Chapter 223: There will truly be no turning back.
The words might have slipped off Charlotte’s tongue with unsettling ease—
But inside, it was anything but easy.
A voice deep within her kept whispering —no, screaming —that she was crossing a line she should never cross. That she was staking something she might never be able to reclaim.
It warned her.
It questioned her.
It asked her what kind of mother she was becoming.
And yet—
Even with that voice clawing at her conscience, she stood her ground.
Because in her heart, she believed she was doing this for the right reason.
Clara was fragile. Weak. She needed them. She needed this role.
And if this was the only way to make Adelyn understand the seriousness of the situation, then so be it.
She would take it.
When she saw Adelyn halt mid-step, Charlotte took it as a small victory.
After all, she knew—
No matter how much Adelyn claimed she had severed all ties with them, Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to believe it.
They had once been a family.
And they would always remain one.
Love couldn’t simply vanish.
Affection couldn’t be erased.
Family ... wasn’t something that could be discarded with just a few words.
The desperation in her heart eased, even if only slightly, as she moved around the table and stepped closer to Adelyn.
"You say you’re no longer a Scott ... no longer part of this family," Charlotte said, her tone steady as she continued, "but you’re forgetting something important."
She paused briefly before adding,
"On paper, you are still one of us. You are the adopted daughter we legally registered under our family name. A few words from you cannot nullify that."
Her gaze hardened just a fraction.
"So ..." she continued, her voice lowering, "if you can’t compromise with Clara over a simple role ... then giving her us is only fair, don’t you think?"
Even as she said it, something inside her twisted.
Charlotte knew this wasn’t right.
Family wasn’t something to be used as leverage.
It wasn’t something to be traded.
But she had run out of options.
And so, she chose the one thing she herself didn’t believe in.
Because she was certain—
No, she was convinced—
Adelyn would never taint something like family, no matter how bitter things had become.
That was why she used it.
Her final card.
The one she had never imagined she would have to play.
But now that she had—
There was no turning back.
"So," Charlotte pressed, her eyes fixed on Adelyn’s back, "what do you think? Will you give us to her ... or the role?"
Adelyn stood still.
Silence stretched between them —heavy, suffocating.
She didn’t turn immediately.
Her back remained facing Charlotte, her fingers slowly curling into her palms.
And then—
She turned.
Their eyes met in an instant.
And whatever emotion lingered in Adelyn’s gaze made Charlotte’s heart tighten again.
"You give me too much credit, Madam Scott," Adelyn said softly.
Her words alone made Charlotte’s brows draw together.
"Give you all ... to her?" Adelyn continued. "How could I possibly do that?"
Charlotte’s lips curved into a faint smile —though the confidence behind it had already begun to waver.
"Then ... you’re finally willing to give the role to her?" she asked.
Adelyn smiled back.
But instead of answering, she continued from where she had left off.
"One can only give away what they truly possess," she said, her voice calm —almost gentle. "That family of yours was never mine to begin with. So how could I give it back?"
There was no mockery in her tone.
No sarcasm.
Only something quiet.
Something real.
Something that felt ... long accepted.
Charlotte froze.
She had feared hearing those words.
But she had never truly believed they would come.
"Madam Scott," Adelyn continued, her voice eerily steady, "on paper, I might still belong to your family."
She paused, her gaze unwavering.
"But that won’t remain for long."
Then, with a final, polite smile, she turned away once more.
Charlotte’s expression stiffened.
That familiar desperation rose again —but this time, it was different.
Not the desperation to convince.
Not the desperation to win.
But the desperation born from fear.
Fear of losing something forever.
"Adelyn ... I am serious," Charlotte called out, her voice trembling despite her attempt to steady it. "If you go through with this ... there will truly be no turning back."
Adelyn didn’t stop.
"Don’t worry, Madam Scott," she replied lightly, almost indifferently. "I never planned on turning back."
Her steps remained steady.
"I’ll bring you the legal papers soon —to unbind myself from whatever lingering ties remain with your family."
And with that—
She reached the door, pushed it open, and stepped out.
Just like she had said—
She didn’t look back.
She didn’t hesitate.
She simply left.
Decisively.
Behind her, the air seemed to collapse.
A suffocating weight pressed down on Charlotte’s chest —making it difficult for her to breathe.
Her steps faltered.
She stumbled backward—
And hit the edge of the table.
The glass resting on it toppled over and shattered on the floor with a sharp crash.
The attendant outside rushed in immediately.
"Ma’am, are you alright??" she asked, quickly supporting Charlotte and handing her a glass of water for better.
Charlotte took it with trembling hands, taking small sips as she struggled to steady her breathing.
But the cold sweat continued to bead across her forehead.
"Did ... did she really leave?" Charlotte asked, her voice shaking as she clutched onto the attendant’s arm.
The attendant blinked, momentarily confused.
Charlotte’s grip tightened.
"Did she really leave?" she repeated, her voice rising with desperation.
"Ma’am ... are you referring to the lady who just walked out?" the attendant asked carefully.
Charlotte nodded rapidly.
"Yes ... yes, that’s my daughter. The one I raised... the one I loved. She’s still here, right? She wouldn’t just leave like that. Go —go and call her back."
The attendant’s expression turned conflicted.
"Ma’am ..."
"Go!" Charlotte urged, her voice breaking. "Call her back—"
"But, ma’am ..." the attendant said hesitantly, "she has already left."