After speaking, Carly strode into the study, her crystal heels clicking sharply against the floor.

Celine stood frozen in ce, stiff and unmoving.

*1think you’re truly pitiful – so unloved ”

The words echoed in her ears, growing louder as they reverberated through her mind.

rew Carly looked down on her. To Carly, she was forever unloved, a shadow lurking in the background, constantly coveting her mother and her Adam, Carly

stabbed at her chest, its ache mingling with the bitter Irony. Locy and Adam had originally belonged to her.

She stared at the tightly closed door of the study. If Carly asked Adam, would he release Elijah?

uly had told her to stand by the door and listen, but Celine couldn’t summon the courage. She didn’t dare to bear.

The warmth that had briefly filled her heart earlier was cooling, bit by bit. She should never have ced any hope bin /bAdarn. Without hope, there’s no disappointment, no further hurt

The maid approached with an ice pack. “Mrs. Alvarez, you should apply this to your taceb” /b

celine shook her head lightly, “It’s not necessary,” she replied, her voice bhollow/b,

Inside the study, Adam sat in his leather chali, reviewing documents Carly walked over bto /bbhim /band began massaging his shoulders.

“Adam, I heard you had Elijah detained,” she said softly.

Adam looked up from the papers, bhis /bsharp gaze piercing, “Hency came bto /bsee you?”

His eyes were so perceptive that nothing could escape him..

Carly admitted it openly, “yes. Adam, you should release him. The Alvarez and Zander families have a long–standing rtionship, both socially and in business. Are you really going to breakties over someone like celine? She’s not worth it”

She was not worth it. Everyone kept saying the same thing.

Adam pushed Carly’s hands off his shoulders, bhis /bcold bgaze /bbfixed /bon her “Carly, you’re a woman too. I didn’t expect you to say something like that.”

Carly bfroze/b, caught off guard, and tried to exin. “Bat Celine wasn’t even hurt, was she?

Adam’s mood darkened further, his presence radiating cold, oppressive energy. “I’m not releasing him. Go home.”

arly was stunned. She had spoken up, yet Adam refused her. He wouldn’t let Elijah go.

Adam, Mr. and Mrs. Zander came to me personally. I already promised them you’d let him go. If you refuse, how am I supposed to face them?”

Adamn caut her a chilly nce. “That’s your problem. bNo /bone told you to make promises on my behalf.”

Carly’s face turned pale. She hade here full of confidence, convinced, like everyone else, that a single word from her would sway him. Instead, Adam had rejected her without hesitation.

“Leo,” Adam called out.

The bdoor /bopened immediately, band /bLeo stepped binside/b. “Mr. Alvarez

Adam’s gaze returned to his documents. iis voice was cold and detached. “Escort Ma. Tate bout/b.”

Leo turned bto /bCarly. “Ms. Tate, this way, please.”

Carly was trembling with anger. bWho /bwould have thought she would be treated no differently from Iteary, both of them unceremoniously thrown out?

the stormed toward the door, her heels clicking sharply, but suddenly stopped mid–step as if struck by a thought. Her lips tightenedb, /band she spun bback /btoward

“Adam, are byou /brefusing to let Elijah because he lost a woman or because the womens celle?”

Adarn nced at her, Ins voler bced /bwith impatience, “Get out.”

Those two words ignited Carly’s fury. Me reached out and showed a bvase /bof the bdesk/b, sending it crashing to the floor. With a loud crash, the vase stuttered into countless plerei, sciening shards arms the floor.

Tids the first time they had fought so tirarely over Cellie.

In the end, bCarly /bleft. The study’s atmosphere tumed bicy/bb, /bsuppressive that bno /bone dared approach Ad?m?.

Unable to focus on lds work any longer, Adin stood up and headed to the master bedioni.