Clara's fingers curled tightly into fists.
When Liam stopped her and said there was no need, she almost thought he was doing it out of concern for her.
But with just one glance back at him, she realized —it wasn't for her.
It was for Adelyn.
The way his gaze had lowered… she could tell he was feeling guilty.
Not toward her … but toward Adelyn.
"Liam, I know Adelyn has every reason to be upset, but—"
She forced herself not to grit her teeth. "—but we can't let her stay like that forever. We've missed her, you've missed her… for years. Now that she's finally back, we need to make things up to her. Let me go and apologize to her and —"
Liam's brows furrowed. He was about to refuse her again.
However—
Before he could speak, Charlotte's voice cut in.
"You don't need to apologize to her, Clara."
Clara's head snapped toward the staircase. "Even you're stopping me, Mom?" she asked, confusion filling her voice. "Did she say she doesn't want to see me?"
Charlotte didn't respond.
