Eira’s face fell the moment she caught that flicker of hesitation on Adelyn’s face.

Her eyes brimmed instantly, turning glassy with unshed tears —but she held them back stubbornly, refusing to let them fall.

Tears made her look ugly —her Mama had told her that.

And she ... wanted to always look pretty in her mother’s eyes.

"You don’t want to come back home with Eira?" she asked softly, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay composed. "Did Eira ... upset you?"

Adelyn’s heart clenched.

She stared at the little girl, momentarily at a loss for words.

Afraid that the child might misunderstand her silence, she quickly crouched down to match her height, her movements gentle, almost careful —as though even the slightest misstep might break her further.

"Sweetheart ... no," Adelyn said softly, her voice warm and reassuring. "You didn’t upset me at all. You’re such a good baby. How could you upset me?"

Her hand lifted, cupping one side of Eira’s small face tenderly, her thumb brushing lightly against her cheek.

"You could never upset me. Not even a little. Don’t think like that, okay?"

But instead of calming her—

It only made things worse.

Eira’s lips trembled harder.

She tried—she really tried—to hold it in.

But Adelyn’s gentle words only made the ache inside her grow heavier, sharper ... until she could no longer contain it.

If Mama wasn’t upset with her ...

Then why didn’t she want to come home with her?

Why?

Was she not lovable enough?

Was she ... not wanted?

The tears finally slipped free.

And the little girl broke down, her small shoulders trembling as soft sobs escaped her.

"Baby ..." Adelyn’s voice softened even further, a trace of panic slipping into it.

"But Mama said earlier ..." Eira choked between her sobs, her tiny fingers clutching onto Adelyn’s sleeve as though afraid she might disappear if she let go. "She would go back home with Eira ..."

Adelyn couldn’t take it anymore. She didn’t know why, but seeing the girl cry like that made her chest ache unbearably.

It felt as though something inside her was being torn apart —raw, aching, impossible to ignore.

Instinctively, she glanced up at Dylan, hoping he might step in and help her out.

But he only stood there, watching quietly.

And in that silence—

She understood.

He was waiting for her to handle it herself.

She almost wanted to glare at him.

But she couldn’t ignore the quiet sobs trembling right in front of her.

No longer able to bear it, Adelyn made her decision.

Without hesitation, she pulled the little girl into her arms.

Eira didn’t resist at all.

She walked straight into her embrace, her small arms wrapping tightly around Adelyn as if she had finally found something she was afraid of losing.

"Shhh ... don’t cry anymore, sweetie," Adelyn coaxed gently. "I am not going back on my word. If you want me to go back home with you, then I will. There’s no need to cry over this."

Her voice softened more with guilt.

"I’m sorry ... I forgot my promise to you. It’s my fault."

She hadn’t realized before how deeply her words could affect the girl.

If she had known ...

She would have never let it reach this point.

Eira heard her —but her sobs didn’t stop immediately.

The hurt was still there.

The fear of not being loved still lingered.

And those fragile emotions weren’t something that could disappear in an instant.

Adelyn didn’t rush her.

She simply held her close, one hand holding her to herself while the other gently stroking her back, waiting patiently for her to calm down.

Only when she felt the trembling ease slightly did she whisper again,

"Mama is really sorry, sweetheart ... can you not stay upset with me?"

Eira slowly pulled back, just enough to look at her face.

And Adelyn’s heart clenched all over again.

It had only been minutes —but the girl’s small, delicate face was already flushed red from crying.

And it was all because of her.

"Eira isn’t upset with Mama," the girl said softly.

That only made the guilt heavier.

From the very beginning, this child had been nothing but patient with her.

Even when it was obvious how much she liked her, she had always held herself back —careful, cautious —just so she wouldn’t make Adelyn uncomfortable.

And now ...

Realizing that only made Adelyn feel like she had truly wronged her.

Because she could see it clearly—

This child craved nothing more than her mother.

"You’re not?" Adelyn asked gently.

Without hesitation, Eira shook her head.

"Then ... will you still take me back home with you?"

Eira hesitated.

And that hesitation was clear —too clear —in her eyes.

Adelyn noticed it, but she didn’t rush her.

She could tell the girl was thinking carefully about something.

"Do you really want to come back home with Eira?"

Adelyn blinked, slightly taken aback.

Her gaze instinctively flicked toward Dylan before returning to the little girl.

"If I don’t want to go ... will you stop asking me?" she asked softly.

Eira’s eyes turned glassy again —but she still shook her head firmly.

"Why?" Adelyn asked.

"... Because if Eira takes Mama back home without Mama being willing, it won’t be right," she said, her voice trembling as she tried to hold herself together. "And Eira cannot bear to wrong Mama."

Even the hardest heart would soften at those words.

Adelyn was no exception.

How could she not melt?

The child was being so careful ... so thoughtful ... just to make sure she didn’t hurt her.

How could someone so young be this gentle?

A soft smile curved onto Adelyn’s lips.

Before she could stop herself, she leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to Eira’s cheek.

Eira froze slightly —caught off-guard.

But that small gesture—

It was like warmth spreading through her, soothing every pain of her at once.

The lingering sadness, the fear, the doubt— 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

All of it seemed to quiet down.

She looked at Adelyn, confused —but hopeful.

Adelyn gently poked her cheek and asked softly, "Has Mama ever told you that Little Eira is the best baby in the world?"

Eira thought seriously for a moment ... then shook her head.

Adelyn smiled warmly.

"Then from now on, Mama will make sure to tell you that every single day."

The little girl blinked, still processing.

Adelyn stood up slowly, then extended her hand toward her.

"Come," she said gently, gesturing for her to take it.

"Let’s go back home ... together."