Liam paused, his brows drawing together.
Xavier felt uncomfortable with Liam’s idea. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to argue with him, because he knew the reasoning behind it was, on the surface, logical.
Clara was fragile. She needed their protection more than anyone.
And yet, staking Adelyn’s safety for the sake of soone else still didn’t sit right with him.
Xavier turned to look at Adelyn, expecting her to et his gaze —to look at him the way he had been looking at her all this while. To ask him to save her. To choose her first.
But she didn’t.
She had barely glanced his way since the mont he arrived.
Instead, she sat there with her eyes closed, as though none of this affected her at all.
The longer he watched her like that, the tighter frustration coiled in his heart.
He couldn’t bring himself to decide.
Not because he cared for her any less —but because he couldn’t ignore Clara, not when she was trembling like that.
After all, Clara should never have been trapped in a situation like this.
"What’s wrong?" Liam asked when Xavier didn’t speak, even after a long pause.
Xavier shook his head. "Nothing," he exhaled slowly. "I also think Clara needs to be protected first. As for Adelyn ... she will be fine. We will make up to her later."
He looked at her again.
His heart beat a little differently this ti —uneasy, unsettled. But instead of acting on that discomfort, he chose to bury it beneath a quiet promise.
As long as she asks to save her first, he thought, I will try to make Liam change the plans.
But what Xavier didn’t know —
Adelyn would never beg him.
Not him.
Not the Scott family.
Not even if it was the last resort left in this world.
Liam nodded, exchanging a glance with everyone before finally turning back to the man.
"What?" the man asked with subtle mockery. "You can take more ti, if you want. I don’t mind. After all, this decision might be very diff—"
"No need," Liam interrupted, his tone final, impatience seeping through his words. "We have decided."
"Oh, you have?" The man spoke carefully, suppressing a chuckle —one that sounded less amused and more forced. "Then it seems it was never as difficult as you all made it out to be. The choice was very evident from the beginning."
His words clawed guilt into both Liam and Charlotte’s hearts. They exchanged a glance but said nothing.
"Fine," the man continued, drawing their attention back to himself. "If you have already made a choice, let’s not delay it any further. Reveal your card."
Clara’s heart clenched. Fear clawed at her chest, and her body went cold.
But just when she might pass out, she heard Liam’s voice —loud and clear.
"We choose Clara."
Silence filled the air, and for a mont, no one spoke.
Clara closed her eyes in relief. Her trembling eased as she opened them again and looked at her mother.
Charlotte gave her a weak smile. "We told you —we won’t let anything happen to you."
Clara nodded, tears brimming in her eyes, but this ti, her lips curved into a smile.
Liam turned to the man, firr now. "We have made our choice. What are you waiting for?" His gaze flicked to Clara. "Release my sister. We are taking her away from this place."
The man’s fingers clenched, as though restraining a primitive urge. Yet on his lips was an impressed smile.
"Indeed, you have made a choice, Second Master Scott. And that choice ... truly surprises ."
Before anyone could question his words, he continued.
"How could I not be surprised? I always thought you would choose the sister you accepted with your heart. But it seems they are right —blood is always thicker than water."
Liam’s jaws clenched.
His gaze shifted to Adelyn —and collided with her sharp, cold eyes.
It felt as though sothing pierced straight through his chest. Guilt clawed at his conscience, and he looked away almost imdiately, unable to endure her gaze.
He knew Adelyn was blaming him.
And that was the right thing to do. He deserved it.
To her, this choice must have felt like a betrayal.
But he also believed that once he explained everything later, she would understand —just as she always had.
With that belief anchoring him, he looked back at her.
Linnie, everything would be fine, he thought, his gaze deepening, silently pleading. Trust your brother. Once Clara is safe, I will co back to you.
But Adelyn didn’t seem to care at all.
Her eyes were cold, yet there was no accusation in them —no resentnt. Only emptiness. As though there was nothing left to complain about. As though there was no one left to complain to.
That indifference froze Liam.
For a mont, he almost spoke —almost explained himself. But he realized it would be a mistake.
It would ruin everything he had planned.
Grinding his teeth, he turned back to the man.
The sooner it gets over, the better it will be.
"Clara is our blood sister, and there is no wrong in choosing her over anyone else. Just release her now so that we can take her away."
The words were cruel.
He told himself he didn’t truly an them.
But what he failed to realize was this —
Words backed with action reveal intent far more clearly than any explanation ever could.
"Release her now," Bryer added when no one moved.
The man turned toward him and smiled in amusent. "Release her?" he repeated. "When did I say I would do that?"
"You are going back on your word now?" Liam frowned.
The man studied him and then Charlotte for a mont before he shook his head and said, "I am not. I am just going back on the condition I presented to you guys. You can still take your daughter." His gaze went to stare at the two won tied to the chair. "Just not the one you choose."
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