Chapter 342: Did Eira’s tears also make you feel hurt?

Adelyn remembered Freya telling her about the investment issues the production had been facing because of her.

But now that it was close to officially announcing the beginning of filming, she assumed those issues had already been dealt with.

She didn’t ask about it again.

Not because she was completely sure, but because those problems had nothing to do with her. Asking about them and getting the details wouldn’t help her either.

So, she simply didn’t.

Listening to Freya, she nodded in understanding before asking, "I understand, Sister Freya. Please tell me what I need to do tomorrow."

Freya responded from the other end of the line. "You need to go and select a dress for yourself. It’s going to be your first appearance in front of the media. You need to look good."

"A dress?" Adelyn asked, sounding unsure. "Sister Freya, is that important?"

"I mean, I have a few dresses, and some of them would go well with the occasion. Why should we waste the money we don’t have yet?"

Usually, dresses and jewellery for the artistes were arranged by the company. But since Adelyn wasn’t part of ZX Media, the company wasn’t obligated to bear any part of such an expense.

... which only meant the burden would fall on them.

On Freya.

Freya understood what she was thinking. She had also been concerned about it. However, fortunately, she had been able to make some arrangements.

"That wouldn’t do, Adelyn," Freya said quite seriously. "Although you’ve gotten a chance in a good production, an artiste’s appearance in front of the camera holds quite a lot of value. Since you’re a new face, just your reveal as part of the main cast would make netizens search for you online. They’ll look into your records and everything they can find."

"Your past might stay hidden for a while, but you need to stay prepared to face it resurfacing at any time. At a time when we already have so much to face, it’s only better if we keep one thing less to worry about."

"So, go tomorrow and select an appropriate style for yourself," Freya said, explaining herself. "As for the expense, you don’t need to worry about it. High-end couture doesn’t come cheap; however, I have it arranged."

"We’ll get the dress for now and pay for it once the payment from the production arrives."

Adelyn frowned slightly at that.

"They have a policy like that?" she asked.

"They don’t," Freya replied, continuing, "But the designer I’ve sought out has agreed to help us. She’s one of my old acquaintances, so it won’t be a problem."

Adelyn nodded.

"Then I can only thank you, Sister Freya."

"Don’t mention it," Freya said before getting back to something important. "Tomorrow, go to her boutique and select a dress for yourself. I still have something on my end, so I won’t be able to come along with you. But Amelia will accompany you."

"Okay, Sister Freya," Adelyn confirmed.

And after that, they hung up the call.

Once that was settled, Adelyn pushed her phone back into her pocket and looked toward Eira’s room.

The girl hadn’t come out since Adelyn had left in the afternoon.

At first, Adelyn had thought to give her some space.

But it had been hours.

Staying at home without Eira tailing around her was beginning to bother her now.

This was her first time being around the kids. She had thought giving them some space would work. But later, when she searched online, she realized that kids so young didn’t necessarily need space.

They needed a conversation that made them feel secure.

And Eira ...

She had always been an insecure kid.

Her reaction earlier had only proved that even more.

Adelyn stopped in front of her room before giving a gentle knock at the door.

She waited.

However, even after several seconds, she heard nothing.

She knocked again.

Once more, there was no response.

When she knocked for the third time, she spoke in a gentle voice.

"Baby, it’s me, Mama. Can I come in and stay with you for a little while?"

She waited.

When, once again, she heard nothing, she added softly, "It’s quite boring without you, baby. I—"

And just halfway through the word, the doorknob twisted.

Adelyn paused, only to see the room’s door slowly opening.

Her eyes darted down, only to see the girl standing there with her face lowered.

"Baby ..." Adelyn called again, her voice soft and gentle.

However, Eira didn’t look up.

The girl who always craned her head up to meet Adelyn’s eyes was now trying to avoid looking at her.

Adelyn immediately felt that something was wrong.

So, she crouched down.

"If you don’t want Mama around, sweetie, you can tell me. I won’t force you," she said slowly. "I’ll go back to my room and wait for Eira to come to me. But you need to tell me that. If you stay like this without telling me, I won’t know what you want."

