Free Web NovelChapter 237: Wait to see her regret in future.
Adelyn had grown up in the Scott family.
After having three sons, Charlotte had always longed for a daughter. Holding onto that desire, she conceived once more —and this time, fate seemed to favor her.
When she heard the soft cry of a baby girl echo through the hospital room for the very first time, Charlotte knew.
Her wish had been granted ...
At that moment, she had believed she had finally been blessed with the princess she had always dreamed of —someone she could cherish, pamper, and love endlessly.
But the same heavens that fulfilled her wish also played a cruel trick on her.
Her baby had been swapped.
And she never knew.
Not even when she first held Adelyn in her arms.
Instead of doubt, what she felt was something else entirely.
A strange, unexplainable affection stirred within her heart the moment she saw that child. For a fleeting second, she had even felt as though she were holding something otherworldly —like a celestial baby that didn’t quite belong to this world.
There was something about Adelyn.
Something different.
And over the years, that feeling never faded.
If anything, it only grew stronger.
Every small achievement of Adelyn filled Charlotte with pride. Every step she took, every success she earned —it all made Charlotte cherish her more deeply.
She couldn’t stop herself.
And Adelyn ... she seemed to return that love just as sincerely.
Her affection, her care, her concern for every member of the family —it had all felt so genuine ... so real ...
That even when the truth finally surfaced—
Even when Clara returned—
They couldn’t bring themselves to stop loving Adelyn.
They couldn’t.
Even when they knew what the right decision should have been ... they still couldn’t let her go.
But now—
Everything felt different.
Could it be ...
That Adelyn had faked it all back then?
Her love ...
Her affection ...
The respect she had always shown ...
Was it all nothing more than an act?
Charlotte felt her heart clench painfully at the thought.
Had she really been deceived all these years?
She had raised Adelyn with nothing but love and care ... while her real daughter had been out there, struggling against the harshest edges of life.
And this ...
This was how Adelyn chose to repay her?
How could she be so ungrateful?
Charlotte’s fingers clenched tightly, her knuckles turning pale as the emotions inside her twisted into something darker.
Clara saw it.
And a faint, almost imperceptible smirk curled at the corner of her lips —gone as quickly as it appeared.
Lowering her gaze, she covered her mother’s hands with her own, her fingers trembling just enough to appear sincere.
"Mom ..." she sobbed softly, her voice quivering. "I think Adelyn must not have meant it. She wouldn’t have intended to offend you like this. It must be because of me."
She lifted her head, meeting Charlotte’s eyes with fragile determination, nodding slightly as if trying to convince both of them.
"It’s because of the role," she continued gently. "She probably didn’t want to give it up ... so she chose this way to refuse you. Don’t blame her. And don’t blame yourself either ... because I don’t blame you."
Tears rolled down her cheeks, making her look even more pitiful ... more deserving of sympathy.
"I don’t want this role anymore. It’s just a role," she said, her voice soft yet firm. "Let Adelyn have it. It’s the same."
Reaching out, she cupped Charlotte’s face with both hands.
"It’s not more important than you, Mom. Not more important than your peace ... your happiness. Seeing you like this ..." her voice broke, "it hurts me too much."
She shook her head slightly, as if making a painful decision.
"So no ... I don’t want it anymore. I really don’t."
She then leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Charlotte, pulling her into a tight embrace.
Charlotte felt the warmth of that hug.
Felt the comfort it brought.
This was her daughter.
Her real daughter.
No wonder she was different.
She wasn’t like Adelyn.
She truly loved her ... cared for her ... free𝑤ebnovel.com
So much that she didn’t even hesitate to sacrifice her own dreams.
Unlike Adelyn—
Who hadn’t thought twice before humiliating her over a role that shouldn’t have meant anything in front of the mother who raised her.
Clara slowly pulled back and looked at Charlotte again. Gently, she wiped away the tears from her face before speaking in a soft, reassuring tone.
"Mom, don’t worry," she said. "You’re hurting like this because you love Adelyn. Once she calms down ... once she comes around ... it won’t hurt you the same way anymore."
She paused slightly, as if thinking carefully.
"Later, we can go together," she added. "I’ll explain everything to her. As long as I do that, I’m sure she won’t really go through with severing ties completely. She will return."
A faint smile appeared on her lips —gentle, but fragile.
"After all, she grew up in this family. She can’t be that heartless ... can she?"
Charlotte looked at her.
And though Clara smiled ...
She could still see the pain hidden behind it.
And in that instant —
Something inside Charlotte shifted.
The grief that had been weighing heavily on her heart began to harden ... slowly turning into something colder.
Her tear-filled gaze remained glassy, but the guilt and desperation within it had faded.
What replaced it was something far more rigid.
"She is heartless," Charlotte said coldly. "An ungrateful wretch."
Clara looked up at her in apparent shock.
But inside—
Joy surged.
Still, she kept her expression perfectly controlled.
"Mom, what are you saying?" she asked, her voice trembling. "That’s Adelyn. Don’t speak about her like that. She—"
"Don’t defend her anymore, Clara," Charlotte snapped, her voice sharp.
"I know who she is now. And she can no longer deceive me into believing otherwise. So you don’t need to speak for her anymore."
"But Mom ..." Clara pressed weakly, lowering her gaze. "That’s Adelyn. Your daughter."
"No," Charlotte said firmly, her voice rising with emotion. "She is not."
Her chest rose and fell with each breath, anger now replacing the earlier sorrow.
"I, Charlotte Scott, no longer have any daughter named Adelyn. She doesn’t deserve to be called my daughter."
Clara heard that—
And finally felt satisfied.
This was exactly what she had wanted.
And now that it was happening right before her eyes ...
How could she not feel pleased?
Still, she kept her head lowered, hiding the faint curve of her lips.
"Since she wants to sever ties with us so badly," Charlotte continued coldly, "then I’ll grant her that wish."
Her gaze hardened.
"Let her come and do it."
A pause.
"And I’ll wait ... to see how she regrets it in the future. Because this time, none of us would wait for her. We’ll consider her gone —once and for all."
