Both Eira and Dylan noticed the change in Adelyn’s expression.

While Eira remained quiet, watching her mother closely ...

Dylan spoke instead, asking—

"Who is it ...?"

Adelyn met his gaze and replied hesitantly, "It’s my manager."

Dylan briefly glanced at her phone.

She hadn’t reached for it yet.

"You don’t want to take it?" he asked, lifting his eyes back to her.

Adelyn shook her head. "No —I do want to take it."

Dylan continued to stare at her, as though silently urging her to finish what she actually meant.

Adelyn wanted to curse herself. But keeping her composure, she clarified,

"I mean ... I have to take it. It’s just that I don’t know whether I should."

He raised a brow slightly.

She glanced toward Eira, then back at him before speaking again, a little more cautiously,

"I told you ... my career doesn’t allow me to be in a relationship yet. And my manager doesn’t know anything about us either. So, if I take the call ... she shouldn’t find out where I am or who I’m with."

Dylan looked at her without saying anything.

His silence made Adelyn uneasy for a moment, as though she had said something wrong. Just as she was about to explain herself better, he finally spoke—

"Take it."

He gestured toward the phone.

"We won’t keep ourselves hidden."

Hidden?

That sounded ... a little off.

Yes, she wanted to hide it.

But—

A gentle tug on her arm pulled her attention away.

Adelyn turned to Eira.

Meeting her wide, earnest eyes, the little girl said softly,

"Mama, Eira won’t make a sound. You can take the call."

She pressed a finger against her lips and nodded seriously, as if making a solemn promise not to disturb.

Adelyn’s heart softened instantly, looking at her like that.

Just as the call was about to disconnect, she quickly picked it up ...

"Sister Freya?"

Freya hummed from the other end before asking, "Were you sleeping? Did I wake you?"

"No —I’ve been awake for a while, Sister Freya. I was just finishing breakfast," Adelyn replied quickly before asking, "What is it? Do you need me for something?"

"Yes, I need you to come over," Freya said. "We’ve received the contract for The Empress Grief. You need to come and sign it so I can send it back to Producer Polson."

Adelyn understood immediately.

"I’ll come over soon, Sister Freya."

"Take your time," Freya replied. "Don’t rush."

Adelyn hummed softly before the call ended.

As she placed her phone aside, Adelyn glanced back at Eira.

The little girl still had her finger pressed against her lips, sitting quietly just as she had promised her before.

Adelyn reached out, gently lowering her hand before pressing a soft kiss to the back of it.

"Thank you, sweetheart. You’re the sweetest. Muah~"

Eira giggled softly.

Adelyn then turned toward Dylan —only to find him still watching her, as if he hadn’t looked away even once.

"Mr. Warren, I—"

"You need to go to the company?"

She nodded. "Yes," she said. "I got the role I auditioned for. They’ve finally sent the contract. I need to go and sign it."

Dylan nodded, then checked the time on his watch.

"Fine. Freshen up," he said. "I’ll take you."

Adelyn immediately shook her head.

"No —that won’t be necessary."

She quickly added, "It’s already late morning. You should head to your company as well. Dropping me off would just be extra trouble for you. Please don’t go through the hassle."

Even though Dylan clearly read the reluctance in her expression, he still said calmly, refusing her the chance to escape that she was seeking.

"It won’t be a ... hassle," he said.

"Even if I have to go to the company, I don’t need to be there on time every day. Taking time to drop my girlfriend off at work is perfectly fine."

Adelyn might have argued further—

But the moment he reminded her of her role, she had no room left to refuse.

So she simply smiled and nodded.

"If it’s not a hassle ... then I’ll trouble you."

She stood up, placing her hand lightly on the table for support.

With a soft —though slightly forced —smile, she said,

"I’ll then go freshen up first."

Dylan nodded, watching her as she walked toward the stairs.

When he looked back, he found Eira staring at him, her lips slightly pouted.

He observed her quietly before asking,

"What is it?"

Eira folded her little arms across her chest —looking at him with utmost seriousness.

"She’s my Mama," she declared ... once again.

Dylan understood immediately.

He simply nodded and picked up the table napkin, casually wiping his lips.

"I know," he said.

Then, after a brief pause, he added,

"She is your mama ... and my woman."

Eira frowned.

Before she could argue, Dylan continued,

"If you’re thinking of fighting your father over her, you should think again."

He placed the napkin down and looked at her properly this time.

His gaze was calm, but firm —carrying quiet authority.

"She became your mother after becoming my woman," he said. "Since I’m not fighting you for her, you shouldn’t fight me either."

He paused slightly before adding,

"Let’s share her and love her properly. She doesn’t need to choose between us —as long as we’re on the same side."

Eira didn’t respond immediately.

It took her a moment to process his words.

But not too long.

When she finally did—

She narrowed her eyes at him, as if she had seen right through his intentions.

Hugging herself tightly, she snorted softly.

"Mama will always choose Eira. Hmph!"

She looked at her father with a gaze that conveyed everything she didn’t say aloud.

This time, there was no hesitation. No doubt.

She believed it completely.

Her Mama wouldn’t abandon her.

If there ever came a choice—

She would choose Eira.

And for the first time, Eira didn’t feel insecure about it.

Dylan looked at his daughter but didn’t say anything further.

She was his daughter, after all. Expecting her to be naive would have been foolish.

Seeing her see through his intentions so easily didn’t surprise him.

If anything, it made the corner of his lips curl slightly.

"Even if she were to choose you," he said calmly at last, "you would still need me to keep her by your side."