Emotional daughter abandons meal (5)

I believe the answer is:

inner

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'emotional' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for inner that I've seen before include "Deep" , "Situated inside" , "Area near to bull's-eye" , "More secret, private" , "Target next to the bull's-eye on a dart board" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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