This time, Eira didn’t cry.

She didn’t let her tears make her look weak.

Instead, she sat there quietly —thinking, processing everything with unusual seriousness for a child her age.

If something is meant for you ... no one can take it away.

The old housekeeper watched her and couldn’t help but feel that her earlier words might have been too harsh.

So, she quickly tried to soften them.

"No, Young Miss," she said gently, "it’s not that Ms. Grace won’t choose you. She will —she already loves you. It’s just that ... when there are more people in her life, she’ll have to love everyone."

Eira heard her.

But she didn’t react.

Seeing her sitting so quietly, Mabel tried to think of another way to explain things to her.

However, before she could say anything further—

Eira spoke, her voice steady and certain.

"I understand."

She then picked up the glass of juice and slowly drank it.

Mabel watched her, confused.

She had expected tears, resistance —something.

But looking closely, she realized that the child wasn’t suppressing emotions.

She was calm.

As if she had already reached a conclusion of her own.

"I’m done," Eira said, placing the empty glass back on the table.

Mabel stepped forward and helped her down from the chair.

Eira let her.

"Young Miss ... are you sad?" Mabel asked carefully.

Eira turned to look at her.

She paused for a moment before slowly shaking her head.

The old woman tried —but she couldn’t read what was going on in her mind.

After a second, Eira said softly,

"Granny Mabel, Eira will go to Mama now."

And with that, she turned and walked away.

Behind her—

Mabel stood still, unable to understand anything.

Just moments ago, she had seen how deeply attached the child was to Ms. Grace —so much so that she had cried at the mere thought of sharing her.

And now—

Even after hearing that Ms. Grace might one day have another family, she didn’t react at all.

Did it hurt her too deeply?

The thought made Mabel’s heart ache with guilt.

But what she didn’t know was that Eira was emotional —but she was also very shrewd.

She feared even the thought of losing her mother.

But she would also do anything to stick to her side.

Walking upstairs, Eira didn’t stop near her room.

Instead, she walked past it —heading straight toward her father’s study.

Her small legs took short steps, but each one was firm.

When she reached the door, she didn’t knock.

She simply pushed it open and walked in.

Dylan sat behind his desk, reading through a document.

A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested loosely on his nose, giving him a look that was both refined and faintly dangerous.

Hearing the door open, he lifted his gaze slightly.

When he saw his daughter, he spoke as though he already knew why she had come.

"You’ve decided?"

Eira didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she walked up to him, stopping right beside his desk.

Then she raised her arms toward him.

Dylan didn’t refuse.

He pushed his chair back slightly, picked her up, and settled her comfortably on his lap.

Once seated, Eira looked straight into his eyes.

Her gaze held reluctance —yet it was steady.

"Eira found Mama after so long," she said softly. "She can’t lose her again."

She paused—

Then added,

"Dada can’t lose her to anyone else either."

Dylan watched her for a moment before nodding slowly.

Eira stared at him.

After thinking for a moment, she spoke again, "Mama will still be Eira’s. But ... Eira won’t fight with you for her."

The words clearly didn’t come easy to her.

But when she thought about the possibility of losing her completely —sharing suddenly became the lesser pain.

Dylan could read his daughter’s thoughts clearly.

But he didn’t comfort her.

He simply nodded again.

Eira relaxed a little.

But the fear inside her hadn’t completely faded.

Looking at him, she finally asked, unable to hold it back anymore,

"Dada ... Mama really won’t leave Eira again, right?"

Dylan didn’t answer immediately.

Not because he couldn’t—

But because he wasn’t entirely sure himself.

He only knew one thing—

This time, he wouldn’t let her go.

Now that he had her back, he would keep her by his side —no matter what.

Eira waited.

She waited for him to promise her.

But as the silence stretched—

... it became harder for her to bear.

Finally—

Dylan spoke. "Don’t worry. Your mama won’t leave this time."

Only then did Eira relax.

She leaned forward, pressing her head against his chest, hugging him tightly as she murmured softly, "Eira wants Mama to stay forever ... Eira doesn’t want to be without a mother."

—————

Meanwhile—

Back in Eira’s room—

Adelyn was absolutely unaware of the quiet alliance forming between father and daughter around her.

She just stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself.

She had freshened up and changed into a new set of clothes.

Yet, her gaze kept drifting back to the set she had just taken off.

The hoodie and trousers.

The same ones she had once given Dylan to change into when he had visited her.

Yesterday, when she wore them, she hadn’t thought much of it.

She had assumed she would simply take them back home later.

But now —after changing—

She suddenly realized something.

That man had never intended to return them.

Her eyes lingered on the clothes as she muttered under her breath, "Did he really mean it when he said he would keep this pair?"

No answer came.

She reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against the fabric.

There seemed nothing special about it.

Just everyday, simple, comfortable material.

And yet—

The way Dylan treated it made it feel like something far more valuable.

As if it carried a meaning she hadn’t fully grasped yet.

"He couldn’t actually be serious about keeping it ... could he?"

Just as she was thinking ... a thought crossed her mind, and her expression turned slightly awkward.

But then she quickly shook it off, refusing to dwell on it.

What was she even thinking?

He was Dylan Warren.

The most refined man she had ever known.

How could she even associate him with such ... indecent thoughts?

She almost scolded herself when suddenly — a voice from behind almost made her jump.

"Indecent thoughts?"