Chapter 329: Your brother’s general health.

"What?"

Karl blinked almost innocently, completely oblivious to what he had just done.

His utter lack of awareness only made Adelyn’s face burn even hotter.

She stared at him hard, not knowing what she was supposed to do with this brat.

What kind of nonsense was he teaching a four-year-old child?

And why—

Why had he said it so casually?

Meanwhile, Eira looked back and forth between the two adults in complete confusion.

Her tiny brows slowly knitted together.

"Can’t perform?"

Her voice trembled slightly with worry.

Looking at her mother, she asked carefully, "Mama ... what does that mean? Is Dada suffering?"

Adelyn’s entire body stiffened.

Karl’s expression changed as well.

For the first time since opening his mouth, he seemed to realize that perhaps—

Just perhaps—

He had said something he absolutely shouldn’t have in front of a four-year-old.

Adelyn slowly turned her gaze toward him.

It was cold —extremely cold.

Karl’s lips twitched. Immediately regretting it, he hurried to explain. "Sister-in-law, I really didn’t think before speaking just now."

"You surely didn’t."

Her cold affirmation came instantly.

Karl wisely shut his mouth.

For once, he even considered taking the initiative to explain things properly to Eira.

But after another thought ...

He quickly abandoned the idea.

What if he accidentally made things even worse?

And what if his brother found out afterwards?

Wouldn’t he be finished?

"Is Dada also in pain ... and hiding it so that Eira won’t worry?"

The little girl asked again, looking back and forth between her mother and her uncle.

Adelyn slowly closed her eyes. She felt a headache coming on. All she had wanted to know was whether Dylan had some health issue.

How had the conversation somehow ended up here?

And, more importantly—

How was she supposed to explain any of this to Eira?

Keeping her eyes closed, she silently gathered her thoughts.

Only after calming herself did she slowly open them again and look at the little girl.

Reaching forward, she gently held both of Eira’s little arms, making her look directly into her eyes.

Although the little girl had been sticking closer to her lately than to Dylan ...

Adelyn could still clearly see how deeply attached she was to her father.

And she should be.

After all, Dylan had raised her single-handedly. He was her father.

"Baby," Adelyn asked softly, "do you trust Mama?"

Eira nodded without the slightest hesitation.

She loved her mama.

And she trusted her just as much.

"Then let Mama tell you something." Adelyn smiled gently.

"Your Dada is completely fine. There’s nothing about his health that you need to worry about."

She gently squeezed the girl’s little hands.

"Will you trust Mama on that?"

This time, Eira didn’t nod immediately.

Instead, she quietly looked into Adelyn’s eyes for a long moment.

Adelyn didn’t rush her.

She simply waited.

She didn’t blink.

She didn’t look away.

She just let the little girl take as much time as she needed.

After several long seconds, Eira finally nodded.

"Eira trusts Mama."

A warm smile spread across Adelyn’s face.

Trying to explain everything would only confuse the little girl even more. So instead, she chose the simplest answer.

One built entirely upon the trust Eira had in her.

"Good."

She gently caressed the little girl’s soft hair.

"Now that you know Dada is alright, and you’ve already finished your breakfast ... how about you go wait in the living room for a little while?"

She smiled and then added a small explaination behind her request.

"Mama has something to discuss with your Third Uncle. It’s grown-up business."

She lightly tapped the girl’s nose.

"Children aren’t supposed to eavesdrop."

Little Eira glanced at Karl for a brief moment before looking back at Adelyn.

Then she obediently nodded.

"Eira will wait for Mama in the living room."

Adelyn smiled.

"Good girl."

Helping her down from the high chair, she gently patted her little head.

"Go on."

The little girl happily trotted away.

Adelyn waited until she saw the girl settling in the living room before finally turning around. Her eyes landed directly on Karl.

Karl instantly felt embarrassed.

"Sister-in-law ..." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Will you trust me too? I really didn’t mean for Little Eira to hear that."

He gave an awkward laugh.

"I just ... forgot to switch on my discretion filter."

"Shut up."

Adelyn immediately silenced him.

Karl promptly pressed his lips together. He didn’t dare let another word escape his mouth.

Silence filled the dining room.

Neither of them spoke.

Karl simply continued moving his spoon around the empty bowl, despite the porridge having long since disappeared.

Only after quite some time did Adelyn finally let out a slow breath before looking at him again.

"When I asked you about your brother ..." Her tone became noticeably awkward. "I wasn’t asking about ... that aspect of his health."

She had never once doubted Dylan’s capabilities in that regard.

Why would she even ask something like that?

"You weren’t?"

Karl looked genuinely shocked.

His eyes widened.

"So ... I really misunderstood?"

Adelyn glared at him immediately.

Karl instantly straightened himself.

"I mean ... if that’s not what you meant, then I was definitely the one at fault, Sister-in-law." He smiled sheepishly.

"My apologies. I was just—"

"Don’t."

Adelyn raised one hand, stopping him halfway through his sentence.

"I don’t need to hear your explanation."

She looked at him steadily.

"Just answer what I originally asked, and we’ll pretend this entire topic never happened."

Karl nodded obediently.

However, the very next second, confusion once again appeared on his face.

"Wait." He looked back up at Adelyn. "If that wasn’t what you were asking ... then what exactly were you asking, Sister-in-law?"

Adelyn’s fingers immediately curled into fists.

For a brief moment, she genuinely felt the urge to get up and smack some sense into this idiot’s brain.

Fortunately, she managed to restrain herself. Taking another calming breath, she looked at him and spoke slowly.

"I was asking about your brother’s general health." She deliberately emphasized the word. "Has he been sick recently or before?"

Otherwise ...

Why would Ford need to accompany him almost everywhere he went?