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10 A Broken Life

Penulis: FancyZ
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-03 14:46:05

Layson looked at her for a moment, his sharp eyes searching hers. Without a word, he gestured for Barnes to untie Ella.

“Untie her.”

At his command, Barnes stepped forward to untie Ella’s bindings. Once freed, Ella stretched her stiff wrists and glared at Barnes with indignation, as though she were the victim in all of this.

Adela walked forward and bent down slightly to help Ella to her feet. Her voice was calm but probing. “Ella, do you know why my dad suddenly decided to take his own life?”

Ella’s expression shifted slightly, and she hesitated before replying. “I honestly don’t know. That morning, I went out to buy some groceries with Herbie, and when I got back… Calvin had already hanged himself.”

Her voice wavered as she recounted the event, but Adela could sense an air of defensiveness, like Ella was trying to absolve herself of blame.

“I was terrified,” Ella continued, her tone growing more dramatic. “I had no idea what to do!”

Her eyes darted around the room, feigning innocenc
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  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   11 Mr. Norman’s Friend

    The door clicked open, and Adela stepped inside, greeted by the sound of Herbie’s cheerful laughter. A faint smile tugged at her lips, momentarily easing the weight on her chest.“What’s so funny?” she asked, her voice soft as she stepped into the room.Herbie’s head whipped around, her face lighting up with pure joy. “You’re back, sister!” she squealed, bounding over to Adela.Adela knelt and pulled her into a gentle hug. No matter how dark her day had been, Herbie’s innocent enthusiasm was a reminder that there was still something in life worth holding on to.“What are you watching?” Adela asked, glancing toward the TV.“It’s a cartoon!” Herbie replied, holding a piece of bread in her hand. “Look, they’re dancing!” She pointed to the screen with glee.Adela noticed the bread and asked, “Where did you get that, Herbie?”Herbie shrugged, still munching on her snack. “The nice man from yesterday brought it. He left it for us!”Adela froze for a moment, her thoughts jumping to Layson. D

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03
  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   12 She Belongs to the Walton Family

    Days had passed since Calvin’s funeral, but Adela still found herself and Herbie living in the hotel that Layson had arranged for them. While the accommodations were comfortable, she couldn’t help but feel like an unwanted guest, relying on others for something as basic as a roof over their heads.She resolved to take control of her life. There was still a contract between her and Layson, but their relationship was purely transactional. Adela didn’t want to feel like she owed him anything more than she already did.The weather in New York had improved that day. The sun was warm but not overpowering, and a slight breeze ruffled the hem of Adela’s simple dress. A newspaper clutched in her hand, she walked down the street, scanning for the address she’d circled in ink.“It should be around here somewhere,” she muttered, squinting up at the buildings.The address in the classified section had promised a job opening at an advertising agency, but the rundown appearance of the neighborhood d

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03
  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   13 Landing a Job

    The bathroom door opened, and Layson stepped out wearing nothing but a white towel wrapped loosely around his waist. Water dripped from his still-damp hair, trailing down his neck and shoulders.“Go take a shower,” he said casually, his deep voice breaking the silence.Adela, who had been lost in thought on the sofa, jerked her head up at the sound. Her eyes widened when she saw him like that—barefoot, broad-shouldered, and utterly unbothered by his state of undress. Her face turned a deep shade of red, hotter than she thought possible.“Uh… okay,” she stammered, standing abruptly. She scrambled to make her way past him, her movements so awkward she almost stepped on his foot in the process.By the time she returned from her shower, wearing a loose robe and toweling her wet hair, Layson was already in bed. He sat propped against the headboard, one hand flipping through a folder of documents while the other rested casually on the bed.“Come here,” he said without looking up, his tone a

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03
  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   14 Liam’s Actions

