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

Chapter 1421: Felt wrong

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Haines didn't move an inch. He sat there like a statue, even controlling his breathing as if afraid that inhaling too deeply would give Grace an excuse to squeeze herself against him again. Instead, he stared at the television with wide eyes, as if watching a horror movie rather than a romance.

"It's ending," he muttered, carefully glancing down at her.

Much to his dismay, Grace had already fallen asleep. Had he been paying attention, he would've realized she'd dozed off five minutes into the movie.

Haines blinked and tapped her side lightly. "Grace."

No response.

"The movie's over," he said. "And I'm going home."

Still nothing.

Grace remained curled up beside him, wrapped comfortably in a soft blanket, her head resting on the pillow in his lap. Haines tried shaking her gently, but she didn't

wake up.

A shallow breath slipped past him, his tensed shoulders lowering. "And now, how am I supposed to go home?"

It would be easy if he were less considerate. He could just stand up and wake her without a second thought. But that wasn't who he was. Even with Charles, he wouldn't wake him so abruptly.

His mouth pressed into a thin line as his gaze lingered on her sleeping profile. The slight curl at the corner of her lips suggested she was dreaming of something pleasant.

Haines raised a hand, intending to brush away the strands of hair on her cheek.

But inches before he could, he caught himself.

'What are you doing?' he asked himself, quickly withdrawing his hand and clasping it into a fist.

Another deep sigh escaped him as he leaned back, cocking his head against the couch. "This... feels really wrong," he whispered.

This warmth. This closeness. The comfort of having another person so near.

It felt wrong.

simple peace of the moment-it all felt foreign. And it frustrated him that he kept putting himself in situations like

Haines opened his eyes and slid his gaze back to Grace. She was still fast

wondered. 'If you're dying,

on theory. Even so, the thought lingered, nagging at him as if something was missing from his conclusion. And perhaps, because of

the most frustrating part of all...

playing. The two of them simply lounging on the

a

And somehow, it made him wonder-was it the setting? The mood? Or had a part of him always longed for something like

kind

kind of

he told himself, bitterness creeping into his

made one mistake. By meeting her every night, he was making more.

he knew-without a doubt that this would never end well for

aware of her condition. He'd seen a glimpse of her reaction earlier, and he knew it had only

if he let himself believe, even for a second,

be able to

thought alone

his heart, only to be

called, shaking her shoulder lightly. "Please wake up. I need to go

Grace let out a soft, sleepy hum, her brows knitting together as her eyes fluttered open. She peeked up

let out a

voice hoarse as she rubbed her eyes. Pushing herself upright, she glanced

Qu

for the next movie. A slow smile tugged at her lips

she

he replied flatly, making her chuckle. "I'm leaving

sure you don't

his head. "I have a lot to do

pushed himself up, acting as though his

walk

quick, casting her

protest as she swung her legs off the couch. "I'll walk you

stared at each other in silence

conceded. "I'll get my blazer from