Chapter 626



Cara felt unfairly accused, tears welling up in her eyes. Clayton sighed.

“Elma’s just a little girl. She doesn’t know any better. Kids her age are bound to be mischievous.”

“No, you don’t get it at all!” Cara’s voice rose, bordering on hysteria. “She’s never bonded with me. After all these years, I realize I’d have been better off raising a dog. I shouldn’t have adopted her in the first place.”

Clayton’s anger flared. “You regret it, huh? Fine, I’ll send her back. She can go wherever she came from and you won’t have to deal with her anymore.”

Panic flashed across Cara’s face, and she grabbed Clayton’s arm. Her voice softened. “Clayton, that’s not what I meant at all. I was just upset.”

Clayton inhaled deeply, trying to rein in his frustration. “Cara, you’ve been on edge lately. Maybe you need to take a step back and look at yourself,” he said, his voice strained.

Cara’s voice quivered with hurt. “How can I not be upset? He’s left again and refused to come back! I’m struggling to cope with Elma on my own. All I ever wanted was a normal, happy family. What did I do to deserve this? Did he say anything to you about coming back?” Clayton hesitated, unable to meet her gaze.

Cara’s heart sank. She knew what his silence meant. A wave of sadness and confusion washed over her. “Why?” she choked out, tears welling up in her eyes. “Why is he doing this to me?”

“Cara, calm down. Take it easy. Some things take time,” Clayton said gently, guiding her to a seat beside him.

Cara bit her lip, tears flowing freely. She remained silent, but her eyes blazed with a mixture of resentment, hurt, and a flicker of something darker, hatred.

Clayton sighed, giving her shoulder a comforting pat.

“You can’t force someone to love you. Think about it, Cara.”

With that, he stood up and left.

Cara watched him go, her eyes filled with bitterness. She refused to accept it. She had fought tooth and nail for the life she had now. She couldn’t accept that man felt nothing for her.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Elma’s tears finally overflowed. She began to sob uncontrollably. “I want my daddy!” she yelled. “Please, can we go find him?”

Betty looked at Elma with a worried expression, squatted down, and gently stroked her head. “Elma, please stop crying. If your mother hears you, she’ll get mad,” she whispered.

Even though Elma could be moody and spoiled, everyone in the house understood why she was like that.

Elma sobbed, holding onto Betty’s hand tightly. “Please, take me to my daddy. Don’t worry. My uncle will keep us safe. I just miss my daddy so much.”

Betty shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I can’t do that. I don’t have the power to.”

Elma’s eyes lost their sparkle, and she pointed at the door. “You can go now. I don’t want to see anyone. I need to be by myself for a bit.”

Betty sighed, glancing at Elma with worry several times before finally leaving the room.

Elma was all alone in the big, empty room.

Cara had a need to control everything Elma did. Cara didn’t want Elma getting close to any of the other servants.

So, ever since Elma was little, she had always slept by herself.

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