    Bella noticed Adela zoning out as she organized files at her desk. Her usually attentive new assistant seemed unusually distant.“Adela, is everything alright?” Bella asked gently, setting down a stack of papers.Adela snapped out of her thoughts, quickly mustering a polite smile. “Oh, yes. Sorry, Bella. I guess I’m just a little distracted.”The truth was, Adela couldn’t shake the disbelief that she had landed a job at Walton Enterprises. She suspected it had everything to do with Liam Walton’s influence, a thought that made her both grateful and uneasy. While she appreciated the opportunity, she was determined to prove herself and not rely on charity.That morning, she’d left Herbie at the hotel again, guilt gnawing at her. Her little sister had been remarkably patient and well-behaved, but Adela hated leaving her alone. She promised herself she’d start looking for an affordable apartment soon, somewhere they could truly settle down.Arriving at Commerce Tower early, Adela was greet

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03
  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   15 Taking Responsibility for You

    Layson had been watching Adela from the car window, his gaze sharp and unreadable. As she stepped out of the Walton Enterprises building, he gave Barnes a slight nod.“Bring her over,” he said simply.Barnes immediately exited the car and approached Adela, who hesitated as he neared her. She hadn’t anticipated this. Although she had planned to meet Layson later in the evening, she wasn’t prepared for it to happen so abruptly.“Miss,” Barnes said politely, gesturing toward the sleek black car parked a few meters away. “Mr. Norman is waiting for you.”Adela glanced at the car, her stomach twisting with nerves. She bit her lip, trying to steel herself. “Alright,” she murmured, stepping toward the vehicle with hesitant steps.Sliding into the car, she was immediately enveloped by the quiet, luxurious interior. Layson sat in his usual place, his posture immaculate and his expression as cold as ever. His jaw was set, and his dark eyes barely flickered in her direction.“Mr. Norman,” Adela g

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03
  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   16 Layson’s Strange Behavior

    Layson’s decision to take Adela out for dinner had been impulsive, but now, watching her delicate movements and quiet demeanor, he thought it might have been the right call. For a man as calculated as he was, such spontaneous actions were rare.Walton EnterprisesLiam Walton had been watching from the window of his office as Layson’s car idled downstairs. His sharp eyes tracked Adela as she exited the building and was ushered into the car. Though he was tempted to interfere, he restrained himself. Right now, his only connection to her was through Layson, and he couldn’t risk jeopardizing that tenuous link.The night outside was illuminated by streetlights and the glow of skyscrapers. The bustling city had an almost magical quality, but Liam’s thoughts were far from the scenery. Finding his sister had brought him equal measures of joy and sorrow. He was thrilled she was alive and within reach, yet saddened by the distance—emotional and otherwise—that still lay between them.Liam’s phon

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03
  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   17 The Lunchroom Incident

    After Layson left to shower, Adela sat frozen on the couch, his words still ringing in her ears.“Not tonight. Go sleep in the next room.”She blinked, trying to make sense of it. Why had he asked her here at all? What was the point?The sound of water running in the bathroom snapped her out of her thoughts. Her cheeks burned, perhaps from the wine, or maybe from the confusion swirling in her mind. She got up, stretching stiff legs, and walked toward the room Layson had mentioned.Opening the door, a cool breeze greeted her. The room’s window was slightly ajar, allowing the crisp night air to seep in. Adela welcomed the relief, stepping over to close the window. The room was minimally furnished but tidy, with an inviting bed waiting in the corner. She sighed, shaking her head.“What’s gotten into him today?” she murmured to herself, slipping under the covers.The following morning, Adela woke early. She had to head to work at Walton Enterprises and didn’t want to be late. Grabbing her

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03
  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   18 Being Watched

    Adela had grown accustomed to the whispers and pointed glances at Walton Enterprises. She tried to brush them off, telling herself it didn’t matter, but the persistent undercurrent of judgment still stung. To avoid further scrutiny, she kept her head down and focused on her work, even if the sting of isolation lingered in her heart.After a long day, Adela gathered her things and prepared to leave the office. Since her last encounter with Layson, he’d had Barnes arrange an apartment for her and Herbie near Walton Enterprises, as well as enroll Herbie in a nearby preschool. Adela was grateful for the support, though she hadn’t yet had the chance to thank Layson personally—he’d been elusive.As she left the building, she hesitated, contemplating calling Barnes to find out where Layson might be. When the call connected, she heard Barnes’s ever-professional voice on the other end.“Adela, how can I help you?”Adela hesitated, her grip tightening on the phone. Asking about Layson felt too

