feel bitter that their uncle’s date seems to be doing better than theirs?” Mildred joked, now walking beside Haines. She had long let go of his arm as they started walking slowly and leisurely. “How could they all mess up their dates?”

Haines smirked. “Believe me when I say they wouldn’t feel bitter at all. The three of them have no interest in this at all.”

“Are you saying they’re purposely messing it up?”

“No. I think they were doing their best.”

“And they still messed up.”

“Haha!” Haines laughed, more amused watching his nephew’s dates than his own. “They did.”

Mildred shook her head. “It’s the first time I’ve seen this kind of date. All the men and women I’ve set up for blind dates at least didn’t end this terribly.”

“The three of them are young. I’m sure once the right person comes along, they’ll get it together.”

“Eventually?”

Haines paused and glanced at her. “Hopefully.”

The two of them shared a good minute of laughter before they found a bench to sit on.

“Ugh… getting old is so troublesome,” Mildred groaned as she sat down, holding the armrest as she felt her back ache a little.

Haines, on the other hand, laughed and sat at the other end of the bench. “Getting old is indeed troublesome.”

They leaned back and rested, having walked for quite a few minutes. Haines reached down and massaged his leg. Seeing this, Mildred turned her eyes to Haines’s side profile.

“Does your leg hurt?” she asked, watching him glance at her.

“It’s the weather, not the walk,” he clarified, just in case she misunderstood.

“I know it’s not the walk, as I noticed you walking quite normally.”

“I limp.”

“And still normally.”

“You’re quite stubborn, aren’t you?” he mused. “Are you trying to make me feel comfortable?”

“I’m trying to be honest and treat the uncle of the matriarch of the Pierson Family with respect and politeness.”

“I appreciate it.”

“But…” Mildred added, making Haines raise a brow as she smiled. “That may have been the initial plan, but now I am being honest. The respect and honesty are earned.”

Haines slowly smiled, thinking that Mildred was quite likable. “Very well, thank you.”

“The words of gratitude are unnecessary, but you’re welcome.”

They smiled respectfully at each other before relaxing and looking away. They leaned back, observing the park. There were quite a few people around, some of whom were a family having a picnic not far away, others skateboarding, and some just walking. It wasn’t crowded, but it wasn’t empty either.

“You asked me why I haven’t married until now,” Haines brought up quietly, after a hum, while Mildred cast him a look. “It’s because I made a promise.”

“A promise?”

“Mhm.” Haines’s eyes softened as he stared at a couple in the distance.

The couple was sitting on a bench; the man was lying with his head on the woman’s lap. From their clothing alone, they seemed simple. The woman had her hair tied into a low ponytail, her bangs covering her forehead. The man, on the other hand, wore a worn-out green and black flannel shirt.

They seemed happy, despite just casually spending their time in this park.

It reminded him of a memory he buried deep in his mind.

“Many years ago, I made a promise to someone.” Haines’s eyes softened, and his lips curled into a bitter smile. “I told her I’d wait for her.”

“Wait… for her?” Mildred repeated, and Haines nodded.

“I met someone—she was beautiful, simple, but very kind,” he continued. “The two of us got along. However, back then, Charles was already in the military, and someone had to take care of the company. I can’t say the company was unstable, but it wasn’t in a good place either.”

“It was stressful, but she… she was like a safe haven. Just when I thought things were bad, I’d realize, once I saw her, that it wasn’t so bad. She’s that kind of person,” he added.

“If that’s the case, what happened?”

Haines shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“Things were going well. The company was doing better, and our relationship was too,” Haines said, smacking his lips as he looked at Mildred. “I was planning to propose and start a family with her. But…”

He trailed off, casting his eyes down. “The day I was planning to take her to the venue, she suddenly told me she wanted to end things with me.” The corner of his mouth twitched as he recalled that bitter memory. “She told me she was tired and didn’t want to see me again. The funny thing is, while she was saying all of that, my mind was just blank. So in the end, before she left, I told her I’d wait.”

“I’d wait for her.” Haines slowly gazed up at the sky and sighed. “You might call it denial, but I knew whatever she said back then wasn’t true. She’s someone I shared my soul with. How could I not know she was lying?”

“She didn’t come back, huh?”

Haines shook his head. “She just… disappeared.”

“Did you try looking for her?”

“I did. I even hired professionals to search for her, but it was like she just vanished into thin air. It’s like she never existed. No one knew her. Even her neighbors knew nothing about her. The hometown she told me she grew up in… no one had heard her name before.” Another deep exhale escaped Haines. “It’s strange.”

“And yet, you’re still waiting…?” Mildred furrowed her brows, watching Haines look back at her. “Why?”

Haines smiled wryly. “I don’t know either, but if I’m going to make a guess… it’s because of that promise I made to a ghost and the lack of trust I have in other people. After all, searching for her made me wonder: did I really know the person who devastated me so much?”

“You are… a fool,” Mildred huffed quietly, shaking her head. Haines laughed in response, agreeing with her.

“I am a fool, but… I guess I just can’t let go of that promise. Nor I can’t move on.” After all, the person he was talking about was the only one who had touched his heart like no other. If not, then she wouldn’t have the power to break his heart into many pieces, which, even after many decades, he was still trying to glue back together.

“What about you?” he returned, giving Mildred a knowing look. “Why haven’t you married until now?”

Was it the same reason as him?

Was it about a first love that didn’t work?

Mildred laughed and leisurely leaned back, looking away from him and setting her eyes on the people around the park. “I don’t like men.”

“Hmm?”

“My preferences aren’t acceptable in the Pierson family,” Mildred smirked at him. “That’s why I’m single and still in the closet. I tried, though, but… I can’t stomach it.”