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

Everyone was slightly taken aback.

They all turned toward the door —only to see a woman standing there.

She was strikingly beautiful, almost gentle at first glance ... yet there was something about her presence that instinctively warned them to stay away.

"Who are you?" the man who had been dealing the cards asked, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her.

However, Adelyn didn’t even spare him a glance.

Her gaze remained fixed on the far end of the room — where a man had approached the little girl.

His hand was still suspended midair, just inches away from touching a strand of her hair.

"Withdraw it while you still have time," her voice rang out —calm, yet edged with an unmistakable chill.

The man reacted instantly.

He pulled his hand back as if burned and took a step away from the girl.

His eyes flickered between the child and the woman at the door.

There was a resemblance between them —subtle ... but undeniable.

It was as though they had been carved from the same mold.

The moment Eira heard Adelyn’s voice, her eyes lit up.

She tried to turn toward her, but the man standing in front of her blocked her view.

In that instant, her expression shifted completely.

The softness vanished —replaced by something cold, sharp... almost feral.

Even the man standing before her felt it.

So when his hand had frozen earlier, it wasn’t only because of the warning —but because of the sudden change in the child’s gaze.

It was as if an innocent little girl had turned into a guarded cub, ready to bare its claws.

Adelyn’s eyes lingered on Eira for a brief moment.

Then, without hesitation, she stepped inside and walked straight toward her —not giving anyone the chance to stop her.

Reaching her, she crouched down to match the child’s height.

For a second, she simply looked at her —as if confirming something only she understood.

Then, she asked softly, "Were you scared just now?"

Her hand lifted, gently brushing through the girl’s hair, stroking it in quiet reassurance —as though that alone could wash away any lingering fear.

Eira looked at her, her gaze steady.

Then she shook her head.

"Eira wasn’t scared."

Adelyn found it hard to believe.

She had heard everything just moments ago —what those men had intended to do.

Even she had felt a chill run down her spine at the thought of it.

So how could such a small child...

not be afraid at all?

Her brows furrowed without her even realizing it as she stared at the little girl, worry clearly reflected in her eyes.

What would have happened if she hadn’t come here just now?

... if she hadn’t caught that fleeting glimpse of the small figure earlier?

Eira had always watched her mama too intently —especially when she was this close.

Noticing the concern between her brows, she slowly reached out, her tiny fingers brushing gently against the space between Adelyn’s brows.

Her touch was so soft ... so careful that, for a moment, it almost made Adelyn flinch.

She looked at the girl with faint confusion, only to hear her reassure her again.

"Aunt Ade-lyn ... Eira is truly fine. She wasn’t scared at all."

Adelyn couldn’t help but smile at her effort. Caressing her cheek, she nodded gently.

"Fine, I trust you. But tell me, what exactly are you doing here? Did you come with your father?"

As she asked that, her brows furrowed again. She hadn’t seen Dylan anywhere.

So there could only be one possibility —the girl had been brought here by someone else.

Eira shook her head. "Dada was working at home. He didn’t come with Eira." Her eyes turned toward Karl. "Eira came with Fourth Uncle."

"Fourth Uncle?" Adelyn’s brows furrowed deeper as she followed her gaze.

And the moment she turned —she saw exactly who the girl was referring to.

The same man she had bumped into at the Imperial View —

Mr. Charging Bull.

"It’s you," she muttered under her breath.

Karl stared back at her with an equally deep frown.

Pier, who had witnessed everything, was thoroughly confused. Looking at his friend, he asked with curiosity, "Brother Karl, who is this beauty? Do you know her?"

"Beauty?" Karl shot him a glare, and Pier instantly stiffened, forcing an awkward smile.

"Well ... she does look—"

"She’s nothing but an annoying woman — someone I once ran into," Karl cut him off coldly.

Pier didn’t fully understand, but he nodded as if he did.

Karl didn’t bother explaining further. He turned back to Adelyn, his tone laced with arrogance.

"So what if it’s me? Can I not be here? Do I need your permission to step outside?"

Adelyn frowned the moment she heard him.

"Definitely not. I’m not your mother to keep track of your whereabouts, but I’m definitely—"

Her eyes shifted toward Eira.

But before she could finish —

Karl scoffed and cut her off.

"Eira is my niece. Don’t you dare claim any relation with her. You are nothing to her."

Adelyn paused.

Even she didn’t know what she had been about to say. Good that her words were interrupted. Otherwise—

A small hand slipped into hers.

She glanced down —only to see the girl looking up at her with a serious, unwavering gaze.

"Mama."

She froze.

And so did Karl.

Neither of them understood what she meant —until she added softly, "Mama is most precious to Eira."

Her words were meant for Karl —to make him understand that Adelyn was not just anyone.

She was her mother.

And she mattered.

Karl’s heart nearly broke at that moment. He felt betrayed by the only niece he treasured the most.

"Eira, my darling," he said, almost on the verge of tears, "did this woman lie to you? She isn’t your mother." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Eira didn’t respond.

But her expression said everything.

She didn’t like what Karl had said —not at all.

Wrapping her arms tightly around Adelyn’s legs, she clung to her, unwilling to let go.

She had dared to call her Mama again ...

And she feared that if she angered her, her mama might leave her once more.

And ... she couldn’t bear that.

Not again.

Karl saw this and couldn’t help but glare at Adelyn.

It had to be her —he was certain of it.

"How dare you lie to her?" he demanded, his tone sharp and clearly accusing.