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."