Folders and Sub-folders

Yes you can remove a subfolder and not affect the parent folder.

Perhaps you are confused by the Lightroom Classic setting which says: "Show Photos in Subfolders" which can cause photos in subfolders to also appear when you select the parent folder. If this setting is checked, then removing a subfolder causes the images to disappear from the parent folder as well. (If checked, this is not the way Windows Explorer or Mac Finder works.)

Deleting a subfolder from Lightroom Classic does not delete any images which reside in the parent folder. Do note the following however: Lightroom Classic has an option to show images in subfolders in the image count of the parent folder. That is a menu item that you can check or uncheck. If that option is checked, and you remove a subfolder from the catalog which contains images, then obviously those images will disappear from the parent folder count too.

Moved to the LrC forum.

Are you asking about Lightroom (cloud-based), Lightroom Classic or Photoshop Elements?

A moderator will need to move this to proper product community.

When you post a question you always need to tell the program you are using
There are MANY programs in a full subscription, plus other non-subscription programs
Please post the exact name of the Adobe program you use so a Moderator may move this message to that forum