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

Chapter 1722: Staying up late with someone

Meanwhile...

Haines sat on the couch in the living area, eyes fixed on the table where his phone rested, arms propped on his legs. After the conversation, he had been sitting there alone, thinking about everything he'd heard.

'So, Noel... 'he thought. 'She...'

Another deep breath escaped him, still unsure how to fully process it. Learning what happened to his former lover had given him a kind of closure he never knew he needed. But just when he thought there was nothing more to uncover, he realized―

This was far from over.

Even so, it all started to make sense.

It explained why Noel had always felt a little distant, even when she was

physically close. Why she seemed restless at times. Why she'd sometimes look at him with guilt or longing, even while in his arms.

Why her story had never quite added up.

Why she had been in the place where she died.

It now made sense to Haines-and it was clear what her answer would've been

had he asked her that night to be with him.

She hadn't left to fix things and come back.

Noel had left that day with no intention of returning.

A bitter laugh slipped from him as he shook his head and briefly closed his eyes.

"There's no need to think about that," he murmured to himself. "What we had..."

The past they shared-something he had once considered the best years of his life—might have just been an illusion. An illusion he'd held onto all these years because he never got to see what would have happened if she hadn't disappeared.

With that, Haines pushed himself to his feet and dragged himself toward the bedroom. But just as he reached for the doorknob and opened the door, Grace was already standing on the other side-doing the same.

She was barely awake, hair slightly messy. She blinked slowly up at him and let out a shallow breath.

meeting her gaze. "Grace, why are you? It's

know," she frowned, pushing the door wider as she took a slow

around him

you, but you weren't there. I thought you just went to the

you left... and I

expression softening. A small smile curled at

bed," he whispered. "I'm not going

not or I'll become a very

chuckle escaped him. Hand in

been wrong

was just an illusion-one he convinced himself to believe in. His past

was a part of

A part of himself.

best part of

that had

with Grace would have

he was loved, accepted, wanted, and appreciated. And honestly? He'd never felt anything like that in his life until Grace came barging in,

was finally

his hand held someone who held

[Skyline Plaza: Finn's]

returned home, he found himself tiptoeing inside. Despite how large the

master bedroom-he stilPmoved

like I just committed a crime,' he told himself, heading straight for

set his things down and quietly approached

called, quickly switching on the

light blinked

Nina wasn't there.

bodyguards were stationed around the

had placed a

bolted from the room to alert security. He didn't even consider checking elsewhere

he reached the lobby, he

"Finn?"

He turned slowly.

stood there, holding a glass