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-03

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  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   184 Tense Atmosphere

    The faint sound of running water from the bathroom made Adela drowsy. Before she knew it, her eyes had closed, and she drifted off into a deep sleep on the couch. When Layson stepped out of the bathroom, he found her curled up on the sofa, her breathing steady. He frowned slightly, then walked over to her.In her sleep, Adela felt herself being lifted by someone. The familiar, comforting scent of the person made her snuggle closer, her head resting against their chest. She didn’t wake up, but her movement surprised Layson. He had expected her to stir, but instead, she nestled into him, seeking warmth. A small smile tugged at his lips. She must have been exhausted to fall asleep so quickly. His heart ached for her.Adela didn’t know how long she had slept. She dreamed of something long and beautiful, something she didn’t want to wake up from. When she finally opened her eyes, the unfamiliar surroundings confused her, but the blanket covering her felt oddly familiar. She sat up, rubbing

  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   183 Layson's Dominance

    “Your daughter’s in trouble, and you’re not going to go after Adela?” Ella stared at the letter in her hands, the words glaring back at her. The photo attached was blurry, but it was enough for Ella to believe everything written in the letter. She wasn’t actually worried about her daughter—she just wanted to cause trouble for Adela.Without a second thought, Ella untied the apron around her waist and threw it onto the table. She bolted out the door, startling the boss lady, who shouted after her, “Hey! What are you doing? You haven’t finished your work! Don’t you want your pay?”Ella didn’t even bother to respond. She waddled down the street, her face lighting up with a grin she hadn’t worn in a long time. After kidnapping Herbie last time, Ella had spent nearly three months in jail. Now, working at this small diner, she was barely scraping by. This letter was her golden ticket to get back at Adela and maybe even squeeze some money out of her.Ella didn’t care who sent the letter or w

  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   182 Facing the Truth

    Inside the bus, Lydia looked out the window silently as it passed by her former talent agency, the bright sunlight outside unable to penetrate the gloom she felt within. The posters outside the agency had already been replaced with new faces, which Lydia found bitterly ironic.After years of struggle, no one cared about her anymore. Her efforts had meant nothing in the end. She briefly shaded her eyes from the harsh sunlight, feeling a sudden pang of envy towards Adela. No wonder people resented her—her luck was simply too good. Adela had everything Lydia had always dreamed of: people who genuinely cared for her. Lydia couldn't help but envy that.She blocked the harsh sunlight with her hand, reflecting sadly on how some dreams were only achievable in one's own mind.Adela returned to her quiet home, unused to the stale atmosphere after half-covering her nose. The house felt lifeless after being empty for so long. Herbie had woken up, and Adela was back home briefly to gather some nec

  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   181 Herbie Wakes Up

    Inside the ICU, Herbie's life-monitoring equipment suddenly sounded an alarm, making everyone outside immediately alert and stand up anxiously. Doctors and nurses quickly rushed into the room. Adela nervously clutched Layson's hand, her eyes reddening again with worry.The hospital director arrived swiftly after receiving the news. He gently patted Layson's shoulder at the doorway, reassuring him that he would do his best. The corridor outside fell into a tense silence, filled with suffocating anxiety.Unable to face the scene, Adela turned her back to the glass window, sitting on a chair with closed eyes, praying silently for good news from the doctors. Seeing his mother so distressed, Ralph hurried over and quietly grasped her hand. Without speaking, he gently comforted her by staying silently by her side.At this moment, there was nothing more they could do but wait for the doctors' results, hoping fate would spare the young child who still had her whole life ahead.After about fif

