Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53: I hope

Nina didn’t calm down as she cried so much until she fell asleep. The couple stayed with her, feeling sorry that they couldn’t do anything but stay with her throughout this process.

"I feel horrible," Allison expressed quietly while stroking Nina’s hair. "She seems very scared."

Charles pressed his lips, staring at Nina apologetically. "There’s nothing we can do."

The couple looked at each other and sighed.

If the choice was theirs, they would happily take care of the two girls. However, they knew deep in their hearts that no matter how they loved Nina, they had no right because they weren’t her real parents. They could only hope Jessa and Nina would get along, just like how Jessa and Penny got along very well.

The couple left Nina’s room with a heavy heart. But Charles only took his wife to their room before telling her he had to meet Haines. In times like this, the couple always needed some time alone and thus, Allison let her husband stay with Haines for a while.

When Charles entered the study, Haines was standing in front of the stand while pouring himself a glass of whiskey.

"We told her," was Charles’ greeting remarks, throwing himself on the couch. "I feel horrible." _{fгeewebnovёl.com}

Haines walked back to the set of couches with two glasses in his hand. "You did the right thing," was all he said as he slid one glass to Charles.

"She cried so much she ended up falling asleep."

"Mhm."

Another deep sigh escaped Charles as he reached for the glass, chugging the drink in one go. Hissing after gulping the alcohol down, he massaged his forehead to ease her headache.

"She didn’t want to go and Allison was also very reluctant," he continued dejectedly. "But knowing Jessa Cortez, she wouldn’t let it go if we try to give her another proposal."

"If this will make you feel better, then giving Nina to the Cortez Household during weekdays is much better. After all, Nina would be in school almost all day. It’ll help her adjust to the new environment while keeping the old one."

Charles glanced up at Haines but didn’t say anything for a while. "Haines, you’re really okay with this? Don’t you feel sorry for Nina?"

"A little."

"Haines, how can you say you only feel sorry for her a little?" Charles frowned. "Nina is also your niece. You two used to get along. Did that change just because she’s not a Bennet?"

"We never got along, but I did see her as a nice kid," Haines was blunt despite knowing this might disappoint Charles. "I just don’t worry about her because if she’s truly a nice kid, she’ll eventually melt Jessa Cortez’s heart just like how Penny did."

"It’s not sure if she’s the only one or if Joey was in it too, but from what I heard, Joey got involved with some bad crowd. I also heard, when the older couple found out that Nina’s mother wasn’t even going to school and Joey got involved with gambling, his mother had a heart attack because of anger," Haines continued. "Because she’s old then, she died only a few days later. Jessa was left to take care of their father but because of his wife’s loss, he quickly followed."

"Joey is the oldest, and he was naturally left in charge of the household. With a gambling addiction and a woman who supported it, both of them soon depleted the late couple’s savings. From what I heard, Nina’s mother even stole Jessa’s college funds, which caused a huge fight in the family. But with the money gone, Jessa had no choice but to stop and find a job to sustain herself."

While saying all this, Haines felt a little sorry for Jessa. When he heard about this, he sort of realized why Jessa was the way she was.

"Only a year after the late couple died, even the house they treasured and worked hard to build was sold. Their children, who used to have a bright future, had taken a different path. Joey harassed his little sister for money until Jessa found a man who would protect her."

Silence quickly followed Haines’s voice after telling Charles the story.

"Then why did Jessa hate Nina’s mother so much? Was it just the college fund?" from everything he heard, Nina’s mother’s participation in all of these was too little compared to Joey’s.

"Because it was Nina’s mother who manipulated Joey. She’s the one whispering in his ears and even the very person who stole from the family. Or so, what allegedly the truth." Haines shrugged. "This is not confirmed, but people who knew the family said she’s actually the one with the gambling addiction and Joey simply covered for her because he felt sorry for causing her first miscarriage."

"She sounds... horrible," Charles blurted out under his breath. "But Nina isn’t like that."

Haines refrained from leaving unnecessary comments. "I hope..." she would prove Haines wrong, because if Haines was right, then Charles and Allison would be hurt.