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

Chapter 1323: There was no perfect time

An hour later...

"You're early," Mildred remarked as soon as she sat across from Haines at the same table where they had their first date. "I thought I was already early. No, I am early, but you're earlier."

Haines smiled at her. "It's good to see you too, Mildred."

"Haha." A soft chuckle escaped her as she leaned back. At the same time, the server arrived with hot tea. "You already knew what I like. Did I mention I like this particular tea?"

"You finished it very fast last time."

"I didn't want it to grow cold. It's best to drink it hot."

"And I agree. That's why I told them to serve it once you arrived. Thankfully, they did."

"What a gentleman." Mildred laughed again as she reached for her tea.

As they both took a sip, silence settled between them, as though they were waiting for the other to ask the questions lingering in their minds.

"I haven't told anybody yet," Mildred remarked, placing her tea down - giving him an answer instead of a question. "I know that's what's on your mind. The answer is no, I haven't come clean yet."

"Still couldn't muster the courage to do it?"

"At some point, I thought of just blurting it out." She waved a hand dismissively. "But every time I muster the courage to do so, I end up biting my tongue. The Old Madam is either too happy for me to ruin it, or too lonely for me to make it worse. I do not have the heart to do either."

"There was not a perfect time."

"And if you're waiting for one, there won't be," Haines said casually. "But who am I to talk?"

Mildred chuckled. "I suppose I'm holding you back from seeing anyone else. After all, we did promise that I'd tell the Old Madam why I won't date, while you'd open your heart and give yourself a chance."

"Don't feel bad," Haines said with a lighthearted tone. "It'd be even more pressuring if you did, and I couldn't—not yet."

"Still hung up on that first love?"

said, it's not about her anymore. She was the reason

her head.

his head side to side. "That

a small smile, making Haines briefly arch a brow. "Or an 'appropriate' gender preference? If so, then in my case, I have two major reasons not to even think about it, don't I? Too

the young? Only

stretched between them as they held each other's gaze. Haines was surprised—he hadn't expected her to say that so suddenly. But then again, their conversations had always been easy, flowing freely without

hadn't expected

with a subtle smile. "Love

Haines." Mildred nodded in understanding. "After all, that's what

exchanged smiles and sipped their tea in silence. Neither of them had planned

"If so, I apologize." "Not at all. There's no need to

"But you went quiet."

because..." Haines trailed off, struggling to phrase his thoughts without sounding rude. After her remarks, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her-but she

knew why Mildred was here. The Old Madam's pressure weighed on her, just as it did on him. They both knew it, even

Haines decided to shift the conversation. "There's this young woman who's

brow, intrigued.

"Half my age."

is young. Almost like the master

Grace was around the same age as Atlas. "She's as

as my eldest nephew."

you find

her troublesome,"

reason being, I've known her since

once maybe more-w net

was

and Penny

back then... a horrible case

"Oh."

like family to the

teasing remark left her lips. "Then why not make her real