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130 A Bet with Myself
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2025-03-17 15:26:31
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Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 131 The Jewelry Exhibition
After returning to her room, Marah took a moment to collect herself. She hadn’t been home in days, and the room felt unfamiliar, almost as if it had been neglected. A faint, unpleasant smell lingered in the air, making her wonder if someone had deliberately skipped cleaning her room. She quickly changed into a fresh outfit before stepping out.Richard Norman was usually in his study, and today was no exception. Marah had confirmed this with the housekeeper before heading upstairs. She paused outside the door, took a deep breath, and knocked.“Mr. Norman, it’s me, Marah.”“Oh, Marah! Come in,” Richard’s voice called out.Marah entered with a gentle smile, though her heart was racing. Richard looked up from his desk, momentarily surprised. He had almost forgotten Marah was still part of the household. She hadn’t been around much lately, and no one had really noticed her absence except for the housekeeper, who had mentioned it in passing.“It’s been a while since you were home. Are you d
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 132 The Found Sketch
The grand chandelier above illuminated the entire venue, casting a warm glow over the elegantly dressed guests. They moved through the exhibition, glasses of wine in hand, admiring the meticulously arranged jewelry. Each piece drew a crowd, with people discussing the designs and exchanging opinions, all while subtly networking.Adela stood frozen in front of a necklace, her eyes fixed on the dazzling diamonds. She recognized it instantly. It was a design she had created during her second year in the UK—a piece she had been particularly proud of. At the time, she had lost the sketch and, with it, the chance to bring the design to life. Yet here it was, displayed at the Norman Group’s jewelry exhibition, bearing her initials as the designer.Lost in thought, Adela suddenly felt a small pair of arms wrap around her legs. She looked down to see Ralph grinning up at her. He had been thrilled to come today, knowing he would get to see her.“Mom!” Ralph called out, his voice filled with exci
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 133 Trapped
“Mr. Norman, you’re quite the charmer. Beautiful women are always coming to find you,” someone joked, clearly unaware of Layson’s reputation for not tolerating such remarks. The man immediately fell silent under Layson’s icy glare. Layson didn’t bother to explain or respond. He simply walked away, leaving the group behind.Marah, who had been standing with her head bowed, couldn’t help but smile as Layson walked off. She took it as a sign that he was willing to listen to her and quickly followed him. Layson, however, had no intention of engaging with her. His attention was still focused on Adela, who was now standing a short distance away with Ralph trailing behind her, clearly upset but unwilling to leave her side.“Layson, I heard you fainted and were hospitalized recently. Are you feeling better now?” Marah asked, her voice soft and hesitant. She kept her eyes downcast, too nervous to meet his gaze. But Layson’s attention wasn’t on her. His eyes were still fixed on Adela and Ralph.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 134 Rescued
Layson carried the sleeping Ralph into the presidential suite of the Hotel. The boy had dozed off on his shoulder, his face still marked with faint tear tracks. Barnes was already waiting at the door and stepped forward as Layson approached.“Mr. Norman, the room is ready,” Barnes said respectfully.“Hmm,” Layson acknowledged with a nod.As he adjusted Ralph in his arms, the boy stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open. The soft lighting in the suite was gentle on his eyes, and he blinked drowsily.“Awake now?” Layson asked, his voice low and calm.“Dad, Mom doesn’t like me at all,” Ralph mumbled, his voice thick with sleep and lingering sadness.Layson’s expression softened as he carried Ralph to the bed. He carefully removed the boy’s shoes and jacket, tucking him under the covers. “She doesn’t dislike you,” Layson reassured him.“But she doesn’t want anyone to know I’m her child,” Ralph said, his voice trembling.Layson crouched beside the bed, brushing a hand through Ralph’s hai
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 135 A Hint of Shyness
Layson removed his suit jacket and draped it over Adela’s shoulders. The storage room had been damp and cold, and he could feel the chill lingering on her skin. His expression was stern, his jaw tight with barely concealed anger. Adela glanced at him, sensing his frustration, though his voice remained calm and measured.“What were you doing out here?” Layson asked, his tone cool but laced with concern.As he spoke, he guided Adela out of the dark room, his arm wrapped protectively around her. Adela, surprisingly, didn’t resist. The fear and panic she had felt earlier seemed to melt away the moment Layson appeared. She couldn’t quite explain it, but his presence gave her a sense of security she hadn’t expected.“Adela, are you okay? How did you end up locked in there?” Cici rushed over, her face filled with worry. She was both shocked and relieved to see Adela wrapped in Layson’s jacket. The sight of Layson being so protective of Adela was something she never thought she’d witness.“I
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 136 I Haven’t Been Doing Well
“The next piece up for auction is a necklace called ‘Broken-Winged Butterfly.’ The starting bid is five million.”The auctioneer’s voice echoed through the room as Adela’s design was unveiled. The moment it was displayed, murmurs of admiration and discussion filled the air. Adela sat beside Layson, her heart racing. She couldn’t help but glance at him, only to find him looking at the necklace with a faint, enigmatic smile.“Five and a half million!” someone called out, raising their paddle.Adela’s head snapped toward the bidder, her eyes wide with surprise. As soon as the first bid was placed, others quickly followed.“Six million!”“Six and a half million!”Adela was stunned. She hadn’t expected so many people to bid on her design, especially since they didn’t even know who the designer was. Layson, however, remained calm and composed, as if everything was going exactly as he had planned.The bidding paused at seven million, and the room grew quiet. The bidder who had offered seven
