Love Across the Light Years -The Devil CEO Indulges My Lies.

"What did you just say?"

Bryer’s voice cut through the air, making everyone turn toward the door.

His brows were tightly drawn together, his expression tense.

"Bryer," Charlotte called softly, "You’re back."

But Bryer only spared her a brief glance before shifting his full attention to Xavier. He didn’t intend to be rude to his mother, but he wanted to know about Adelyn.

At this moment, nothing felt more important than her.

Stepping further inside, his gaze sharpened.

"Adelyn is back?" he asked, his tone serious, almost demanding. "Are you sure?"

Xavier nodded without hesitation. "I saw her. I couldn’t be more certain."

The words landed like a shockwave.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Charlotte staggered slightly, the strength leaving her legs. Fortunately, Liam was beside her and caught her just in time.

"Adelyn ... my daughter ..." she breathed, her voice trembling with overwhelming relief. "She is alive. She didn’t leave us. She’s still here ... and she’s finally back."

Her eyes filled with tears as she turned to her sons.

"Liam! Bryer! Did you hear? Adelyn is fine."

Liam nodded, a faint smile touching his lips.

But beneath it, his gaze remained heavy —burdened with guilt and regret that had never once faded over the years.

Bryer, too, couldn’t hide the flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

But just as quickly —

Charlotte’s expression shifted.

Her brows furrowed, unease creeping in.

"Wait ..." she murmured, her voice tightening. "If Adelyn is alive ... and she’s back ... then why hasn’t she come to us?"

She turned to Liam, anxiety evident in her gaze.

"Why didn’t she come home?"

The question stilled the room.

Liam’s expression hardened slightly as he looked toward Xavier.

"Xavier, you saw her?" he asked, his voice calm on the surface —but there was an unmistakable tension beneath.

Xavier’s fingers turned unconsciously.

He had seen her.

But —

Had he really?

She looked the same ... yet completely different.

So distant ... so unfamiliar ... then even seeing her in front of him handn’t felt real. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"I ... met her," he said finally, a trace of hesitation in his voice.

"You met Adelyn?" Bryer pressed. "Where? When?"

Xavier frowned deeper, then recounted everything that had happened earlier.

As Liam and Bryer listened, their expression gradually grew more serious.

"You’re saying that she also went for the audition?" Liam asked.

"She was coming out of the venue," Xavier replied. "So I assume she was there for it as well."

Liam’s brows furrowed. "But that audition wasn’t open to just anyone. Not everyone could even get in. Especially she —"

"Is that what you’re worried about right now, Liam?"

Bryer cut him off sharply, his tone edged with irritation.

"We’ve just found out Adelyn is alive ... and that’s what you’re focusing on? Truly, you don’t surprise me enough."

"Bryer, that’s not what I meant." Liam’s expression tightened. "I was just —"

Bryer let out a scoff, his gaze turning cold.

"Save it," he said flatly, "I stopped trying to understand you seven years ago."

"Bryer!"

Charlotte’s voice rose, unable to tolerate the tension between her sons.

She knew what made them turn against each other like this.

But even so, she hated seeing them like this.

"I have truly had enough of this," she said, her voice firm despite the tremor beneath. "Can you be at least be mindful of what we are discussing right now?" Do you really have to argue at a time like this?"

Bryer fell silent.

Liam didn’t speak either.

After a moment, Loam exhaled and said more calmly.

"I was only saying ... if Adelyn really appeared for that audition, it means she has been here for a while. To even get a chance at that audition, one had to register at least a month ago."

He wasn’t concerned about the audition itself.

He was piecing together the timeline.

"A month ago?" Charlotte repeated, frowning. "Doesn’t that mean she’s been back for an entire month already? Why hasn’t she come to meet us?"

Bryer’s brow furrowed as well.

"She’s probably still upset about what happened seven years ago," Xavier spoke at that moment.

When they turned to look at him, he further continued,

"She must be blaming us for leaving her there that day. That’s why she’s acting like this ... keeping her distance."

His jaw tightened.

"I tried talking to her earlier, but not only did she refuse to speak properly ... she even left without explaining anything."

"She left —and you let her go?" Bryer asked, disbelief clear in his voice. "Xavier, are you serious? That was Adelyn —the one we’ve been searching for all these years. How could you just let her go?"

He paused, his brows pinching together.

"Even if she was upset, you should’ve brought her back. Or at least called us. Why didn’t you —"

"You think I didn’t try?" Xavier snapped, his frustration surfacing. "She pretended not to know me. Do you think that was easy for me?"

Liam frowned.

And so did Bryer.

Neither of them had a response to that.

Behind them, Charlotte could no longer hold back her tears.

"She has all the reasons to be upset," she said, her voice breaking. "After all ... we failed her that day. She must be blaming me ... blaming all of us."

Liam immediately stepped closer, supporting her.

"Mom ... don’t cry like this," he said softly. "If anyone is to be blamed, it’s me. I was the one who failed to handle things properly that day."

Charlotte looked at him —but didn’t comfort him. He was really the one to be blamed.

And she did blame him.

But he was also her son. He couldn’t make it difficult for him too—not when she knew how much guilt he held for that incident.

In his arms, she only cried harder.

After a moment, she suddenly tightened her grip and said with quiet determination,

"No ... we can’t let her stay upset with us like this. We have to bring her back."

She turned to Bryer.

"Adelyn is your sister. She’s the daughter of the Scott family. We have to bring her home. Let’s go.

Before Liam or Bryer could respond, Charlotte had already started moving toward the door.

But just as she was about to step out —

A voice stopped her in her tracks.

"You can’t bring her back, Mom."

Charlotte froze.

Slowly, she turned.

At the top of the staircase stood Clara.