Adelyn pulled the phone away and stared into the empty distance.

She hadn’t thought much about what remained between her and Xavier to talk about. Still, since he was here —and so persistent about having a conversation —she might as well take this opportunity to end everything cleanly.

"Sister-in-law, are you feeling unwell?" Karl asked suddenly.

His voice snapped Adelyn out of her thoughts.

She turned to him and blinked. "Huh?" she said, not quite grasping what he had asked.

Before she could react further, Karl rushed over and grabbed her shoulders, turning her this way and that as he inspected her.

"Let me look," he said seriously, scanning her from head to toe as if searching for injuries. "Did you hurt yourself while making me the meal? Or was it while chopping the vegetables?"

Adelyn was momentarily dumbfounded.

Her brows furrowed as she pushed him slightly away. "What are you doing? I didn’t get hurt anywhere."

Karl froze, then immediately relaxed. Patting his chest, he let out a sigh of relief. "Good. If you had gotten hurt while cooking for me, my brother would’ve had my life."

That meal wasn’t at all worth his sister-in-law’s precious life. He himself wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if something had happened to her because of him.

Adelyn pursed her lips as she stared at him.

"Oh —if you’re not hurt, then why did you ask that doctor to come so late?" Karl asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Adelyn didn’t feel obligated to answer, but she knew he wouldn’t leave her alone unless she did.

"He’s not a doctor. He—"

"Not a doctor?" Karl interrupted before she could finish.

"Didn’t the guard say his name? Someone called ... Dr. Colsen?"

For a brief second, Adelyn seriously considered hitting him.

This man had an unbelievable talent for testing her patience.

Every time, she held herself back —reminding herself of his identity. But now, she was truly reaching her limit.

Next time, she would definitely ask his brother whether she had permission to smack him at least once.

"Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?" Karl asked when she didn’t respond. "Is he here to scam you? Wait, I’ll—" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Before he could finish, he had already turned toward the door.

Adelyn grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "Where are you going?"

He pointed his thumb toward the entrance. "Obviously to deal with him for you."

"You don’t need to," she said, patting his arm in reassurance. "He’s not here to scam me."

Karl paused and turned to her. "Then?"

She raised a brow. His curiosity was blatant —and completely shameless.

It was as if he didn’t even realize he was being nosy.

"Sister-in-law, he—"

"He’s my ex-fiancé," Adelyn said finally, unable to tolerate his questioning any longer. "He’s here to talk."

Karl froze.

"Your ex-fiancé?" he repeated, his voice dropping as he tried to process it. "You had one?"

Adelyn didn’t bother explaining. She simply folded her arms. "You’ve had your meal, you’ve got your answer. Now you can leave."

She tilted her chin toward the door.

But instead of moving, Karl hesitated.

"Can I not go, sister-in-law?" he asked, already slipping past her to sit on the couch.

Adelyn caught him before he could settle. "You’re not messing with me, are you?"

Her tone carried a clear warning.

Karl immediately shook his head.

Adelyn nodded once —then dragged him toward the door.

"Sister-in-law, I’ll leave a little later. Just don’t send me away now. I—"

She didn’t listen.

Pulling the door open, she pushed him outside.

"Sister-in-law—!"

Karl stumbled forward, losing his balance —only to crash straight into someone.

He blinked, then looked up.

A face appeared before him. Not ugly —but definitely unwelcome.

Karl frowned. "You ... who are you?"

Xavier looked at him with visible displeasure and pushed him aside.

Karl straightened immediately, then out of sheer habit said, "Thank you. But may I know who you are? Are you—"

Before he could finish, Xavier had already turned to Adelyn.

"You’re finally ready to see me?" he asked.

Adelyn didn’t respond.

But Karl had already connected the dots.

His eyes darted between them before he pointed straight at Xavier.

"You ... you’re the ex-fiancé?"

Xavier’s frown deepened.

"How dare you show up here this late? You—"

"Enough!" Adelyn cut in sharply. "Weren’t you leaving already?"

Karl looked at her, conflicted.

He hadn’t planned to stay earlier —but now?

With this ex-fiancé appearing out of nowhere at night?

How could he just leave?

He glanced at Xavier again.

One look was enough.

This man definitely wasn’t here with good intentions.

The way he looked at Adelyn —it was obvious. He wanted to fix things. Mend what was broken.

And Karl absolutely couldn’t allow that.

Not a chance.

Only over his dead body.

Adelyn noticed he wasn’t moving and was about to speak again—

But Karl beat her to it.

"Sister-in-law ... do I really have to go?"

"Sister-in-law?"

Xavier froze.

His head snapped toward Adelyn, as if waiting —expecting her to deny it.

But she said nothing.

His fingers curled tightly at his sides.

Adelyn, on the other hand, had grown so used to the title that she didn’t even notice anything wrong.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she said flatly, "Don’t make me repeat myself."

Karl pouted.

He knew he couldn’t upset her.

But that didn’t mean he would leave without leaving a mark.

Glancing at Xavier one last time, he finally relented.

"Fine, I’ll leave first," he said.

Then, as if remembering something, he turned back deliberately and added. His gaze deliberately turned towards Xavier as if giving him the hint he shouldn’t ignore.

"But don’t forget to call my brother later. Eira is already this old —you can’t leave her, your daughter, insecure and worried over your ex."

Adelyn’s brows immediately tugged. However, before she could say anything, Karl acted.

Waving at her, he quickly turned to leave. "I’ll go then." And with that, he sprinted away, as though running for life.

Adelyn watched him.

And just then, she heard Xavier ask,

"You got married?"