Chapter 206: Or did you realize it was lethal?
Charlotte closed her eyes, feeling the same pain her daughter was drowning in.
How could she not?
After all, as her mother, it had always been her responsibility to make Clara feel whole ... to make her feel secure, loved, and confident in her place within the family. And yet, somewhere along the way, she had failed.
Failed so deeply that her daughter now questioned whether anything in her life truly belonged to her.
If someone had to be blamed for that—
It should be her.
"Mom ..." Clara’s voice came out soft, fragile through her sobs. "If I hadn’t been switched after birth ... would everything have been different?"
Charlotte’s lips parted instinctively.
She wanted to say no.
Wanted to deny it. To erase that possibility entirely.
But no words came out.
Because deep down ...
She didn’t know.
She closed her eyes again, her chest tightening painfully.
And when she opened them—
Something inside her had already settled.
"Is that role... really important to you?" she asked quietly.
Clara pulled back slightly, looking at her.
Charlotte held her gaze this time —steady, unwavering —as if she needed to hear the answer directly from her. Once and for all.
"Mom ... I told you not to take what I said earlier seriously," Clara replied, her voice hesitant, as if retreating. "I don’t know what came over me. That role belongs to Adelyn, and—"
"Answer what I asked you."
Charlotte cut her off.
Her tone wasn’t loud, but it was firm —serious in a way that left no room for avoidance.
She wasn’t asking as a mother trying to comfort her child.
She was asking as someone about to make a decision.
Clara paused.
Inside her, satisfaction flickered.
This was exactly where she wanted her mother to reach.
"Mom, I ..." she hesitated deliberately, tightening her hold over her fragile mask. "Director Rhodes is highly reputed in the industry. His films are always nominated for National Awards."
Her gaze lowered slightly as she continued, her voice softer now.
"I’ve already received so many awards in the entertainment industry ..." she paused, swallowing lightly, "... that I wanted to receive the best one."
She looked back at Charlotte.
"I just wanted to push myself ... to reach the top, so that you could be proud of me. So that everyone could be proud of me."
Her fingers tightened subtly around Charlotte’s hand —then loosened again.
"But ... it’s fine."
She forced a faint, understanding smile.
"I understand yours and Liam’s position. With Adelyn and me in the same frame ... it must be difficult for you to choose. You don’t need to make things harder for yourselves."
"If Adelyn has been selected, then I’ll step back."
Her voice softened further.
"After all ... she’s also your daughter. A Scott."
Charlotte felt every word like a weight pressing against her chest.
Clara wasn’t shouting ... wasn’t demanding ... wasn’t insisting.
And yet, that quiet retreat felt far more suffocating than any stubborn insistence ever could.
Because Charlotte understood what it meant.
It meant withdrawal.
The kind that slowly chips away at a person’s confidence ... piece by piece ... until nothing remains.
When Clara had first returned to them, she had been exactly like that —broken, uncertain, unsure of where she belonged.
And it had taken them years—
Years—
To rebuild her confidence. To make her believe she belonged.
And now ...
Just one incident had shaken all of it again.
She couldn’t allow that.
Charlotte’s fingers tightened around Clara’s hand. And along with it, her resolve solidified.
She looked at her and said softly, "If it’s that important to you ... you don’t need to step back."
Clara stared at her, as if surprised. "But Mom, this role is Adelyn’s, and I—"
"You don’t need to think so much."
Charlotte’s words were calm and final. "I’ll handle this. You just don’t doubt yourself over things you should be confident about."
"Mom ... you really don’t have to," Clara tried again, appearing hesitant, almost concerned. "Adelyn already blames you. She might not agree to it. You’ll only be disappointed again. And I ..."
But, Charlotte gently patted the back of her hand, reassuring her.
"I have my ways to make her agree," she said, her tone steady with quiet confidence. "Don’t worry. She will."
That confidence sparked curiosity within Clara. She was suddenly curious to know what card did Charlotte have to make Adelyn agree ...
But she held herself back from asking.
Instead, she simply leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Charlotte’s waist, hugging her.
—————
Meanwhile—
Back on Adelyn’s side—
It hadn’t been easy for Karl, but he somehow managed to finish the entire meal.
When he finally looked up, Adelyn was already watching him, her hands clasped together, her chin resting lightly over them.
"Sister-in-law, I ... finished it all," he said, turning the empty bowl toward her as proof.
Adelyn glanced at it, then nodded appreciatively.
"Did you enjoy it?"
Karl swallowed.
He couldn’t tell whether she was genuinely asking —or mercifully giving him an escape.
"It was ... p-perfect," he said, nearly stuttering. "I’ve never had anything like this before. What was it called, sister-in-law?"
I’ll make sure I never order anything like this again ... even in the best restaurant.
He thought to himself.
Adelyn stood up, taking the bowl from him before walking toward the sink.
"Nothing in particular," she said casually, her back facing him. "I just experimented on my own. Seems like it turned out perfectly."
"Experiment ...?" Karl nearly choked.
Did he just become a test subject?
He instinctively patted his chest, silently thanking his luck.
At least he survived.
When Adelyn turned back toward him, he immediately put on a bright smile.
"Indeed," he said smoothly, "it couldn’t have been any more perfect. You should really patent it. What if someone else —"
Adelyn pursed her lips slightly. "No need."
Karl stepped forward, confused. "Why not? Don’t you think it was that good?"
Or did you realize it was lethal?
"Because I already forgot the recipe."
Karl froze.
She forgot it ... already?
Good.
That’s for the best.
At least she won’t be able to make it again.
Relief washed over him instantly.
He was just about to say something when Adelyn spoke again.
Her gaze shifted toward the clock.
"You’ve had your dinner. It’s time for you to leave," she said calmly. "You haven’t forgotten where the door is, have you?"
Karl shook his head.
She nodded. "Good. Then go."
She gestured toward the exit.
He nodded, about to comply—
When suddenly—
Her phone rang.
Adelyn glanced at the screen and saw it was a call from the security downstairs.
She answered.
"Ms. Grace, someone is here to see you," the guard said. "Should I let him in??"
Adelyn paused.
"Who is it?" she asked.
The guard hesitated for a moment, as if confirming.
"It’s Dr. Colsen. He came for you earlier this morning as well."