  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   180 She'll Wake Up

    At the entrance of the Starry Building, a dark red sports car was parked conspicuously. Bard leaned casually against the door, attracting plenty of attention, though he couldn't care less. His lips curled into a cocky smirk as he stared intently toward the main entrance.When Marah walked out and spotted Bard standing there, she felt a pang of surprise, quickly replaced by annoyance.Seeing the woman he'd been waiting for, Bard confidently approached Marah, holding a bouquet of bright red roses. Marah avoided eye contact but found herself unable to move away. When Bard reached her, she snapped irritably, "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to stop bothering me?"Ignoring her cold tone, Bard handed her the roses, his voice carefree and arrogant. "I came to take you out to dinner. Let's go."When Bard reached to grab her hand, Marah immediately pulled away in disgust. She couldn't stand the sight of him—his smug, oily face made her uncomfortable. "I'm not going."She turned to leave bu

  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   179 Released from Jail

    Behind the glass window, the figure on the hospital bed lay motionless, surrounded by medical equipment. Each flicker and beep on the life-monitoring devices made the observers' hearts tighten anxiously.Adela, escorted by Layson Norman, repeatedly reminded herself to stay calm and not collapse again. But when she stood in front of the window looking at Herbie, her heartache was overwhelming. She covered her mouth, desperately trying to hold back tears, but they streamed down uncontrollably.Layson reached out to comfort her, but Adela resisted, unwilling to tear her eyes away from Herbie. The memory of that huge advertising board crashing down haunted her; despite being so close, she couldn’t protect her sister.“Adela, please don't do this. We'll do everything we can to make her better,” Layson murmured gently, pain evident in his weary eyes, accentuating his rugged yet handsome features.He forcibly pulled her into his embrace. Adela buried herself in his chest, clinging tightly to

  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   178 Investigating Marah

    Layson Norman stayed with Adela in the hospital room the whole time. She didn’t fall back asleep, but stared blankly at the ceiling, replaying every scene from the mall incident over and over in her mind. She vividly remembered everything, especially the moment when she felt her heart nearly stop.Seeing Adela lying there with empty eyes, Layson knew she was deeply worried about Herbie. At this moment, he felt utterly powerless. He was a man who could command storms in the business world, yet now he was completely helpless in front of Adela. Silence filled the room, leaving only the quiet sound of their breathing.Suddenly, a noise from outside broke the tense silence. A young voice called loudly from the doorway, “Mommy! Mommy!”Adela turned her head slightly and saw Ralph’s small figure appear. Her eyes, previously unfocused, regained a hint of clarity. She realized she must have scared Ralph terribly. She could faintly remember hearing his anxious cries when she collapsed that day.

  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   177 How’s Herbie?

    Adela’s eyes fluttered open, her vision hazy as she adjusted to the harsh hospital lighting. The first thing she saw was Layson sitting beside her, his expression filled with worry, exhaustion, and something else—something deeper. But her mind was still blank, struggling to make sense of everything.Across the room, Spencer Walton suddenly snapped out of his daze. In his rush to leave, he nearly tripped over the bed frame. “I—I’ll get the doctor,” he muttered hastily before disappearing out the door.Within minutes, the doctor arrived, flanked by nurses. They quickly began assessing her condition.“Miss Walton, do you feel dizzy?” the doctor asked, shining a small flashlight into her pupils. The sudden brightness made her squint, her senses slowly coming back.The room was filled with soft murmurs and the gentle hum of medical equipment, but the one thing Adela noticed most was the warmth of the hand holding hers. A steady, firm grip that provided a deep sense of security. She knew in

  • Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama   176 Adela Wakes Up

    The moment Lydia finally opened up, the officers in the interrogation room exchanged surprised glances. They had braced themselves for an all-night standoff, expecting her to stay silent or keep playing mind games. But she had finally cracked.They pressed on."Was it a man or a woman? How did they contact you?"The dimly lit room had only a single overhead lamp casting shadows on the walls. Earlier, Lydia had found the lighting oppressive, but now she was grateful for it. At least it hid the redness of her eyes.She fought back the tears that threatened to fall, forcing a smirk onto her lips to hold them back. But her gaze lingered on Liam Walton. This might be the only time she’d ever be this close to him. In a twisted way, she was grateful for it."A woman," she finally said. "She approached me first. Back when the rumors about me and Layson Norman were spreading, she called me out of nowhere. I thought she was a reporter or some crazy fan at first. But she was persistent. She kept

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