Chapter 94: You give me too much importance.
When he had seen her earlier stepping out of the building, he had dismissed it as yet another illusion.
And yet —
He couldn’t stop himself from following her.
So, he did.
He came after her, following her all the way to the parking lot.
And just when he thought she would disappear again in thin air, he reached out and grabbed her.
But to his surprise —
She didn’t vanish.
But turned to look at him, meeting his eyes evenly.
At first, he was too overwhelmed to notice anything beyond the fact that she was there.
For real.
Within his reach.
But now —
As the moment stretched, he began to see it.
Even though she looked exactly like that girl in his memories ...
Something about her was different ... terribly different.
Her gaze.
Her presence.
And most of all —
The way she spoke to him just now.
It was as if she knew who he was —and yet didn’t know him at all.
Xabier frowned, searching her face, trying to make sense of it.
But no matter how long he looked, he couldn’t understand.
A slow unease crept into his chest, tightening it with every passing second. Desperation flickered in his eyes.
He stepped closer again, instinctively trying to close the distance between them.
But this time —
Adelyn didn’t just remain standing there. She moved and took a step back, reclaiming the space he had just tried to take.
That single action was enough to stiffen his expression.
His brows drew together, the tension sharpening his features while impatience edged into his voice.
"Adelyn, where were you all these years?" he demanded. "Do you even know how much we searched for you?"
His voice hardened further.
"If you were here —in Ashvale —all this time, why didn’t you come back? Why didn’t you come find us?"
The initial rush of relief at seeing her again began to unravel —
Giving way to something darker.
Years of worry.
Of unanswered questions.
Of regret.
All of it surged back at once, twisting into anger that he could no longer restrain.
And yet —
Standing before him, Adelyn remained calm.
Unmoved.
As if none of his words had the power to stir her at all.
That indifference only pushed him closer to the edge.
Just as his patience was about to snap —
She finally spoke.
"Come find you?" she repeated, her tone flat, almost detached.
Her gaze met his without warmth ... without hesitation.
"Why would I do that, Dr. Colsen?"
Xavier’s frown deepened when he heard her. But it wasn’t just her words that made him frown —it was also her attitude that made his fingers clench into fists.
That detachment in her eyes made his fingers curl into fists.
Agitation simmered beneath his restraint.
"Adelyn, you —"
Before he could continue, a voice from behind interrupted him.
"Adelyn ... so it’s really you?"
Adelyn recognized that soft voice instantly. But still, she leaned slightly to look past Xavier —offering the same polite, indifferent smile she had given him moments ago.
Clara paused when she saw that smile.
Then she slowly stepped forward, approaching them.
She stopped only when she came to stand beside Xavier.
"Xavi, see? It’s really Adelyn. It’s really her," she said, slipping her hand into his and holding it gently. "We’re not imagining her this time. She is actually her."
Her voice carried a soft warmth —
As if she were genuinely happy to see Adelyn again.
But Adelyn knew better.
Her gaze dropped to their joined hand.
And a faint, mirthless smile curved her lips.
She lifted a hand to brush lightly against her nose, masking her reaction
Xavier followed her gaze and realizing, he quickly pulled himself away; however, it still didn’t go entirely unnoticed.
Xavier followed her gaze, and the very moment he realized —
He pulled his hand away abruptly. In his haste, he didn’t think of Clara at all.
He only realized his carelessness towards her when she let out a soft wince.
He turned to her immediately.
His brows knit together as he saw her holding her hand, a thin line of blood slowly surfacing where her grip had been too forceful.
"This —" he caught her hand at once, concern flashing across his face. "I am sorry. I didn’t mean to. I was just —"
Clara met his gaze and shook her head gently.
"You don’t have to explain, Xavi," she said softly. "I understand. Seeing Adelyn after so long ... you must have been too focused on her to notice. I don’t blame you."
Her words made him stiffen.
Because they were true.
In that brief moment —
He had forgotten everything else.
Even Clara.
He turned toward Adelyn, ready to say something ...
To explain.
But the moment his eyes met hers, his expression only hardened.
Adelyn was looking at them closely.
Yet there was no trace of hurt in her eyes.
No accusation.
No nothing.
She was just watching them the way one would watch strangers —detached, uninvolved, completely unaffected.
As though none of it mattered to her at all.
How could she remain so calm watching him care for someone else right in front of her?
Clara noticed his gaze shift and followed it.
Quickly, she pulled her hand away from Xavier and spoke, her tone hurried, almost defensive.
"Adelyn, don’t get it wrong," she said. "I didn’t mean anything by that. I only said it so Xavier wouldn’t blame himself. He didn’t mean to —"
"Ms. Scott," Adelyn cut in smoothly, her voice calm yet distant, "you are giving me too much importance."
Clara froze.
Adelyn’s gaze flicked briefly toward Xavier before returning to her.
"What does Dr. Colsen’s concern for you has to do with me?" she continued.
A faint, almost polite smile touched her lips.
"In fact, it’s quite nice to see him care for you like this."
A pause.
"You two do make a good couple."
Clara’s expression tightened, something unreadable flickering across her face.
She opened he mouth to respond —
But before she could—
"Adelyn, why are you —"
Amelia’s voice cut in.
She had just arrived and was about to question her, but at that moment her eyes fell on Xavier and Clara.
She stopped.
Her gaze shifted between them and Adelyn, confusion evident.
Then she asked slowly.
"... Are you acquainted with Dr. Colsen and Ms. Scott?"