Eira still avoided looking at her.

Adelyn didn’t know what to do.

She wanted to reassure the girl. But with Eira curling away from her like that, she didn’t know how to reach her.

In the end, Adelyn thought giving her space and time was best.

So, gently patting her head, she stood up to leave.

However, just when she was about to step away, the little girl held her hand and stopped her.

Adelyn turned to glance back at her, only to see her finally raising her face to meet her eyes.

And she paused at the sight of it.

The big eyes that she remembered as bright and lively were swollen and red from crying.

Had she been crying all this while?

Just the thought of it made Adelyn feel guilty.

If only she had come earlier to check on her, she would have known.

"Baby ..."

She crouched down at once and gently cupped her face.

"Were you crying?"

Eira’s lips trembled as fresh tears again shimmered in her eyes.

But she tried to hold them back.

However, unlike other times, her attempts failed this time.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and before Adelyn could react, the girl stepped into her arms, wrapping her tiny arms tightly around her neck.

"Mama, I’m sorry. Eira didn’t want to cry with tears, but ... but she cannot control it."

Adelyn parted her lips, but she didn’t understand what she should say.

Her heart ached.

"If you want to cry, sweetie, cry. Mama is here with you."

"But Mama ... you don’t like to see Eira crying," the girl said through a sniffle.

And suddenly, an understanding dawned upon Adelyn.

The girl had been avoiding looking at her, not because she was upset.

But because she was crying, and she didn’t want Adelyn to see her like that.

"Will you not like Eira now?" the girl asked, sobbing.

Adelyn only hugged her, shaking her head.

"Why wouldn’t I like you, baby?"

"Because Eira doesn’t look pretty when she cries. Mama might not like Eira?"

Adelyn remembered telling her that her tears weren’t pretty.

But she had never thought the girl would interpret it this way.

Had this been the reason why, every time she was around Adelyn, the girl tried so hard to hold back her tears?

She had never thought one casual statement from her would leave such a deep imprint on the girl.

How had she not noticed this before?

Adelyn let her arm stay around Eira for a moment longer before finally loosening it to pull the girl a little away from her.

Eira avoided looking into her eyes, but this time, Adelyn hooked a finger beneath her chin and gently lifted her face so that their eyes met.

And when they did, she said, "Mama doesn’t like seeing Eira in tears, but that doesn’t make Mama love Eira any less. There’s a difference, sweetie. You misunderstood Mama’s words."

Eira sniffled lightly.

"Eira misunderstood Mama’s words?" she asked, blinking through her tears.

Adelyn nodded.

Slowly wiping away the tears from her eyes, she confirmed once again, "You misunderstood my words. What Mama meant was that Mama loves Eira when she smiles, laughs, and giggles. As for Eira’s tears ... they make Mama feel hurt. But that hurt can never make Mama love her any less."

Eira listened to her intently.

Blinking, she asked again, "Then Mama doesn’t dislike Eira at all?"

Adelyn smiled and shook her head again.

Patiently, she reassured her once more. This time, her voice was firmer than before —almost like a promise she was willing to give her from the bottom of her heart.

"Mama loves Eira so much that disliking her is just too ... too difficult."

"Really?"

She nodded again and repeated. "Really, baby."

The girl stared at her for a longer moment before asking with a quiet hesitation, "Then does it really hurt Mama when Eira cries?"

Adelyn looked into her eyes. This time, not just trying to understand her words, but to understand the emotion behind those words.

"It does," she said. "However, mothers can handle little pains like that. But do you know what they can’t handle?"

Little Eira looked at her and shook her head honestly. Her sobs already easing a lot from before.

Adelyn reached out and gently caressed her hair. "They can’t handle seeing their kid hiding away their pain and tears. It hurts them more than anything else could. Not knowing the reason behind their kid’s tears."

The girl listened to her and felt a silent guilt creeping up in her heart. Cupping Adelyn’s face with all gentleness, she asked, "Then, Mama, did Eira’s tears also make you feel hurt?"