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.

foreign. And it frustrated him that he kept

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

wondered. 'If you're

nagging at him as if something was missing from his conclusion. And perhaps, because

frustrating part of all...

casual night. A movie playing. The two of them simply lounging

a little

could vaguely remember from the past. And somehow, it made him wonder-was it the setting? The mood? Or had a part of him

this kind of

kind of

himself, bitterness creeping into his

foolishly. He had already made one mistake. By meeting her every night, he was making more. He couldn't afford

doubt that this would never end well for

her reaction earlier, and he knew

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

be

thought alone

heart, only to be

he called, shaking her shoulder lightly. "Please wake

sleepy hum, her brows knitting together as her eyes

out a quiet

asleep?" she murmured, her voice hoarse as she rubbed her eyes. Pushing herself upright, she glanced at the television,

Qu

slow smile tugged at her lips as she turned

stayed," she pointed

have a choice?" he replied flatly, making her

sure you don't want

head. "I have a lot

up, acting as though his mind wasn't

I'll walk you

quick, casting her a

protest as she swung her legs off the couch.

stared at each other in

he conceded. "I'll get my blazer