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

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.

Neither was better—they simply mattered in different ways.

—

Downstairs...

Unaware of Allison’s departure, Haines sighed softly.

"Yes," he admitted. "I’ve been seeing someone lately."

Charles froze. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Then why haven’t you introduced her yet?!" Charles gasped, caught off guard. "Haines, this is big news! Who is it? Mildred Pierson?!"

Yes...

Haines was tempted to say yes, just to end the conversation. But that would only bring more problems. He’d already made enough mistakes recently—no need to add another.

"No, not her." Haines shook his head. "I can’t introduce her yet. We’re still getting to know each other."

Charles stepped closer, nearly nose-to-nose with him. "Is she pretty?"

Haines paused. Grace’s bare face flashed in his mind—her hair tied up messily as she ate takeout on the couch. A small smile tugged at his lips.

"Very," he said.

"Oh, ho!" Charles laughed, clapping in disbelief. "Wow. My brother’s finally growing up."

Haines stared at him blankly, but Charles ignored it.

"When did you meet? How? Tell me everything!"

"..." Haines fell silent. It was too early for all that. There were still so many things to sort out—things he needed to discuss with Grace, and... the courage to tell Charles the truth.

"What?" Charles frowned. "What is it?"

"Charles," Haines began, "the person I’m seeing... is young."

"What?!"

"Twice younger than I am," Haines clarified. "That’s why I don’t want to involve the family yet."

He stepped back. "When I’m sure, I’ll tell you first."

With that, Haines walked away, barely limping, leaving Charles in stunned silence.

"???" Deep lines creased Charles’s brow as he stared after Haines. "A woman twice younger than him?"

---

Later...

When Charles returned to their room, Allison was lounging against the headboard.

"So?" she asked with a playful smile. "Did you get him to talk?"

"Uh." Charles let out a noise as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Yes. He did."

Her brows furrowed. "Charles, is something wrong? Don’t tell me you two fought."

"No. No, Ali."

"Then why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?"

Slowly, Charles turned toward her, confusion written all over his face.

"Haines just said he’s dating a younger woman."

"Hmm?"

"Twice younger than him," he clarified. "Probably around Atlas’s age."

"Oh." Allison tilted her head, surprised. "Well, I didn’t expect that."

She paused, then looked back at him. "Still, I don’t see any problem with that. Love with an age gap is possible."

"I know, Ali, but I’m just... a little worried."

"Why?"

"I don’t remember Haines ever being with a woman," Charles explained. "And it’s not the age difference that bothers me—it’s what if she’s just using him? I don’t want a stranger to break his heart."

"Aww..." Allison scooted closer, hugging him and resting her chin on his shoulder. Smiling, she said, "Charles, Haines isn’t silly. He’s not gullible. If he realizes he’s being used, he wouldn’t keep going."

Still, the concern didn’t leave Charles’s eyes.

"Charles, trust him," she said. "He’s old—very old. He knows what he’s doing. As long as he’s happy, that’s what matters, right?"

They looked at each other, and finally, Charles sighed and gave in.

"You’re right." His eyes softened as he laid a hand on her arm. "As long as he’s happy. I just hope this doesn’t break his heart."

Little did Charles know, the person who would break Haines’s heart...

...wasn’t the woman he was seeing.

It was him.

—

Meanwhile, in the hospital...

The sound of the heart monitor echoed softly in the ward. The lights were dim, and very quiet.

Mint was resting her back on the headboard, papers were all over her bed. She read and put down the paper, checking them one by one. She had been doing this since these files arrived in her ward.

"..." Pressing her lips into a thin line, her eyes lifted ever so slightly. She held her breath, her mouth falling open, as she dropped her hand to her lap.

"Hugo’s right," she whispered. "It’s been right in front of me all along."