Adelyn had stared at Charlotte, her expression conflicted.
"Mom … if I back off now, it will ruin my reputation. I might not be able to step into the entertainment industry again," she had tried to explain, her eyes already pleading —hoping, even then, to be understood.
But it didn't take long for her to realize —
At that moment, all Charlotte cared about was Clara's insecurity.
Adelyn's feelings … her disappointment … none of it even registered.
How was she supposed to accept that?
She had always been the treasured daughter of the Scott family —the one everyone doted on, the one they took pride in.
How could she accept that, all of a sudden, her voice no longer mattered?
Yet, faced with unmistakable bias, she had no choice but to accept it —
Cruelly.
Dismissively.