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 137 The True Enemy
Adela kept her head down, unsure of how to respond. She had never seen Layson like this—vulnerable, almost defeated. It was a side of him she didn’t recognize, and it frightened her. She didn’t understand how she could have such an effect on him.“Adela, what are you so afraid of?” Layson asked, his voice low and intense.He was certain that Adela wasn’t indifferent to him. He had always believed that she felt something for him, and he was right. But Adela was afraid—afraid of what, she didn’t know. She only knew that Layson was someone she couldn’t allow herself to love. She had made that decision five years ago, and she had stuck to it ever since.“Layson, we’re not right for each other,” Adela finally said, her voice trembling.Layson let out a deep sigh. Her answer was so generic, so safe. It explained nothing yet seemed to justify everything. He lit a cigarette, rolling down the window to let the smoke drift out into the night. The scent of tobacco seemed to fit the heavy atmosph
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 138 The Check Drama
As soon as Adela entered the design department that morning, she was immediately grabbed by two colleagues from other teams. They looked at her with curiosity, and for a moment, Adela thought her interaction with Layson the night before had somehow been leaked."Adela, Adela, come over here!""What's up?""Did you hear? Last night at the Layson Norman Jewelry Exhibition, there was this amazing design that Layson spent a huge amount of money to buy. What was it? Tell us all about it!"The news had already spread by morning, with all the papers talking about how Layson had bought the "Broken Winged Butterfly" necklace for a fortune. Everyone was guessing what kind of design it was to have such a massive price tag. Adela absentmindedly touched her neck. She had already taken off the necklace, but hearing about it again made her a little dazed."It’s nothing special. Just a necklace."Adela didn’t know how to describe it, and she couldn’t exactly say she was the designer. Her colleagues,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-17
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Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 217 The Warning
Lily scrambled to recall the design’s theme, her mind spinning. Then she remembered what Layson had said—the diamond element was meant to represent him.Seizing on the connection, she confidently redefined the entire piece: the design symbolized love.Now that she had calmed down, her thoughts were more structured. She had decent analytical skills—she wouldn’t have made it into Starry Jewelry otherwise.Carlton listened without interruption, his face unreadable. When Lily finally finished, he shifted his gaze toward Marah, his expression now laced with unmistakable disappointment.Marah frowned slightly, sensing something was off. Carlton’s silent disapproval began to fill her with unease.The air in the conference room turned heavy and suffocating. Carlton tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table before turning to Adela.“When you created this design,” he asked, “what was its true meaning?”The color drained from Lily’s face. Her hands began to tremble.It was clear now—no matter
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 216 Termination
Adela had reached the edge of fury—but oddly enough, that brought her calm.She inhaled deeply, casting a cold glance at Marah before turning to face Carlton, her expression once again unreadable, as steady as still water.“Director,” she said calmly, “this design is indeed mine. I can explain every single line, every embedded meaning. Both my home desktop and laptop have versions of this design—the concept sketches, early drafts, and every single revision saved across different files.”After finishing, she no longer looked at Carlton. Instead, she turned to Lily, her gaze sharp and unwavering. “Tell me, Lily—how many revision records do you have on your computer? Don’t tell me this design came to you in one perfect draft.”Her words were laced with sarcasm, and the cold gleam in her eyes bore straight into Lily’s now-tense expression.Even master jewelers wouldn’t dare claim a design came to them fully formed. Adela knew Lily had copied her work. At best, Lily might have tweaked a fe
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 215 Who Copied Whom
The day before the final deadline for submitting design entries had arrived.Adela informed Richard that she needed to leave early for the competition. For the first time in days, he actually glanced at her directly.“You’re participating in that contest?” he scoffed. “Marah told me it’s only for top-tier designers. Do you really think you’re at that level?”Dexter, who was standing nearby, couldn’t take it anymore and was about to jump in, but Adela quickly spoke up before things escalated.“Anyone can register for the competition,” she said calmly. “It’s about growing and pushing yourself. Winning isn’t the only point.”Richard sneered but didn’t press further. “Fine. Go on then. At least I won’t have to deal with you hovering around me all day. Must be a relief for you, huh?”Adela clenched her jaw but didn’t rise to the bait. She gave him a slight nod and walked out of the hospital with her laptop, determined not to let his bitterness affect her any longer.Just as she exited the
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 214The Theft
