Family is a luxury not everyone can afford. 
Adelyn learned that the day Clara returned to the Scott family —and she quietly stopped belonging. 

No one abused her. 
No one hurt her openly. 

But the love that was once hers alone became divided. 
The attention that once chose her … became something she had to borrow.

And whenever something precious stood between her and Clara —Adelyn was the one asked to let go. 

Not once.
Not twice. 
But every single time. 

Her dreams. 
Her choices. 
Her place in the family.

Her heart didn’t break in a single moment —it wore down slowly … until nothing remained worth fighting for. 

So, she erased herself from their world.
Not in anger.
Not in revenge. 
But to save what little of herself was left.
—————
Seven years later, Adelyn returned. 

Not for the Scott family. 
Not for their love. 

She came back for the dreams she was once forced to abandon —and this time, nothing would be taken from her. 

No compromises.
No sacrifices.
Only her life. Her rules. 

She breathed in freedom. “No family…no shackles.” 

But just then—
Two small arms wrapped around her legs, making her stiffen. 

When she looked down to check, she met a pair of familiar doe eyes staring up at her with unwavering trust.
“Mama … Eira waited long for you. Don’t leave again.” 

…Mama?

Before she could understand or react, a tall shadow fell over them. 

A man stood there —gaze sharp, cold, claiming —looking at her like she had belonged to him.
“You dared to show up again?” 

Adelyn felt clueless. She would have asked him what he meant, however —

Before she could speak — the ground vanished beneath her feet. 

A powerful arm lifted her effortlessly. 

“Since you dared …” his voice dropped —low, restrained, dangerous. “Don’t think of escaping again.

Adelyn's head remained lowered as she continued reading her script, but when she heard Karl speak, her eyelashes lifted slightly to look at him.


And somehow, that brief gaze was enough to warn Karl instantly.


He didn't dare utter the third word of his sentence.


Swallowing immediately, he practically shoved whatever word had been there back down his throat before looking away as though he had suddenly found something very interesting on the other side of the room.


Adelyn stared at him for a few seconds.


But when she saw that the guy clearly didn't dare bring it up again, she simply returned her attention to her script.


Adelyn didn't realize how long it had been, but when she finally lifted her gaze from the script, Karl was still sitting in his place —quietly, like the obedient kid he wasn't at all.


Chapter 336 - Who is Eira's mother?