Chapter 328: He just can’t perform.

"Sister-in-law, I just wanted to check on you."

Adelyn’s eyes only turned sharper at him.

"What are you? A doctor?"

Karl blinked. Then, without any hesitation, he shook his head. "No, I’m not."

Adelyn nodded at him approvingly.

"Good. At least you know that much. So now, sit down and finish your breakfast before I ask someone to clean the table."

Karl immediately shut his mouth.

He didn’t dare defy her.

Taking his seat on the chair at once, he resumed eating the porridge as though he hadn’t just been interrogated about his qualifications over something so small.

Eira, however, watched him with her cheeks puffed up.

Her little face clearly showed that she still hadn’t forgiven her Third Uncle for interrupting their peaceful breakfast.

When Adelyn noticed her expression, she couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong, sweetie?"

"Mama, we already finished breakfast. Can we return to our room first?"

Adelyn looked at her.

Then, she glanced toward Karl.

Although she wasn’t aware of exactly what had happened between the two of them, she could tell that the little girl was blaming her uncle for something.

And judging by Karl’s shameless personality, he was probably deserving of it.

Still, Adelyn couldn’t allow Eira to learn that whenever someone annoyed her, she could simply ignore them or refuse to keep them company.

So, gently touching the little girl’s puffed-up cheek, Adelyn spoke patiently.

"Baby, one should always have company while having a meal. That way, eating becomes more enjoyable."

She then glanced toward Karl and continued, "Although you’ve already finished, your Third Uncle is still having his breakfast. Don’t you think you can stay here until he finishes so that he isn’t left alone?"

Little Eira turned her head and stared at Karl.

She didn’t hate her uncle. But he had upset her in many ways, and she still hadn’t forgotten them.

Still, he was her uncle.

And Mama had asked her to stay.

After thinking for a moment, Eira turned back toward Adelyn and gave her a small nod.

Adelyn immediately smiled.

She lovingly caressed the little girl’s hair before settling back into her seat.

The three of them remained there.

Eira continued sitting obediently beside Adelyn, while Karl focused on finishing his porridge.

Every now and then, Adelyn would turn her head and glance at the brat eating across from her.

She couldn’t help but find his shamelessness amusing.

Just when she was watching him, however, something suddenly clicked in her mind.

Adelyn’s lips parted.

But she paused before saying anything.

After thinking it through carefully, she decided that she could probably ask him. She had already been wondering about it for some time.

And if Karl really knew something about Dylan’s health, perhaps he could tell her what she wanted to know.

So, once she was certain she could ask him, she finally spoke.

"I was thinking of asking you something."

Karl was down to his last few spoonfuls. He halted when he heard her and looked up.

"You want to ask me something?"

His expression made it sound as though he genuinely couldn’t understand why she would need to hesitate before asking him anything.

Adelyn simply gave him a nod.

"Yes. But I’m not really sure if you’ll tell me."

Karl laughed.

"Why wouldn’t I tell you? You’re my sister-in-law."

Adelyn’s expression remained somewhat hesitant.

"Will you tell me even if it’s about your brother?"

Karl still looked perfectly at ease. He scooped another spoonful into his mouth before casually shrugging.

"If it’s about my brother, then shouldn’t I tell you even more about him?"

"Are you sure?" Adelyn arched a brow, as though giving him one final chance to reconsider.

Karl simply smiled.

That smile was enough for Adelyn to make up her mind.

She nodded before asking directly, without beating around the bush.

"Fine, then. Tell me —is your brother sick?"

Karl was still holding his last spoonful. The moment he heard the question, he almost spat the food right back out.

"Cough—cough!"

He immediately started coughing violently.

The food seemed to have gone down the wrong way, and within seconds, his entire face turned red.

Adelyn frowned.

What was wrong with him?

She hadn’t even asked anything particularly shocking.

Getting up from her chair, she poured him a glass of water and handed it over.

Karl, looking almost delirious from the sudden coughing fit, reached out and grabbed the glass.

He took several hurried sips.

Only after swallowing a few mouthfuls was he finally able to calm himself.

His coughing gradually eased, although his flushed complexion remained.

Karl placed the glass down and stared at Adelyn with an unusually serious expression. Then he asked cautiously, "Is my brother really sick, Sister-in-law?"

Adelyn frowned at him.

"That’s what I’m asking you. You tell me —is he?"

Karl’s expression grew even more solemn. He leaned forward slightly before speaking in a low, serious tone.

"I’m not entirely sure, Sister-in-law. But there has been a rumor about it."

"Rumor?" Adelyn’s brows knitted even tighter.

Karl nodded.

"Yes. I still consider it a rumor since I never got the chance to confirm it."

Adelyn stared at him incredulously. "You needed a chance to confirm it?"

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

"Aren’t you his brother?"

She almost wanted to smack him.

Usually, this guy went around picking fights in the name of his brothers.

Yet when it came to something as important as his brother’s health, he was apparently waiting for a chance to confirm whether he was sick or not.

What kind of family were they even?

Karl, on the other hand, didn’t seem to understand her rebuke at all. Instead, he frowned as though she were the one being unreasonable.

"I’m just his brother. How could I confirm it?"

He looked genuinely confused.

"Aren’t you more eligible to confirm it?"

Adelyn paused.

She was more eligible to confirm what?

Her brows furrowed as she stared at him. "I’m more eligible? What are you talking about?"

She had barely entered their lives.

How could she possibly check Dylan’s past medical records or know anything about his health history?

What could she possibly confirm that his own brother couldn’t?

Karl looked at her as though the answer should have been obvious.

"You’re my brother’s woman."

Adelyn’s expression froze slightly.

Karl continued without the slightest hesitation. "If not you, who else could check on him in that aspect?"

Adelyn halted.

Something about the brat’s words suddenly felt very wrong.

She replayed what he had just said in her mind.

His woman.

Check on him in that aspect.

It took only a second.

Then—

She understood.

Adelyn’s expression immediately darkened.

This shameless bastard!

She glared at him and was just about to snap when Eira’s worried voice suddenly came from beside her.

"Mama, is Dada also sick?"

The little girl looked genuinely concerned.

"What happened to him?"

Adelyn immediately turned toward her. Seeing the worry in Eira’s eyes, her expression softened.

She shook her head —and was about to explain that there was nothing seriously wrong with her Dada.

But—

Karl had to interrupt.

And he did it in the most nonchalant tone imaginable.

"Oh, my baby, there’s nothing to worry about. Your Dada isn’t really sick."

"He just can’t perform."

He paused for a moment as if thinking something seriously.

"That’s not something serious, but it’s just a little worrisome."

Adelyn heard him, and noticed the confusion deepen in the girl’s expression.

"He —"

Karl was about to speak again when she turned toward him and snapped. Her sharp voice echoed through the dining room.

"Shut up!"