Love Across the Light Years -The Devil CEO Indulges My Lies.

"He dared to end his life like this," Ford whispered, his gaze serious as he stared at the ashes scattered across the ground. "Wasn’t he ... too loyal?"

"You’re lamenting his death?" Asher asked, a frown forming between his brows.

Ford looked at him and smiled faintly.

"I am lamenting the loss on our enemy’s side," he said. "He just lost a capable and loyal subordinate."

Asher’s gaze darkened slightly.

"If he can lose one so easily," he replied, "it only means he might have an entire army like him."

His tone sounded casual —

But beneath it lay a clear warning.

The threat wasn’t distant anymore.

It was advancing.

—————

At the same time —

Back at Scott villa ...

Charlotte frowned when she saw Clara at the staircase.

"What do you mean by that, Clara?" she asked. "Adelyn is your sister. She grew up in this family. We love her as much as we love you. Why won’t I go and bring her back?"

Clara heard her, her gaze briefly flickering toward Liam, Bryer and Xavuer.

Though none of them questioned her directly, she could see the doubt in their eyes.

Her fingers curled into tight fists.

Even after so many years ...

Even after accepting her fully —

They still couldn’t let go of Adelyn.

Why?

Why were they still so attached to her?

"Clara, we love you, but you can’t ask us to stop loving Adelyn. She —"

"Mom," Clara interrupted softly, "is that what you think of me?"

She remained at the top of the staircase, her expression unclear from a distance.

But as she slowly descended —

Step by step —

The hurt in her eyes became unmistakable.

It looked as though something inside her had been torn apart —

And yet, she was holding herself together with sheer will.

"How could you think that I would ask you to stop loving Adelyn," she continued, her voice trembling slightly, "especially after knowing how much you’ve missed her all these years?"

Charlotte’s expression softened.

Clara walked closer, her eyes glistening, as though she had been carrying everything alone —despite being the one hurting the most.

Then, shaking her head, she met her eyes.

"Mom, I would never ask you to abandon Adelyn," she said quietly. "I know how precious she is to you ... to Liam ... and to Bryer."

Her gaze flickered briefly towards her brothers, carrying a silent understanding, before returning to Charlotte.

"I would never do that. Trust me."

Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to doubt her.

After all, Clara was her daughter.

"Then why did you just stop me? I was going to fetch her right now itself."

"I know," Clara nodded, repeating herself, "I know you were going to get her now, and that’s exactly why I stopped her. Because if you rush to her now, you would only be heartbroken."

Charlotte’s brows furrowed again.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Clara looked at her and gave a fragile smile —one that only made her seem more vulnerable.

"It’s because of me, Mom," she said softly. "I’m at fault. And that’s why Adelyn is upset with you all. If not for me, you would’ve never lost her."

She then glanced toward Liam.

"If Liam hadn’t chosen me that day ... you wouldn’t have lost her. It’s all because of me. And I cannot run from it. I am at fault. I —"

The more she said, the more tears rolled from her eyes —each heavier than the last.

Charlotte couldn’t bear to see her like that.

"No ..." she said quickly. "It was never your fault. How many times have I told you not to blame yourself? What happened that day was inevitable. Adelyn was wronged, but you didn’t wrong her." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Clara shook her head.

"I did wrong to her, Mom. If not for me, she would’ve been the one to escape that place. I —"

"Clara," Liam interrupted her.

When she looked at him, he said,

"Don’t blame yourself. I was the one who made the choice. If anyone deserves to carry the blame, it’s me."

He couldn’t forget what he had done.

And no matter how much time passed, the guilt never left him.

"Liam, you —"

"Clara," Charlotte cut in gently, still holding her hand. "Adelyn was wronged. And we all owe her an apology. Buy it’s fine. As long as she returns, everything will be fine."

Her voice carried a firm belief.

"I think she’s just waiting for us to go and bring her back. Once we explain everything to her, things will return to the way they were seven years ago."

She was certain.

After all, Adelyn had always been understanding.

When had she ever failed to understand their worries ... their circumstances?

She would understand it this time too.

But amid all that uncertainty —

Charlotte forgot one thing.

Understanding everyone was quite exhausting.

And Adelyn had long grown tired of it.

And that was why she had chosen to let go.

Clara’s jaw tightened slightly at the uncertainty in her mother’s voice.

But she didn’t let it show.

Instead, she lowered her gaze and said softly, "Then Mom ... let me apologize to her too."

Charlotte wanted to refuse.

But after a moment’s thought, she nodded.

"Alright. Let’s go together," she said. "We won’t delay this any longer. We’ll bring her back tomorrow."

"We can’t go right now."

Liam’s voice stopped her once again.

Charlotte turned to him, frowning.

Before she could speak, he explained.

"We may know that Adelyn has returned, but we still don’t know where she is. Even if we leave now, we won’t be able to find her."

Charlotte’s expression dimmed.

"Don’t you have enough sources to find out her whereabouts?"

"Mom, even if I do, it will still take time. We can’t rush something like this overnight."

Xavier nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Scott. Rushing out at this hour wouldn’t be appropriate."

"Fine, then we will go tomorrow."

She then turned to Liam and said, "You have the entire night to find out where she is. Tomorrow —I don’t want excuses."

Liam nodded.

Only then did Charlotte finally smile.

She looked at Clara and gently patted the back of her hand.

"Soon ... I’ll have both my daughters by my side."

Clara smiled back to her, but that smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.