Chapter 994: Might not be lovers, but friends

If there was one strange thing Haines would consider today, it would be sharing something very personal with Mildred. The story he shared with her was something even Charles didn’t know. Haines had never mentioned the woman because he didn’t want Charles to blame himself.

When Charles returned from the military, he was mentally vulnerable. Even when Charles got better and started acting like his usual self, taking charge of the company, Haines knew that Charles was simply trying his best to hold on to his sanity. It was when Allison came into Charles’s life that the latter’s life got better.

Even so, Haines didn’t have the chance to tell Charles about that part of his life. He deemed it unnecessary. Hence, he asked for Charles to be transferred to their international branch, which Charles had already considered initially.

Yet Haines told Mildred about it for a reason he couldn’t explain. But after hearing Mildred’s answer, he finally realized the reason.

In a way, Mildred mirrored him, just as he mirrored her.

"If you haven’t heard of it, the Pierson Family is quite traditional," said Mildred. "We have a hierarchy, with the chairwoman, the patriarch of the family, at the top. Those who have a seat at their table come second. My mother has a seat — a very important one."

Mildred paused and sighed. "She’s fierce and honest. The chairwoman favored her, and my mother assisted the chairwoman with everything. The two of them were both admirable."

"And that’s the very reason you haven’t said a word?"

"Damn right." Mildred laughed, pleased by Haines’s quick thinking. "It’s not that they had said it themselves, but I just knew... it would disappoint them. My mother, especially. She might’ve passed, but even after death, I still don’t want to disappoint her."

"So, I focus my energy on helping those new to the family. As I said, the Pierson Family is different. You might say the Bennet Family is the same, but... it is not." She shook her head. "The Bennet Family wouldn’t try to kill each other, but the Piersons... it’s always a life-and-death situation."

Upon realizing what she was telling Haines, Mildred bit her tongue and felt a sense of dread creeping into his heart.

"It’s alright," Haines laughed. "I am aware."

"The matriarch told you?" she asked in surprise.

"Had I mentioned she spent the last twelve years with me? There’s nothing she hasn’t told me yet. Especially when it concerns her life, I would have to know. Besides, although I’ve retired, I still have access to Prime Group. So, if I want to know about the Piersons, I can simply look you up... just like how you can look me up with your connections."

Mildred chuckled weakly. "I’m sorry. I was just curious what kind of family our matriarch came from... and it did not disappoint."

"Her parents would be glad to hear that."

"Well... I guess that’s a wrap?" Mildred flashed him a grin. "This date turned out better than I thought."

"I have to agree." Haines nodded. "Just when I thought there was nothing I would enjoy about this arrangement, I’m glad Old Mrs. Pierson thought of you."

The two of them stared at each other with their lips stretching into wider smiles. What they felt was genuine. Although they were both aware that this date turned out better than they expected, they also knew that the two of them were impossible.

Even so, the date might not have turned out as Old Mrs. Pierson or others expected, but the two of them quietly agreed that, even though they might not end up as lovers, they would still be good friends.

"Should we go back?" Haines suggested, only to see Mildred shake her head.

"There’s still another date after me, isn’t that right?" she returned. "You have two options: we go back there now and proceed to your next date, or wait until Charles sends your next date a message that the arrangement is no longer necessary. I’m suggesting this because you seemed tired."

Her smile turned cunning. "You’re free to choose. I’m fine with either."

"My legs tingle a little, so I’d better stay here," he humored, chuckling along with her.

Another moment of silence fell between them as their laughter subsided. They watched the people in the park in silence.

"Take my words with a grain of salt, but... you should move on," she uttered after a prolonged silence. "Your first love might be dead by now. So, she might not be able to come back and explain herself."

She slowly cast a look at Haines. "If you know you’re foolish, then do something about it. You’ve waited for a long time, but it’s already time to let go and give yourself the chance. We’ve only known each other for a short time, but even if we’d known each other for a long time, I would’ve said the same thing."

"You seem like a good man," she added. "There’s never too late for anything."

"Then, should I also say that it’s never too late to come out of the closet?" he returned, tilting his head a little. "You said it yourself. Old Mrs. Pierson and your late mother haven’t said it, and your worries that you’d disappoint them were all concocted in your head. Why don’t you try?"

"Do you think it is that easy?"

"It is not easy, just as it is not easy for me to move on. If it were, then I wouldn’t be doing these dates at my age," he smiled, thinking about how he had already tried to move on in the past. However, the cut his first love made in his heart was far too deep. It tore his heart apart. He was taking his time.

"How about this?" Haines rubbed his chin. "I’ll take these dates seriously and hope that someone will make this heart beat just as it’s supposed to. While you... you should do your best to free yourself from the shackles of your mind and society."

Mildred’s brows rose while Haines grinned brightly. "We’re too old for this."

"There’s never too late for everything... said someone I know," he shrugged. "We’re getting old now, so what are you so afraid of?"

"..." Mildred blinked and blinked, staring at Haines. "I’ll confess once you find the right person for you."

"Are you a child?"

"Hehe." Mildred laughed. "If I put it that way, I’d feel less pressured."

"..." Haines furrowed his brows a little. "You think... I’ll never find the right person?"

"No, I think you will, eventually. However, it’ll take time." Mildred grinned. "And I’m sure I’ll be more than ready once that day comes."

This was silly, especially at their age. However, despite living for more than five decades, they had to admit that they hadn’t figured out life yet. In fact, the older they got, the more they realized just how clueless they were.

Even so...

"Well, then, no pressure," said Haines, only to hear Mildred say, "You too. No pressure. Take your time. This time, this promise is not a promise you’d make to a ghost."

Haines chuckled. "And this encouragement isn’t from a judgmental point of view, but a genuine one."

This might have seemed childish, but at the end of the day, for the two of them, it was more of a saving grace knowing that someone else was struggling and trying just as much as they were.