Karl stepped out of the restaurant —only to see his brother’s car already pulling away.

He broke into a run, trying to catch up. But before he could even get close, the car had already sped past the street corner and disappeared from the sight.

Pier, noticing him, hurried over and grabbed his arm. "Brother Karl, why are you running like that?"

"Of course —to get under the wing of my sister-in-law," Karl shot back without hesitation.

Pier followed his gaze toward the empty road, his expression turning solemn.

"Oh ... isn’t that bad?" he said seriously. "Now, how are you going to survive the night?"

Karl’s face crumpled as if he were about to cry. He had truly believed he would be safe as long as his sister-in-law was by his side.

But ... she had left him behind.

Didn’t he make it clear how much he respected her?

Or was she still judging her based on his previous conduct?

—————

Meanwhile, in the car—

Adelyn froze for a second.

Remembered her?

Her brows furrowed, her expression turning complicated as her thoughts tangled together. Her gaze instinctively darted toward Dylan —only to find him already watching her.

"Mr. Warren, she—"

"She’s asleep," Dylan said before she could even finish.

Adelyn paused, then instinctively lowered her gaze.

Eira was indeed asleep.

Her eyes were closed, her expression calm and serene, her breathing slow and even—completely at ease in her arms.

"She’s talking in her sleep?" Adelyn asked, lifting her eyes back to him.

Dylan held her gaze for a moment before giving a faint hum in response.

And somehow, that simple answer made her frown slightly.

Still, she didn’t press further.

Her attention returned to the little girl resting in her arms, but the crease between her brows didn’t ease —not even a little.

"Sleep talking is harmless."

She heard his voice again.

Looking up, she realized that once more, he had been watching her —reading her expression as if it were an open book.

"You don’t have to worry about it. With you around, it will get better for her."

His words puzzled her slightly.

But then—

Understanding dawned.

"So ... it’s because she misses her mother?" she asked softly, seeking confirmation.

After all, sleep talking might be harmless —but it often stemmed from something deeper. Stress. Anxiety. Emotional unrest.

Dylan didn’t hide it.

He nodded.

"Even though she is sensible," he said, "she is still a child."

His words weren’t explicit.

But Adelyn understood them clearly.

No matter how mature Eira seemed, she was still just a little girl.

And no amount of sensibility could erase a child’s longing for parental love.

She craved her mother.

Adelyn had realized that long ago —within just a few interactions.

"Mr. Warren," she spoke softly, but there was a quiet edge to her voice now —a complaint she couldn’t quite suppress.

"She’s a child. She doesn’t understand the complexities between adults. But you ..."

She paused, lifting her gaze to meet his.

There was no hesitation in her eyes now. If there was anything, it was only honesty—raw and unfiltered.

"... you understand the simplicity of her feelings, don’t you?"

Dylan didn’t interrupt her.

That only gave her more courage to continue.

"Then why are you still making her suffer like this?"

Her gaze dropped back to Eira, softening instantly.

The child’s delicate face tugged at her heart every time she looked at her.

"Why have you kept her away from her mother?" she asked, her voice quieter now but no less firm. "She’s too young to deserve this."

The car was dimly lit.

She could see Dylan’s silhouette —but not his expression.

So she didn’t know whether her words had offended him or not.

But she didn’t regret saying them.

Because to her—

They were true.

Just the thought of the girl longing for her mother like this was enough to make her chest ache.

She had even called a stranger "Mama" ... without hesitation.

Ford, who had been silently driving all this while, finally reacted.

His brows furrowed slightly as he glanced into the rear-view mirror —catching the scene behind him.

One person was waiting for an answer.

The other ... struggling to give one.

In the end, he spoke.

"Ms. Grace," he said, his voice rough yet respectful, "you’ve misunderstood."

Adelyn turned slightly, meeting his gaze in the mirror before he shifted his eyes back to the road.

"Sir hasn’t separated the young miss from her mother," Ford continued. "It was the woman who left them behind."

Adelyn’s frown deepened.

"She left?" she repeated. "Why? Did she not want Eira?"

Ford didn’t answer this time.

Not because he didn’t know—

But because it wasn’t his place to say.

Not when he understood the weight such truths carried.

Adelyn waited.

But when no answer came, she slowly looked back down at Eira.

Her gaze softened, slowly growing heavy with sympathy.

The child was so young ...

So gentle ...

So heartbreakingly precious.

How could anyone abandon her?

If she had a daughter like this—

She would cross seven layers of hell without hesitation just to protect her.

Leaving her behind would never even be an option.

Her arms tightened unconsciously, pulling Eira closer.

The little girl stirred slightly in her sleep —but didn’t wake.

She remained nestled comfortably in Adelyn’s embrace ... as though nowhere else in the world felt as safe.

Dylan watched everything from the side.

His fingers curled into a fist.

Then, quietly —almost too quickly —he turned his gaze away.

But Adelyn noticed.

Even that small shift didn’t escape her.

Her eyes lingered on him —and suddenly, the realization struck.

She had overstepped.

She had said things she had no right to say.

Guilt crept in immediately.

What had she been thinking?

She didn’t know anything about him. Nothing about his past. Nothing about his relationship with Eira’s mother.

And yet—

She had judged him as if she knew everything.

He was Eira’s father.

More than anyone, he would feel her pain.

If he had made such a choice ...

There had to be a reason.

"Mr. Warren," she said softly, her voice laced with regret. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions."

Dylan didn’t respond.

He didn’t even look at her.

That small shift —subtle as it was —didn’t go unnoticed.

And for some reason ... it bothered her.

More than she expected.

Not knowing what else to say, she asked hesitantly, "Did my words ... upset you?"

Dylan finally turned to look at her.

And the moment their eyes met—

Adelyn stilled.

There was something in his gaze.

Something strained.

Something she couldn’t quite decipher.

"Mr. Warren ..."

"If I had kept her away from you," he asked quietly, his voice low and steady, "would you have blamed me?"