Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

Chapter 1272: Should I strip?

Silence filled the car as neither Grace nor Haines spoke. Grace found comfort in her seat, hugging herself as she gazed out the window. After a moment, a small smile tugged at her lips as she recalled the fun she had at the nightclub.

"Is your nephew going to be in trouble?" she asked, turning her attention to the man in the driver's seat.

Haines didn't answer immediately. "His father is going to hear about this for sure."

"So he is, huh?" she chuckled. "Is there anything I can say to lighten his sentence?"

This time, Haines remained silent.

"Please do not ignore me," she remarked, tilting her head. "Do I make you uncomfortable?"

"No, you don't," he replied, eyes fixed on the road. "I just don't appreciate this prank they're pulling."

"A prank...?" Grace pressed her lips together and rocked her head slightly. "So, you still think it's a prank, huh?"

"Grace, I know Penny put you up to this," he said in the same solemn tone. "And Hugo is going along with it because those two have always been partners in crime. Please don't entertain them. It's not funny. Frankly, it's insulting."

"They didn't put me up to this."

Haines glanced at her briefly before refocusing on the road but didn't respond.

"I'm a lawyer," she said with a quiet chuckle. "I may always find loopholes in the system and work around them, but I don't play with people's hearts intentionally."

"Is that so?"

"Even if it were Uncle Charles, I wouldn't play along," she added. "Not that he would ask me to."

Haines's mouth parted slightly, but he decided to say nothing more on the matter. Instead, he asked, "Is your home close by?"

"No." She shook her head. "I told you, I live far from the club. Actually, take that turn up ahead. It's a shortcut."

"Okay."

followed her instructions, realizing that this route would take at least an hour. A long drive - especially if he was stuck with

silence followed, but this time, Grace was staring at him. She leaned her side against the seat, fully facing him.

told me you had a heart of ice," she shared. "I guess he's wrong. You don't

Haines still didn't respond.

"My confidence

looking at her. "If Penny didn't put you up to this, then that's

"I'm not playing."

stoplight. When the car came to

without hesitation. "The answer is

"Why not?"

her persistence. "I don't

vel

waste your time on an old man like me. Like

agreed. "But like I said earlier, blame

her, only to see a subtle smile playing

successful, smart, and beautiful," she echoed, smirking. "Yet, in the same breath,

stop, then go ahead." He nodded, growing colder by

won't tell anyone what you

only to realize she wasn't actually crying. She was

attention," she quipped, her smile widening. "Now I don't

a thin line, unimpressed. However, he chose not to argue. Instead, he huffed and turned back to the road, watching for the

on the other

gaze still

nephew told me

continuing. "He said not to hurt you.

to that boy. He doesn't know what he's

about you, though." Grace smacked her lips. "The look on his face when I told

to the window. She hugged herself, stretching slightly to find a more

long pause. "Or are you afraid of what people will say if you date

said flatly, making her glance back

a brow. "See for yourself