Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress novel Chapter 1271

Chapter 1271: First Date(?)

"There he goes!" Hugo huffed faintly, watching Max’s car drive away. "What is Lily even thinking? Leaving Ginnie in his care?"

Grace chuckled, amused that Hugo hadn’t caught on, even after an entire night with the group. "If you don’t trust him, why leave her alone with him, then?"

"I didn’t say I don’t trust him," he replied. "Even though I had a few drinks, I wouldn’t just leave Penny’s friend in the care of someone I don’t trust."

"Oh."

"That guy might be annoying, but he’s not a bad person," he said. "Ginnie’s safe with him."

"I guess your relationship with him is more complicated than I thought."

"It’s not complicated if he doesn’t like me romantically," Hugo shrugged. "Also, I thought you were drunk."

"I am—a little. How about you?" she returned, tilting her head. "I thought you were drunk."

"I was, but I splashed some water on my face before we left," he explained knowingly. "As a soldier, I don’t get drunk to the point where I can’t drag myself home."

Grace chuckled, impressed. "I guess the badge isn’t just for decoration."

"Badges are nothing," he said. "They’re just ornaments."

Hugo shoved his hands into his jeans pockets, standing still as he waited for either Atlas or Haines to arrive. "Say... are you really interested in my uncle?"

"I thought we already talked about that back there?"

"We did," he replied, tilting his head back slightly, eyes sliding toward her. "But I thought you were joking."

"So calling your uncle in the middle of the night to pick you up is part of the joke?"

"No, it’s part of my hope for him." Hugo shrugged. "My uncle has always been alone. And even though there are plenty of women now—just like before—who are interested in him, he never ’wastes’ his time on them. My dad and mom worry about him."

"What if I was joking?" she quipped. "Wouldn’t that be wasting his time as well?"

"You’re right, but... you seem like a woman with an open mind!" he laughed. "Even if you were joking, I’m sure you’d end up liking him once you get to know him! Haha!"

"Pfft—" Grace stifled her laughter, shaking her head at Hugo. "You are very confusing, Hugo Bennet."

At one point, she wondered if Hugo was truly clueless when it came to relationships. He seemed to treat men and women the same. But sometimes—just like now—it was clear that he wasn’t completely unaware.

"On a serious note, don’t hurt him," he said, clearing his throat with a smile. "Whether this works or not, don’t hurt him. Our family secretly blames us for the fact that he never had time for himself... which is somewhat true. Don’t play with his heart. Uncle Haines might have a heart of ice, but he’s very kind."

"Now that’s a lot of pressure," she chuckled, peeling her eyes away from him. "But you’re wrong."

"Huh?"

"Don’t worry about me hurting him," she said. "I’m worried it’s the other way around."

As soon as those words left her lips, a car suddenly pulled up in front of them. Hugo kept his eyes on her for a moment before shifting his gaze to the car. The second he did, he saw Haines stepping out of the driver’s seat, looking over the hood.

"Uncle!" Hugo raised a hand as Haines approached.

"Nothing?" Hugo cleared his throat, mentally panicking. ’Why isn’t First Brother here yet?! I called him first, didn’t I?!’

Very drunk? Haines and Atlas both glanced at Grace, who didn’t look the slightest bit drunk to them.

"Thanks, Uncle!" Hugo exclaimed before hurrying to Atlas. "First Brother, let’s go! Fast, fast!"

Atlas frowned but shrugged. "Uncle, I’ll take him home. Drive safe."

With that, Atlas got in the driver’s seat, unaware of what Hugo had just done.

Haines watched his nephews leave in silence. He only looked away from the car’s taillights when he heard Grace chuckle.

"I’m really drunk," she said, clutching her bag with both hands in front of her. "Please take care of me."

"..." Haines exhaled shallowly as he gazed at her. Despite realizing he had just walked into a trap set by Charles’s children, he simply couldn’t leave her here alone. "Get in."

Having said that, Haines didn’t wait for her and walked back. Out of habit, he opened the backseat door and left it slightly ajar before rounding the car to the driver’s seat.

Grace glanced at the open backseat door and smiled. Instead of climbing in, she shut it and went straight to the front passenger seat. As soon as she sat down, Haines looked at her in surprise.

"It’s the middle of the night—people fall asleep at this hour. I don’t want you dozing off behind the wheel," she reasoned with a smile. "And you’re not my driver."

Haines sighed and shook his head. "Your seatbelt."

"Hehe." Grace chuckled, buckling herself in.

And just like that, she had her "first date" with him.