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

Chapter 1749: I think... it’s something like that

"Please. Let me love her."

Grace and her mother, Angeline, stared at Haines in equal surprise at everything they had just heard. Haines kept his eyes locked on Angeline, his hold on Grace’s hand tightening.

As he squeezed her hand, Grace looked down at their intertwined fingers. Her eyes softened, and a subtle smile curled on her lips. When she lifted her gaze to him, it shimmered with affection and appreciation.

Happiness? To the point of tears?

Was that what she meant when she started pursuing Haines?

’I think... it’s something like that,’ she thought.

Because, oddly enough, she didn’t feel like squealing or jumping out of joy. She didn’t feel like shouting in excitement. Instead, her eyes stung with tears at hearing his words.

Meanwhile, the surprise on Angeline’s face slowly shifted into quiet resignation.

"Goodness," she sighed, glancing at her daughter, who was now gazing at Haines with undeniable affection. Shaking her head mildly, she looked back at Haines and nodded.

"I’m not going to break the two of you up."

She chuckled in defeat. "Haines, my daughter is the only thing I have in this world. Her happiness is mine. But you and I... we’re practically the same age. If I’m not wrong, you may even be older than me."

"I know," Haines replied, bowing his head slightly as he took a deep breath. His grip on Grace’s hand tightened until she squeezed his hand back.

When he turned to her, Grace offered him an encouraging smile. She gave a gentle nod, and that was all it took for the tension in his shoulders to ease.

"If you make my daughter happy, I won’t complain," Angeline continued. "However, both of you—" she paused, waiting until their attention turned to her. "This is not just for you, Haines, but for you too, Gracie. This relationship will be criticized. People will say cruel things, simply because they don’t understand."

She looked between the two of them. "It’s not going to be easy."

Haines didn’t respond.

Not because he disagreed—he knew exactly what she meant. He’d used that very excuse before to hold himself back.

truth was: he

being judged for loving someone half his

question was...

endure the stares? The whispers? The harsh

to her, his eyes silently asking those very things. Grace held his gaze, then shifted her

would they even say, Mom?" she asked. "That I’m after his money? That I want a share of the Bennet family’s

shrugged. "Fine by me. Like you said, people criticize what they

be understood," she added, leaning toward Haines

her head, watching

into his side. If she could fuse with him, she would. All she wanted

"Does this mean... you’re

looked at them both. After a pause, her eyes settled

said—her voice

never will," Haines said, exhaling deeply. "I’ll make her the happiest,

is it?" asked

cleared his throat, rubbing his palms against his

asked, brows raising.

He shook his head before glancing at Angeline with traces of embarrassment. "I was just wondering... what should I call you? ’Auntie’

Grace: "..."

Angeline: "..."

long moment of silence. Even Grace couldn’t bring herself to suggest

"Let’s not get into that right now. Let’s just... take it slow.

Grace agreed, laughing awkwardly. "We’ll sort it

a while since he felt this embarrassed,

subject to clear the lingering

alright, I can—" Haines began, but

rest for now," she replied. "Grace,

Haines. "I’ll call you when everything’s

small nod. He understood that the mother and daughter probably needed a little time alone. So

he left, Angeline headed to the kitchen. Grace lingered, her