Chapter 1327: The reality of time

DING!

[From: Grace

I know I told you that I like sunflowers, but I don’t. I just said that so I’d know when you’d send me one. I’ll consider it a late birthday gift—or perhaps an early one.

Thank you for the flowers. They’re lovely. I appreciate them. Finally, something I can take home and put in that empty vase I got from someone last year.

P.S. You can dream of me tonight.

Xoxo,

Grace]

"..."

Haines stared at his phone, a thin layer of ice coating his eyes. His jaw tightened as he read the message, clearly oozing with mischief. Every word of it almost made his blood boil.

’I should’ve known...’ he thought, mentally tallying another point in Grace’s favor—she’d won this round again.

First, she had deceived him, making him endure an unbearably long drive just to face her direct romantic advances. Then, there were the invitations. And now, this.

As the saying goes: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times?

"I must be a fool," he muttered under his breath, catching Charles’s attention.

Charles turned to the other side of the back seat, blinking innocently. He quickly noticed the cold look on Haines’s face as he stared at his phone.

"Who messaged you to make you look so..." Charles trailed off, stretching his neck to sneak a peek. But before he could, Haines abruptly locked his phone.

Charles frowned, brows knitting together. "Haines, are you hiding something from me?"

"No," Haines replied quickly, his tone cold.

"Why are you reading other people’s private messages?"

"Well, you look like you’re about to freeze the world over, so I wanted to see who made you this angry."

"It’s nothing," Haines brushed him off, snapping his gaze toward the window.

Charles studied his side profile, frowning. Haines had been acting strange lately. Not that Haines wasn’t always a little strange, but there were these... episodes. And they were starting to tickle Charles’s curiosity.

"Ahem!" Charles cleared his throat and straightened his back. "Haines, I heard you went out today."

Intrigue played in Charles’s eyes as he watched Haines like a hawk. But Haines didn’t react—not even a little.

"I’m wondering... how are things with Mildred?" Charles asked, trying (and failing) to keep his tone casual. Ever since he heard Haines had gone to lunch with Mildred, he’d been dying to know.

Was Haines really interested in her?

Though they were too old for teenage gossip, Charles couldn’t help but feel excited. Mildred was the first woman to get along well with Haines—aside from Allison and Jessa. Charles had known Haines since childhood, and the only time they were ever apart was during Charles’s years in the military. Aside from that, Haines had kept in touch while living abroad.

In other words, Charles was very amused by the idea of Haines with a woman. Even at this age.

Sensing the stare, Haines glanced at Charles. "We’re fine."

"Haines, when are you planning to propose?" Charles asked, scooting closer. "I mean, we’re not young anymore. No one would judge you for proposing after two dates."

"Charles."

"Haines, I’m simply looking out for you," Charles intoned. "In case you need some encouragement—from a brother, a friend, or a cousin, whichever role I’m needed in—I’m giving it to you. Mildred Pierson isn’t a bad match."

"Do you really want another member of this family to marry a Pierson?"

"This isn’t about the Piersons. Even if she came from a different family, I’d still support your relationship!" Charles wiggled his eyebrows playfully. "Haines, this is the first time you’ve shown real interest in a woman! And the first time you didn’t break her heart in an instant. That’s a good sign."

This isn’t the first time...

That was what Haines wanted to say. But he had kept his first relationship a secret for so long that bringing it up now felt unnecessary.

A shallow breath escaped him as he shook his head. "Focus on the family meeting instead. I don’t think Finn Davis is a bad person, but I’m a little skeptical about his family."

In their culture, family opinions mattered. The Bennets weren’t as judgmental as others, but they still believed a good in-law was important. If it weren’t for Old Mrs. Pierson’s warmth and sincerity toward Penny, Charles wouldn’t have accepted Penny’s marriage so easily.

Had Old Mrs. Pierson disliked Penny, Charles would have disliked Zoren a hundred times over.

So, despite the Pierson family’s chaotic reputation, Charles and Allison had never felt the need to confront Penny about her secret marriage. Why worry when Penny had the chairwoman’s full support? Even so, that didn’t mean they weren’t initially concerned—just like now, with the Davises.

"Heh! I don’t expect much from them," Charles scoffed, frowning at the thought. "I’ve heard enough about the Davises. I’m not happy with the image I have of them, but as long as they treat my Nina properly, I won’t interfere."

...Even if he wanted to.

"Goodness," he sighed, shaking his head as he turned to the window. "How time flies, Haines. I just blinked, and both my princesses are marrying ogres! Why can’t my sons get married instead so they can leave me in peace?!"

Charles lamented, nearly sobbing.

Haines, watching this spectacle, pulled out a handkerchief from his suit and handed it over.

Charles took it, wiped his eyes, and blew his nose.

"Even their love lives are nonexistent! Those young fools! How did they not inherit my passion for romance? Didn’t they see how I showered their mother with love?" Charles continued with a heavy heart, but in actuality, it was the reality of time that caused those tears.

Not that he was saying he didn’t want his sons out of his sight. Who knows? His sons might have daughters just as pretty as their mother and sisters. There were endless possibilities. It was just that... he couldn’t believe just how his children was growing so fast. He could barely catch up.

Haines shook his head, glancing back out the window.

"Stop crying," he said, just as the car came to a halt. "We’re here."