Despite Layson’s attempts to dissuade her, Adela returned to the hospital the next morning, just as she promised.Richard had been resting for days, and though his complexion had improved slightly, the toll of the accident was undeniable. The lines on his face had deepened, and his spirit had clearly dimmed—he looked significantly older than he had just a week ago.Though he didn’t openly say it, his resentment toward Adela hadn’t faded. He refused to let her feed him or assist him directly. Now that Dexter was home, Richard made it clear that only his son should take care of him.Adela understood and didn’t push. She simply sat quietly nearby, not even taking out her laptop while Richard was awake. If Dexter needed a hand, she’d step in without hesitation. Her quiet diligence gave Richard no reason to criticize her, though his coldness remained.Before long, Marah arrived, as she had every day without fail. Though she never stayed long, her visits were always perfectly timed and care
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 213 Public Disgrace
The moment Richard Norman spat out those entitled words, the faint smile in Layson’s eyes vanished without a trace. He was just about to speak when Adela tugged lightly on his sleeve.He turned toward her, focusing intently on her face, as if trying to read her thoughts through her calm expression.Adela looked at Richard and spoke evenly, “Mr. Norman, I’ll come by every day to take care of you. But not as the future daughter-in-law of the Norman family—only because you are Ralph’s grandfather.”Richard scoffed and said nothing. He didn’t care what reason she gave—as long as she complied. He was never concerned with process, only results.With no meaningful conversation left to be had, Layson saw no reason to linger. Barely half an hour later, he took Adela by the hand and left the hospital, leaving Richard fuming to the point of nearly passing out.Diana sighed and gently patted Richard’s back. “I can tell you care about Layson visiting you,” she said softly. “Why not say something k
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 212 Deliberate Trouble
That morning, like many others before, Richard Norman got behind the wheel and set off alone, heading toward a countryside farm to meet an old friend.But fate had other plans.Out of nowhere, a van with failed brakes careened into the road, smashing head-on into Richard’s car. The collision was brutal. Both vehicles were left mangled, and the drivers were rendered unconscious with serious injuries.By the time Layson Norman arrived at the hospital, Richard had just been wheeled out of surgery. Diana sat outside the operating room sobbing uncontrollably, her face drained of color. Marah, standing nearby with reddened eyes, tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ears when she saw Layson approach.“Cousin,” she said in a voice tinged with fear, “Richard will be okay, won’t he? I’m so scared.” She leaned toward him, clearly hoping to be held or comforted.But Layson didn’t stop.He brushed right past her, leaving her reaching out into empty space. Her expression darkened for a bri
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 211 The Car Accident
Adela didn’t show up at the office all day.Richard and Diana came by the apartment. Layson had already left for work, so she had to face them alone—and the atmosphere was colder than ice.“You’re the one who encouraged Ralph to run away, weren’t you?” Richard accused, voice full of mockery. “This is how you act as a mother? I knew you had some hidden agenda when you got close to Layson.”His sarcastic tone made Adela’s chest tighten with anger. But with Ralph still playing quietly in the study, she forced herself to breathe deeply and hold it in.“Mr. Norman,” she said evenly, “no matter what I say, you’ve already made up your mind about me. So I won’t waste my breath. If there’s nothing else, feel free to make yourselves tea. I’ve got work to do.”She stood to leave, but Diana quickly stepped in to play peacemaker.“You know how he is,” she said with an awkward smile. “Always blunt. Don’t take it to heart. We just came to bring Ralph home. He’s got kindergarten tomorrow.”Adela gave
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 210 The Jewelry Design Competition
When Adela got Layson’s call, she was still at the office. The moment she heard that Ralph was missing, her voice shot up several decibels.Marah, already paying close attention to every move Adela made, immediately walked over, her face full of concern.When Adela hung up, Marah gently asked, “Did something happen to Ralph?”Then she quickly added, “I wasn’t eavesdropping—I just heard you mention his name.”Adela was too panicked to analyze her words. Instead, she felt a wave of gratitude for the concern.“He ran away from home,” she said, voice shaky. “I need to take the afternoon off to go find him.”Marah was technically her team leader, so she needed her approval for leave. That’s why she told her.“Oh my God, then you should go right now! Ralph is only five—it’s serious. I’ll approve your time off. I’ll even head out and help look. I mean, I am his aunt, after all.”Hearing those words, Adela didn’t wait another second. She grabbed her bag and bolted—completely missing the flick
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 209 Runaway
Adela kept her expression neutral. She’d already known Marah was Layson’s cousin, but she hadn’t realized she actually lived at the Norman family’s old estate. Still, it didn’t bother her much—Layson usually stayed at his apartment anyway.Watching Marah chatting so happily with Richard Norman, Adela didn’t try to join in or interrupt. In Richard’s eyes, that aloofness came off as arrogance.To him, Marah was being warm and friendly, and Adela wasn’t even pretending to appreciate it—not even a polite smile. It ticked him off instantly.He turned to Diana and muttered, just loud enough for the room to catch: “The Norman family’s daughter-in-law needs to be gentle and well-mannered—not someone who expects us to tiptoe around her.”That line caught everyone off guard. But the words “daughter-in-law” had people glancing toward Adela.Just then, Layson walked in from outside, carrying something in his hand. The moment he set it down, he caught the tail end of Richard’s comment. His tone wa
