That was when Devin noticed Adele's face was red, and he frowned, asking, “What happened to Adele's face?"

Adele, hearing Devin's question, timidly looked at him. She was just about to respond when Sadie interrupted quickly, saying, “She just fell and hurt her face."

Devin frowned as he examined Adele's face, skeptical of the explanation.

The marks looked more like they were from a pinch than from a fall.

He was about to say something but then decided against it.

Given his role, it wasn't right to push further.

He turned back to Adele and suggested, "How about we go to the hospital for a check-up? You'll get some tasty candy afterward, Like last time."

Adele usually loved looking at the candy jar during her visits to the hospital.

But this time, Adele's reaction was different. She burst into tears and clung to Sadie's skirt, crying. "No, no, I want mommy."

Seeing how distressed Adele was, Devin relented. He sighed and told Sadie, "In that case, I'll come back another time to take her for her check-up."

Sadie offered a weak smile, then pretended to be affectionate as she patted Adele on the head, responding, "Okay."

Devin remained concerned for Adele, casting several more worried glances her way before he reluctantly left.

The moment Devin was out of sight, Sadie's sad expression vanished.

She smiled at Adele and pinched her cheek sharply with her long nails, complimenting her, “Adele, you're such a good girl.”

Then, she brought over a stack of cakes, smiling as she instructed, “This is your reward. Eat all of this, or you won't see your daddy again."

Adele nodded, her eyes on the cakes she normally adored. Her beautiful eyes reddened, and tears formed as she quietly began eating the cakes as told.

Watching this, Sadie's mood lifted, and she started humming a tune, her attention drifting away from Adele as she relaxed on the sofa to watch prenatal videos.

Meanwhile, after leaving Sadie's house, Devin's sense of unease grew, feeling that something wasn't right.

Settling into his car, he couldn't shake his concerns about Adele's demeanor, which suggested she might be under threat or pressure from Sadie. There was a noticeable fear in Adele's eyes when she Looked at Sadie.

But Sadie was Adele's mother. Surely, she wouldn't actually harm her.