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

Chapter 1545: It's been right in front of me all along.

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Later that night...

Haines quietly snuck through the front door. All the lights were off except for a dim one in the corner-just enough for him to see the path ahead. He quickly walked inside but jolted in place when Charles's voice broke the stillness of the night.

"Haines."

"Oh, goodness." Haines clutched his chest, breath hitching.

Standing on the stairs like a father catching his son sneaking in, Charles descended with slow, deliberate steps. Once he was a step away from Haines, he narrowed his eyes.

"Haines, tell me the truth," Charles said. "Where have you been going these days?"

Haines turned to him with a shrug. "Just... some bars."

"Bars?" Charles's eyes narrowed further. "You? Every night?"

"Charles, I'm not young anymore, and I'm not your son," Haines replied in a light tone. "I've been going to bars because I haven't been sleeping well."

"Are you sure?"

Haines didn't answer.

"It's a woman, isn't it?" Charles guessed, suspicious. He'd tried squeezing the truth out of Penny, but she only fed him a string of nonsense and lies. Eventually, she just told him to ask his uncle directly.

"..." Haines opened his mouth, then shut it again.

"Haines, if it's a woman, you don't have to lie. I can take it," Charles said, folding his arms. "Who is she?"

Upstairs, Allison leaned against the railing, arms resting casually as she watched them. She shook her head with a sigh.

"Why does this sound like the legal wife confronting her cheating husband?" she muttered. "I knew it. I was the third party all along."

After all, ever since she married Charles, Haines had been part of their lives. Even during the years he was away from Anteca, he always visited during holidays. It wasn't until he returned with Penny that he started living with them full-time.

"Well..." Allison smiled subtly and turned away. "If it's true... then I'm really happy for him."

Because while she never minded Haines being around, she still wished he'd find someone to share life's special moments with. After all, love for family and love for a partner were two different things.

better-they simply mattered in different

Downstairs...

Allison's departure,

he admitted. "I've been

Charles froze. "Really?"

"Yes."

caught off guard. "Haines, this is big news! Who is

Yes...

to say yes, just to end the conversation. But that would only bring more problems. He'd already made enough

not her." Haines shook his head. "I can't introduce her yet. We're still

nearly nose-to-nose

tied up messily as she ate takeout

"Very," he said.

disbelief. "Wow.

stared at him blankly,

meet? How? Tell me

for

he needed to discuss with Grace,

Charles frowned. "What

person I'm seeing... is

"What?!"

younger than I am," Haines clarified. "That's why

stepped back. "When I'm sure, I'll tell

barely

Charles's brow as he stared after Haines. "A woman twice younger

Later...

their room, Allison was lounging against

playful smile. "Did you get him

a noise as he sat on the edge of the

furrowed. "Charles, is something wrong? Don't

"No. No, Ali."

why do you look

confusion written all

said he's dating a younger

"Hmm?"

he clarified. "Probably around

tilted her head, surprised. "Well, I didn't