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.

felt foreign. And it frustrated him that he kept

and slid his gaze back to Grace. She was still fast asleep, her head

'If you're dying,

mind, based on theory. Even so, the thought lingered, nagging at him as if

frustrating part

simply lounging

felt a

past. And somehow, it made him wonder-was it the setting? The mood? Or had

kind

this kind of

bitterness creeping into his thoughts.

mistake. By meeting her every night, he was making more. He couldn't

doubt that this would never

a glimpse of her reaction earlier, and he knew it had only been a fraction of what she was truly

if he let himself believe, even for a second, that this was something

be able to

thought alone terrified

his heart, only to be left

shoulder lightly. "Please wake up.

Grace let out a soft, sleepy hum, her brows knitting together as

out a

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

Qu

next movie. A slow smile tugged at her lips as she turned

stayed," she

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

don't want

have a lot to do this

pushed himself up, acting as though his mind wasn't weighed down with

I'll walk you

no need." His response was quick, casting her a look. "Just-just

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

each other in silence before he

"I'll get