Chapter 93: Ade…lyn, it’s really you?
At this point, Clara no longer believed that the two times she had ’seen’ Adelyn earlier were mere illusions.
If anything —
She was now certain.
She had seen her in real.
Still ...
With little hope in her heart, she asked for one final confirmation. Her fingers were curled at her sides.
"In ... which room was she auditioning?
The crew member paused for a moment. Then, recalling, he replied, "The same room you entered, Ms. Scott. In fact, she was the candidate who was scheduled just before you."
He hesitated with slight confusion before adding, "When you entered, you might have come across her exiting. Didn’t you see her?"
He spoke casually, unaware that Adelyn was held back by the Producer Polson.
Meanwhile —
Clara had already received the confirmation she needed.
The moment his words sank in, the image flashed back in her mind —
The familiar silhouette.
The glimpse of the woman she caught when she entered the audition hall earlier.
It was ... her.
She wasn’t just imagining, but rather saw Adelyn for real.
While she was still reeling from it, Maria’s brows drew together in a deep frown.
She didn’t fully understand what was bothering Clara, but from what she could gather, she assumed it was about the audition.
"How could you let just anyone audition for the lead role?" Maria snapped, her voice rising. "Is this how you manage your candidate list?"
The accusation caught the staff off guard.
He frowned. "Miss, you are misunderstanding. We’re not mismanaging —"
"Heh, really?" Maria scoffed. "Then how does some random woman just so up and audition for the lead role?"
The staff’s expression hardened.
He didn’t owe her an explanation —but still, he gave one.
"The auditions today are open to all. Anyone confident enough can apply —even for the main roles."
"As for the last-minute change, it came directly from Director Rhodes and his team. We are only following instructions."
Maria opened her mouth to argue further —
But Clara spoke first.
Composing herself, she stepped forward slightly and said, "I’m sorry. I apologize on my assistant’s behalf. She didn’t mean it that way."
She paused briefly before adding, "And ... thank you for informing me."
The staff was still displeased, but her calm apology somehow softened his expression.
With a nod, he turned and left.
"Ms. Scott, I —"
"Did you see her leaving the building?" Clara interrupted without a care.
Maria blinked at first. But then, she quickly understood who she meant.
By now, even she was curious.
Who exactly was this Adelyn?
And why was her name affecting Clara this much?
But she knew better than to ask.
Instead, she answered, "Earlier, I heard she was heading toward the parking area. She should still be there.
The moment Clara heard that —
She didn’t wait.
Turning on her heel at once, she strode to excite the building.
But halfway through, her steps halted.
Her eyes locked onto a familiar Mercedes parked not far away.
One glance —
And she knew exactly who it belonged to.
Behind her, even Maria came to an abrupt pause. When she followed Clara’s line of sight, she at once understood her gaze.
"Oh yes —earlier I saw Dr. Colsen arrive," she said quickly. "I was going to inform him that you were still inside, but before I could, he walked away."
She pointed ahead. "He headed that way, and —"
She paused mid-sentence when a sudden realization dawned upon her.
"Wait ... that direction also leads to the parking area. Does that mean Dr. Colsen went there too?"
Maria frowned, confused.
Her gaze flickered between the car and the direction he had gone.
It didn’t make sense.
Why would someone head to the parking lot without taking their car?
But while Maria remained puzzled —
Clara had realized everything perfectly.
She had connected the dots long before Maria had even finished speaking.
And the moment she did —
A strange unease spread through her chest.
Suddenly, the image of Xavier from earlier in the morning, running desperately amidst the crowd, flashed from her memory —making her realize the reason behind the misery in his gaze.
At that time, she couldn’t understand it. But now ... she certainly did.
Before she realized it, her feet had already begun moving toward the direction Maria had pointed earlier.
Maria didn’t notice at first.
And by the time she did —
Clara had already gone ahead.
"Ms. Scott, wait for me!" she called, hurrying after her.
—————
At the same time,
Walking all the way, Adelyn had reached the parking area. She looked around for the car, but soon she realized Amelia’s car wasn’t parked nearby.
Rather, it was parked much farther ahead.
Spotting it in the direction, she started walking toward it when suddenly someone grabbed her arms, stopping her in her tracks.
Her brows furrowed almost immediately as she turned back—
Only to pause the next moment.
Not in shock.
Not in surprise.
But to handle something she knew would be coming sooner or later.
Her eyes met his.
The man standing before her looked at her with unmistakable disbelief. As though even finding her in front of him, he was finding it hard to believe.
Xavier froze.
For a long moment, he couldn’t blink.
He just stared —as if afraid she might disappear if he did.
But when she remained there —unmoving and real —he finally accepted it.
This wasn’t another of his hallucinations.
"Ade...lyn," he breathed, taking a hesitant step closer. "It’s really you?"
Adelyn didn’t move.
She didn’t step back.
She didn’t react.
She simply looked at him —as one would look at a stranger.
And that distant, indifferent gaze of hers unsettled him ... completely.
His brows knit together, and before he could stop himself, he asked. "Adelyn, do you ... do you not remember me? I —"
The thought of her not having any memory of the past itself was enough to make him grow anxious.
But just then —
"In Ashvale," Adelyn cut his words calmly, her voice steady and cold, "who wouldn’t know Dr. Xavier Colsen?"