Dylan’s eyes found hers in the mirror as he stared right at her —as if waiting for her to answer.

Adelyn’s expression turned awkward.

She cursed herself for being so careless.

Not only had she blurted out something so inappropriate about this charming devil, but she had done it loud enough for him to hear.

Wasn’t she talking in her thoughts?

How had she still ended up saying it out loud?

She wanted to question herself, but she had no answer.

In the end, her eyes met Eira’s pretty ones instead.

The girl was there too, holding her father’s hand, looking at her with her head slightly tilted to one side —as though thinking about the same thing as her father, just as seriously.

That innocent look of deep contemplation only made Adelyn feel even more embarrassed.

Her cheeks flushed as the indecent thought from earlier crossed her mind again.

She pressed her lips together tightly before looking back at Dylan and saying—

"Indecent thoughts? What indecent thoughts, Mr. Warren?"

Dylan raised a brow at her.

Even though he didn’t say a word, his gaze felt probing.

Adelyn felt it and quickly turned around to face him properly.

For a second, she considered explaining everything honestly.

But then she realized —nothing she said would come out decently.

So, in the end, she chose to simply deny the entire thing.

After all, it had only been a fleeting thought that crossed her mind.

She had never truly accepted it.

So she decided to deny it altogether.

"You must have misheard something, Mr. Warren," she said, walking toward him.

Then, giving him a slow glance from top to bottom, she added,

"You are so refined, so perfect in my eyes —how could I even dare to associate you with anything indecent?"

She clicked her tongue lightly and shook her head.

"You clearly misheard." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Did I?" Dylan asked, his tone laced with quiet suspicion —one that wasn’t serious but there.

However, Adelyn remained firm.

She didn’t falter. Instead, she nodded.

"Yes, you did. Haha ... if you don’t believe me, you can ask Eira."

She then glanced at the girl, only to find her already looking at her.

"Right, baby?"

Eira blinked her eyes once before shifting her gaze between the two of them.

Adelyn’s eyes urged her silently.

Finally, the girl nodded in her favor, giving a small hum in agreement.

"See," Adelyn said with a sigh of relief, looking back at Dylan. "Even Eira said it. She didn’t hear anything."

Dylan nodded.

Seeing him seemingly accept it, Adelyn let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

However—

Just then, with pure curiosity, Eira asked,

"What’s an indecent thought, Mama?"

The moment she did, Adelyn’s expression stiffened again.

She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes briefly.

When she opened them again, Dylan looked calm.

His gaze was deep, but he didn’t point anything out.

As if he hadn’t heard Eira’s question at all.

Had he really not?

Scratching lightly at the corner of her brow, Adelyn glanced back at the girl.

Eira was staring up at her so innocently that she couldn’t bring herself to ignore the question —even if answering it might expose her.

With a helpless smile, she explained,

"Indecent thoughts are ... wrong thoughts, baby. One shouldn’t think about them —not about good people. Good people like your Dada."

Eira paused, taking a moment to process her words.

Once she understood, she nodded.

Looking up at Dylan, she said seriously,

"Mama is a good person. She can never have wrong thoughts."

Dylan’s gaze shifted to Adelyn.

And almost instantly, Adelyn felt the need to change the subject.

"Umm ... were you and Eira here to check on me?" she asked quickly. "I’m ready. We can leave."

She glanced at her watch and added,

"It’s getting late."

Dylan gave her a long look before nodding. Then, he turned to leave.

Behind him, Adelyn followed.

Eira held her hand and walked beside her.

When they reached the door, Adelyn paused and turned toward the girl.

Unlike before, the child wasn’t coming with them this time.

"Baby," she called softly, immediately noticing the girl’s expression dim slightly. "Don’t be sad now. Did you forget what I said last night?"

Eira nodded.

She remembered everything.

"Since you remember, there’s no need to be upset. I’ll come by often to meet you."

Eira nodded again.

Seeing her agree so easily this time, Adelyn smiled.

She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on the girl’s forehead.

"You’re the sweetest."

With that, she pulled back and waved lightly.

"I’ll go then."

The girl waved back.

She wasn’t crying, but the reluctance in her eyes was impossible to miss.

Adelyn noticed it too.

Even though she didn’t like seeing her like that, she still turned and slid into the car.

After all, she couldn’t give in every time and agree to things that might not last.

As the car drove away, Mabel came to take Eira back inside.

However, the girl remained standing at the door until the car finally disappeared from sight.

Only then did she quietly turn and walk back in.

Meanwhile—

Inside the car, Adelyn still couldn’t shake off the image of Eira.

She had never thought someone’s emotions could affect her so deeply.

But today, she realized something—

The longer she stayed around the girl ... the more she felt herself growing attached.

Are all kids like that?

Do they leave such strong imprints on one’s heart so easily?

She didn’t know.

Because never before had anyone affected her this way.

But with Eira, she could clearly feel everything—

Even emotions she had never experienced before.

"Are you alrightt?" Dylan asked.

Hearing him, Adelyn turned toward him and shook her head.

"I’m fine. I was just thinking about Eira. She’s really a sweet one."

She let out a small laugh and added, trying to conceal how deeply she had begun to feel for the child,

"We just left her barely five minutes ago, and I already feel like I miss her..."

"If you miss her so much," Dylan said, watching her with a calm but unreadable gaze, "you can return and stay with her again."

Adelyn paused.

She stared at him, slightly confused.

Was he asking her to move into his place?