Clara's eyes filled with tears ...
Her lips trembled as she leaned forward and hugged her mother, breaking into sobs.
"Mom, I love you …"
Charlotte slowly rubbed her back, gently comforting her with steady strokes.
"Silly child, you ... don't have to endure things like that," she said softly. "You have a family. You have us. No one can bully you while we're around. We'll always have your back."
Clara nodded against her.
If this had been before, she would have felt completely satisfied —content just being pampered like this.
However, now—
She simply couldn't.
Their love and care … weren't hers alone.
They loved her. They cared for her.
But they also loved Adelyn. They cared for Adelyn too.
And sooner or later, they wouldn't just pamper her—
they would pamper Adelyn the same way.
That thought alone made something inside her twist.
So, she had to make sure that never happened.
She needed to eliminate Adelyn completely.
