Adela was startled, immediately lowering her head to avoid Dexter’s lips.Dexter was tall, standing at 6'2", while she was only 5'6". His kiss landed awkwardly on the top of her head.A strange sensation spread through her body. Adela stomped hard on Dexter’s shoe, her voice firm, "Let me go!"Dexter released her, lowering his gaze to the new scuff mark on his freshly bought shoes. He smirked playfully. "Spend a night with me, and I’ll pay you too."Adela was taken aback by his mocking tone, stepping back as she clutched the wall for support, her chest heaving in anger.Her eyes locked onto Dexter, but after barely three seconds, her courage faltered, and she turned and ran off.Dexter waited until her figure disappeared from sight before leaning heavily against the wall.He pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, his frustration evident.……Adela had no idea how she made it back home.Once inside, her throat felt raw and metallic, her chest tight as if she’d just run a gru
The leader didn’t want to provoke Dexter, so he took the opportunity to back down. Smiling, he took the bag and counted the money, saying, "Still two hundred thousand short."Barnes nodded. "It’s late at night, and there’s a child here. How about we talk another day?"Dexter also nodded. "I think another day sounds good. Don’t you agree?"The leader thought for a moment. "Fine, let’s talk another day."And so, what could have been a major scene took a different turn thanks to Dexter’s arrival.Once the house quieted down, Dexter resisted the urge to swing the iron rod at Calvin. He growled through gritted teeth, "If you weren’t Adela’s father, I’d kill you."Calvin gave a bitter smile. In truth, he wasn’t even Adela’s biological father.Ella hugged the frightened Herbie, crying bitterly. "That’s it! No more discussion! We’re getting a divorce tomorrow!"Calvin lay limp on the ground like a dead fish, staring blankly at the ceiling. He murmured, "Fine, let’s get a divorce."Relief flas
The man on the other end of the call repeated what he had just said before hanging up.Layson held her phone in his hand, his expression complicated.The man had said that Adela’s father had hanged himself, her stepmother had run away, and only her younger sister was left at home.Layson knew that Adela had agreed to be a surrogate for the sake of her father. Now that her father was gone, there was no reason for Adela to remain in his bed.A flicker of pity and compassion crossed his eyes as he pulled Adela into his arms, speaking softly. "I’ll go with you later. Besides, I need to check on Dexter."Adela clung to his neck, crying into his chest.Her soft sobs were heart-wrenching to hear.Layson sighed, his tone soothing. "Why don’t you change your clothes first?"Adela nodded, sniffling as she hurriedly threw on her clothes and went to wash up.Layson dialed a number and instructed in a low voice, "I’ll send you a photo shortly. Find the person in the photo as quickly as possible."
"Liam, I think I may have found your sister."Liam Walton froze at Layson’s words, gripping the phone tightly."My sister has a star-shaped birthmark on her hip."Layson frowned, recalling the three times they had been intimate. Indeed, Adela had a star-shaped birthmark on her hip."She has it."Hearing Layson’s confident reply, Liam felt his nerves tighten."Where is she now?"Layson knew how much Liam cared about his long-lost sister. He had been searching for her for years."She’s in the slums. Come over."Layson hung up the call and walked toward Adela. She had calmed down somewhat compared to earlier, but she was still struggling to process everything that had happened.Hearing Layson’s voice, Adela looked up at him."So, I’m just someone nobody wanted."Layson looked at her, and for the first time, he felt a pang of discomfort in his chest. This girl had endured far too much.Adela felt a warm hand gently stroking her head. Looking up, she met Layson’s dark, calm eyes."Mr. Norm
Layson received a phone call as he stood near the doorway, gazing out into the dull light of the slums. It was one of his men.“We’ve got Ella,” the voice on the other end said. “She had the birthstone with her... and two hundred thousand dollars.”Layson ended the call and turned toward Adela, who sat quietly, staring off into space. Walking over to her, he crouched slightly to meet her gaze.“You gave your stepmother two hundred thousand dollars?” he asked, his tone calm but edged with curiosity.Adela blinked at him, her expression blank at first. It took her a moment to register what he was talking about. Then she remembered—the money she had given Ella to safeguard.“I didn’t want my dad gambling it away again,” she murmured. Her voice was soft, almost as if she were apologizing.Layson studied her for a moment. So that’s what Ella’s unreadable expression had meant when Adela handed her the money. Ella must have already decided to take the money and run. What Adela hadn’t anticip
Layson handed over the strand of Adela’s hair to Liam Walton before heading back to his office. There was a pile of emails waiting for him, and he needed to catch up.As he scanned through his inbox, the phone on his desk buzzed, lighting up with Dexter’s name. Layson sighed, already anticipating the irritation.“What is it?” Layson asked curtly.“The arrangements are all taken care of,” Dexter replied, his tone unusually serious. “Where is Adela now?”Layson’s brows furrowed slightly. Dexter’s concern for Adela wasn’t just casual or brotherly. There was something deeper there.“She’s fine. You don’t need to worry about her,” Layson replied dismissively.Dexter let out a frustrated breath on the other end. He knew Layson wouldn’t easily divulge Adela’s whereabouts. This wasn’t just a check-in call—it was about something else entirely.“Why was Liam Walton here today?” Dexter finally asked.Layson leaned back in his chair. Of course, Dexter would notice Liam’s presence. Adela’s situati
Morning light poured into the room as Adela stirred awake. The clock on the bedside table read a little after ten. She yawned, stretching, but froze when she realized the space next to her was empty.Herbie wasn’t there.Panic set in instantly, and Adela’s voice came out in a frantic cry, “Herbie! Where are you?”“Here, sister!”Herbie’s small voice called out as she walked into the room, a piece of bread in her hand. