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

Chapter 1448: Love was hell

Have you ever loved someone so deeply that you wished to die before them?

Well, Haines had.

He had loved someone so deeply, so passionately, that he had built his future with her at its center. He loved so hard that he never imagined life without her.

So when she didn't come that night, Haines kept waiting. He told himself all kinds of excuses, convincing himself he could try again. Next time, he would make sure she came.

But alas, he waited-days, weeks, months, and then years. Yet, that woman never returned. She just... disappeared.

From that night on, she never showed up again—like a ghost. Just like that, she was gone. No note left behind, no traces, nothing.

God knows that every passing second took a piece of him. Every night killed him a little more, and every morning seemed dimmer.

It was hell.

Love was hell.

Perhaps he had flown too close to the sun without realizing it, only to find himself crashing. And no way in hell would he ever fly that high again.

[PRESENT TIME]

Haines opened his eyes groggily, catching sight of the IV drip hanging beside him. His brows furrowed as he raised his hand, noticing the needle inserted in the back of it and the heart monitor clipped to his forefinger. The "fever" that had burned through him before he lost consciousness last night was gone.

"Grace," he breathed out and turned his head, only to find her seated in a chair beside him.

knuckles, her elbow propped on the armrest, her eyes closed

her in silence, exhaling in relief. "I'm glad she found me." Otherwise, he had no idea what would have happened to

he looked up at the ceiling. His thoughts about whatever Penny had put

unconscious, he had taken a brief

memory he had spent years trying to forget. But no matter what he did, and wherever he would live, it always found a way

thought... it no longer

he had

because he still cared for the woman he had once poured his heart into, but because he knew how devastating it

him, weighing his heart heavier by the

was awake, she leaned forward. "How

didn't answer immediately just

passed out on the way

had sped recklessly to get him here, nor how she had gone hysterical trying to

she said quietly, nodding at him. "It'll help flush out that drug from your

her in silence. When

rather, a little earlier—I was with a woman," he said, making her pause, her brows slowly rising. "She was beautiful, smart, and... warm. She had the most beautiful smile I had ever seen, and she had this weird laugh that I found contagious. Whenever she was around, the world seemed to brighten. She was like the sun in the morning and the

brows knitted slightly, but she

growing old together," Haines continued, his voice heavy

her expression unreadable. No woman wanted to hear that

asked her to love me more because I knew she could never match how much I loved her. But thought she at least loved me just as much," he murmured. "But she didn't. The night I was going to propose, she disappeared

told

"No one knew. Charles was

want the Chairman meddling in our

"Oh."

had a slight wrinkle in her forehead, as if processing his confession. Then she met his eyes again and