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."

realizing that this route would take at least an hour. A long drive - especially if

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

a heart of ice," she shared. "I guess he's wrong.

Haines still didn't respond.

mumbled. "My

please stop," he said coldly, still not looking at her. "If Penny didn't put you up to this,

"I'm not playing."

down as he approached a stoplight. When the car came

without hesitation. "The

"Why not?"

leaned back, unaffected by her persistence. "I don't know why you're suddenly doing this, but you're

vel

waste your time on an old man like me. Like they

of fish in the sea," she agreed. "But like I said earlier, blame the men

to her, only to see a subtle

smirking. "Yet, in the same breath, you reject

it'll make you stop, then go ahead."

what you look like

it soon turned into soft sniffles. Surprised, Haines shot her a glance, only to realize she wasn't actually crying. She was only making

her smile widening.

thin line, unimpressed. However, he chose not to argue. Instead, he

on the other hand,

into her seat, her gaze still fixed on him. "Do you

told me

continuing. "He said not to hurt you. Should I take that as

listen to that boy. He doesn't know what

though." Grace smacked her lips. "The look on his face when I told him I might be

humming softly as she turned her gaze back to the window. She

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

flatly, making her glance back

arched a brow. "See for