Bryer had walked in just as they were talking about Adelyn.
His expression was as serious as ever, but there was a faint hesitation flickering in his gaze.
Charlotte was already on edge, and when he didn’t answer her imdiately, her patience snapped.
Rising to her feet, she walked toward him and t him halfway. Grabbing his arm, she asked urgently —almost desperately.
"Bryer, tell —what do you an? Did you find sothing?"
Even Liam looked at him, his gaze deep and intent, silently demanding an answer.
Bryer didn’t look at him.
Instead, he kept his eyes on their mother and said, "I didn’t. But assuming she’s gone —don’t you think that’s extre?"
"Bryer, do you even hear yourself?" Liam shot back. "We never assud —"
Bryer’s fingers clenched, his jaws tightening. He didn’t let Liam finish his words.
Instead lifting his gaze, he t his gaze directly and cut in, "I don’t need to hear anything, Liam. Especially from you," he said coldly. "I just know one thing —we haven’t received any proof that Adelyn is no longer alive."
He paused, his voice firming with resolve.
"And until that’s confird ... I’m not giving up on her."
Liam frowned.
But he didn’t retort. Nor did he tried to defend himself.
Bryer didn’t look away either. Accusation burned clearly in his eyes as he held Liam’s gaze.
The tension between the two brothers turned sharp —almost suffocating.
Just the way they looked at each other made it obvious —there was sothing unresolved between them.
To outsiders, the Scott family was the perfect picture of sibling love.
But the truth within those walls was far more fractured.
Sensing the situation slipping out of control, Charlotte stepped in.
"That’s enough," she said firmly. "Clara is at ho. Don’t let her see the two of you like this. She’ll only bla herself."
Her voice softened slightly, though it carried exhaustion beneath it. "Learn to cherish what you have now ... instead of holding on to what’s already gone."
Even as she said it, her heart ached —but she forced herself to accept it.
Bryer’s frown deepened.
"Mom, how can you say that?" he demanded. "Adelyn was one of us. She was the sister we grew up with."
Charlotte hardened her expression.
"I never considered Adelyn any different. She was my daughter —one who I raised with love and care," she said. "But it’s ti we accept that she’s gone and move on in life. Only that can help us now."
Her gaze shifted between her sons.
"You two are brothers. Watching you bla each other over sothing that happened seven years ago ... it breaks my heart."
Her voice trembled slightly, but she didn’t stop.
"I can’t bear to see you against each other like this. So, let’s end it here. And besides ... we have Clara now. Her happiness matters more than our grief."
Bryer wanted to argue.
But at the ntion of Clara, the words died in his throat.
Charlotte turned to Liam, pausing for a mont before speaking again.
"Liam ..." she closed her eyes for a mont ... as if gathering the strength to say what ca next. "I think it’s ti we officially declare that Adelyn is no longer between us. Once your father and Adam return, we’ll set a date and settle it."
"But Mom —"
She raised her hand, stopping him.
"It wasn’t easy for , but I’ve made my decision," she said firmly. "I don’t want to hear anything more about it."
Though her voice trembled, she stood resolute.
This will fix everything, she told herself —trying to fill the hollow that had remained since the day Adelyn disappeared.
Upstairs, Clara stood at the top of the staircase.
She had heard everything.
Her expression was complicated, her fingers clenched around the wooden railing as storm of emotions churned within her.
Even after so many years, why ... why am I still not enough for you all?
She thought to herself as her grip tightened.
Why have you all not forgotten her? Why does she still exist .. in every corner of your hearts?
She didn’t want to be jealous —not after everything they had given her over the past seven years.
But ...
She couldn’t help it.
Every ti the ntion of Adelyn just leaves her feeling insecure ... and afraid.
Afraid that her happiness was temporary.
Afraid that she could lose it at any mont.
"No, you won’t lose it, Clara," she murmured to herself, trying to reassure herself. "Adelyn is gone. She is gone ... forever."
—————
anwhile, on the other side —
As the sun dipped in the west, the golden light of the horizon slowly dimd, blending into the deep hues of dusk before giving way to the quiet darkness of the night.
Adelyn didn’t know how long she had been asleep.
She only woke up when her phone chid with notification.
Still half-asleep, she reached out blindly, her fingers searching until they found her phone. She brought it in front of her face and unlocked it with her fingerprint.
A ssage from Grandson appeared.
Rubbing her eyes, she read it properly.
[Grandson: I got sothing on my schedule at the last mont and won’t be back until weekend. Take care —and don’t starve yourself."]
Her brows furrowed.
Just then, another ssage ca in.
[Grandson: I’ve prepared dinner for tonight and als for the few days. Heat them, and eat on ti.]
A faint sense of satisfaction settled in her chest.
Blinking away the last traces of sleep, she typed:
[Lynie: What a filial grandson I have. I didn’t raise you wrong.]
A second passed, and soon after that, his reply ca.
[Grandson: Say that again, and I’ll co back right now and throw everything in the trash]
She suppressed a smile.
[Lynie: Fine, I won’t call your grandson for now. We agreed on ’cub’, didn’t we?]
[Grandson: You —just wait.]
[Lynie: Waiting...]
She teased —and just then —
Ding-Dong!
The doorbell rang.
She froze for a second, staring at her phone before muttering under her breath, "He can’t be serious ..."
Ding-dong!
It rang again.
Sighing, Adelyn pushed herself up, set her phone aside, and got out of bed.
"It better not be you, cub," she muttered as she walked out of the room toward the door.
Just as she stepped out, another ssage arrived —one she didn’t see.
[Grandson: Wait for to co back. This ti, even our friendship won’t save you.]
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