Chapter 231: Bargaining with the Devil.
What did he mean by that?
Who else was there who could see through her so well?
Her brows furrowed slightly as she tried to think. For a fleeting moment, a possibility crossed her mind—
Could he also ...?
But almost immediately, she dismissed the thought, shaking her head faintly as if to physically push it away.
How could it be him?
He had barely ever seen through her simplest lies. Most of the time, he simply accepted what she said without questioning it. If that was the case, how could he possibly see through something far more complex —her emotions, the things even she struggled to fully understand herself?
No ...
That didn’t make sense.
But then—
If not him, then who?
"Mr. Warren, you—"
She had just begun to ask when Ford’s voice came from the front, breaking the moment.
"Sir, we have arrived!"
Adelyn’s words halted mid-sentence.
Her gaze instinctively shifted outside the window —and yes, they had already reached. And she hadn’t even realized it.
Her eyes moved again, almost unconsciously, and this time they met Dylan’s. It felt as if he had been watching her all along.
"Let’s go," he said simply.
Adelyn nodded.
Ford stepped out quickly and moved to open the door for Dylan, ever efficient in his role. But Adelyn didn’t wait. She opened her own door, stepping out on her own, before Dylan could come to help her out.
He was a gentleman —true, but she wasn’t really his true lady.
So, making him do that stuff for her every time ... just didn’t seem right.
Dylan paused for a fraction of a second, his gaze falling on her.
Sensing it, Adelyn quickly spoke, almost as if explaining herself.
"You don’t have to be formal every time," she said. "Small things like these ... I can manage them on my own."
There was no stiffness in her tone —just a quiet insistence on maintaining a boundary she hadn’t yet defined out loud.
With that, she reached for Eira’s hand, gently guiding her toward Dylan so they could walk in together.
Eira, on the other hand, was overflowing with joy.
The moment her Mama stepped into the house with her, something inside her seemed to bloom all at once.
This time, Mama wouldn’t just stay for a night.
She wouldn’t leave in the morning after they woke up.
She would stay.
For days.
For nights.
Eira could already imagine it —waiting for her at the door, eating meals together, falling asleep beside her. The simple thought of it made her heart flutter with excitement.
Her eyes sparkled, unable to hide even a fraction of that happiness.
Just then, Mabel stepped out.
Seeing the three of them together —she paused for a brief second, surprise flickering across her face. But it was gone just as quickly as it came.
Composing herself, she gave Dylan a polite nod before turning to Adelyn and offering her the same. Then, her attention shifted to the little girl.
"Young Miss, you’re back??"
Eira nodded excitedly. "Yes, Aunt Mabel!" she said brightly. "And Eira didn’t come alone. Mama has also come —and she’ll be staying with Eira!"
Adelyn heard her and couldn’t help but smile.
If she had felt even a trace of hesitation earlier, it was gone now. Completely.
At least, for this moment.
Mabel nodded gently. "I can see that, Young Miss," she said with a faint smile. Then, after a brief pause, she added, "I’ve prepared a bath for you. Come with me —I’ll get you ready for the night."
Eira was about to agree immediately.
But then she paused.
Turning her head, she looked up at Adelyn —as if seeking confirmation.
Adelyn understood that look without needing a word.
"Go on," she said softly, nodding to her. "I’m not going anywhere. Once you’re ready, I’ll come and tuck you in."
Eira’s face lit up again.
She nodded quickly before letting go of Adelyn’s hand and following Mabel upstairs, her steps light and full of anticipation.
Dylan and Adelyn stood there, watching her go.
Only when her small figure disappeared from sight did Adelyn turn back to Dylan.
"Mr. Warren ..." she began, a hint of awkwardness creeping into her expression as she lifted a hand to scratch lightly at the corner of her brow.
"I just realized ... in the rush of coming here, I didn’t prepare at all."
Dylan turned to look at her more closely.
She gave a small, self-conscious smile. "I didn’t pack any of my essentials," she continued. "Right now, I don’t even have anything to change into."
Then, after a brief pause, she added, "So ... how about you lend me that hoodie again? The one I gave you last time. I’ll—"
"Sorry, Ms. Grace."
Her words were cut short.
Adelyn paused, her brows knitting in confusion.
"But I can’t give that to you again."
Her frown deepened. "You can’t?"
Dylan shook his head calmly.
"But why?" she asked almost ... immediately.
That hoodie was hers to begin with. She had given it to him once, and he had given it to her wear it back when she came here the last time. Now that the situation had repeated itself, why was it suddenly not possible?
It wasn’t even something expensive.
Why was he being so particular about it?
"I just need it for tonight," she tried again, her tone more earnest now. "Tomorrow I’ll go back and bring my things. Or if you want, I can replace it with a new one. But for now, just lend it to me."
She couldn’t quite believe she was bargaining over a hoodie with a man like him.
And yet—
Dylan remained unmoved.
Just when she was about to give up and adjust somehow, he spoke again.
"You won’t need that," he said calmly. "Someone will bring everything you need."
Adelyn blinked, confused.
Before she could ask further, footsteps approached from behind.
She turned.
A man in formal attire stepped inside, followed by a woman in uniform carrying a bag.
"Sir," the man greeted Dylan with a respectful bow before turning to Adelyn and offering the same. "I’ve brought what you asked for."
At his signal, the woman stepped forward and extended the bag toward Adelyn.
Adelyn instinctively glanced at Dylan, raising a brow.
He gave a small nod.
It was for her.
When she opened the bag and looked inside, she froze slightly.
Clothes.
Not just one set —several.
"The rest have already been ordered," the man —Wyatt, Dylan’s executive secretary —added, turning to Dylan. "They’ll be delivered by tomorrow."
Dylan nodded once.
And that was when Adelyn finally spoke again, her voice carrying clear disbelief.
"There’s ... more coming?" she asked, her brows furrowing.
She was only going to stay for a week. Maybe two.
But somehow ...
This arrangement didn’t feel temporary at all.
