Chapter 100: What made her so upset?
Meanwhile, in the Scott Villa —
After returning home, Clara rushed straight to her room and locked herself inside.
The maids noticed it and exchanged glances among themselves, but they didn’t think much of it at first.
However, when they later went to call her for dinner —
Even after knocking quite a several times, there was no response.
Concerned, their brows furrowed, and they hurried to inform Matilda, the housekeeper.
Hearing this, Matilda immediately went to check herself. But the result remained the same.
"What’s going on?"
Charlotte arrived shortly after.
Seeing the maids gathered outside Clara’s room, her brows knit together in a frown. "What are you all doing here?"
Matilda stepped forward respectfully.
"Madam, we came to call the young lady for dinner, but she isn’t opening the door. The maids said she locked herself in the moment she returned."
Charlotte’s expression darkened instantly. She immediately stepped forward, walking closer to the door.
"If she had locked herself in since then, why had none of you come to inform me?"
"Madam, we —"
The maid faltered, unable to respond.
"Step aside now."
Charlotte didn’t wait for an explanation. Her tone left no room for argument.
The maids quickly moved away.
She stepped closer to the door and knocked gently.
"Clara ..." her voice softened. "Open the door, dear. Why have you locked yourself in like this?"
Silence.
The absence of response only deepened the unease in her chest.
Turning back, she asked, "Did something happen after she came back home?"
The maids lowered their heads, and Matilda answered in their place.
"No, madam. Nothing happened at home. The moment the young lady returned, she went to her room and locked herself in."
Charlotte frowned, her worry growing.
Without wasting another moment, she said, "Go and bring the spare key to her room."
However, even after she asked her that, Matilda didn’t move.
Her hesitation was clear, so much so that Charlotte immediately noticed.
"What is it now?" ’
"Madam ... the spare key isn’t there. The young lady must have taken it before locking herself in."
That only made Charlotte’s expression worsen.
If Clara had taken the spare key ...
It meant she didn’t want anyone entering.
But what could upset her so much?
Didn’t she go for the auditions?
Did it not go well, and that was why she was upset?
The thought made Charlotte’s heart tighten.
She turned back to the door and knocked again, this time with more urgency.
"Clara, open the door, darling. Don’t shut yourself in like this. If something is bothering you, tell Mom. I’ll have Liam arrange everything for you. Isn’t it just a role?"
Still —
No response.
Anxiety gripped her completely now.
Just as she was about to ask someone to bring her phone —
"Mom!"
Charlotte turned around immediately.
"Liam, you’re back."
Liam’s brows furrowed as he took in the scene before him. "Where’s Clara?"
"She has locked herself in her room," Charlotte replied at once. "I was about to call you to ask. Did the audition not go well?"
Before Liam could answer, she continued anxiously,
"I don’t know what happened, Liam, but even if her audition didn’t go well, you have to fix it for her. If she wants the role, then get it for her. I can’t bear to see her this upset over such a simple thing."
Liam’s frown deepened.
"Mom, calm down," he said, his voice steady but firm. "Her auditions didn’t go badly. The results aren’t out yet, but from what I heard, she performed well. So it’s probably not because of that."
He had waited for her call for a long time.
When it didn’t come, he called her himself — only for Matilda to pick up.
She had told him that after the audition, Clara had rushed to find Xavier.
"If it’s not the audition, then what else could upset her this much?" Charlotte’s voice trembled with worry.
Even after nine years since Clara had returned to them, even after doing everything they could to make up for the lost time —
It never felt enough to Charlotte.
Seeing Clara even slightly hurt still filled her with immense guilt.
She couldn’t bear it.
"Liam, she—"
She grabbed his arm, about to continue, but Liam interrupted.
"Did Xavier drop her off at home?" he asked, turning to Matilda.
Matilda thought for a moment before replying,
"Young Master Colsen’s car did appear earlier, but he didn’t come inside. He likely just dropped the young miss off."
Liam didn’t respond. He simply pulled out his phone and dialled Xavier’s number.
The call didn’t connect.
"What happened?" Charlotte asked anxiously.
"He’s probably at the hospital. We’ll have to wait."
"Wait?" Charlotte’s voice rose slightly. "And leave Clara alone like this?"
Liam’s voice tightened, but he didn’t respond.
Right at that moment—
The sound of a car pulling up outside echoed through the house.
The maid near the window looked down and quickly said,
"It’s Young Master Colsen’s car."
Charlotte reacted immediately.
"It’s him," she said, turning to Liam. "Let’s go. He might know what happened."
Without waiting, she hurried downstairs.
Liam cast a brief glance at the maids —silently instructing them to stay alert —before following her.
By the time they reached the living room, Xavier had already entered.
"Xavier, do you know what happened to Clara?" Charlotte asked without hesitation.
Xavier paused, caught off guard. His brows slowly furrowed.
He had returned to discuss about Adelyn, but hearing them now, he realized that they were not yet aware of anything.
Did Clara not tell them?
But why?
Seeing his brows drawn in the furrow of confusion, Liam spoke,
"She had locked herself in her room from the moment she had returned."
Xavier’s jaw tightened.
Then, almost under his breath, he whispered —
"Adelyn ..."
The name alone made both Charlotte and Liam stiffen. They paused as their expression changed instantly.
"Adelyn ...? Charlotte echoed, confused. "What about — "
Xavier looked up, his gaze dark and heavy. A deep, unreadable emotion was swirling deep beneath his eyes.
"She’s back."