Ada, who was listening to their conversation behind the door, was frightened by Carter’s furious questioning, and her face turned pale.

‘If Shirley told the truth, how would I explain myself?’

She anxiously thought. Suddenly, she realized that the study room had become unusually quiet.

Feeling uneasy and curious, Ada leaned closer to the door, her ears practically pressing against it.

She heard a soft “click,” and the door abruptly swung open.

Carter was standing right in front of Ada, and she turned rigid, unsure of what to do. After a few seconds, she regained her composure and adopted an awkward demeanor; her face also feigned a gentle smile.

“Carter, I… I was just worried about you. I wasn’t eavesdropping.” Ada smiled forcefully as she tried to explain, but she noticed Carter's unusually dark expression at the moment.

She intended to peep into the study room to see what was happening with Shirley, but her gaze was met by Carter's cold, icy stare.

“Car… Carter?”

“It seems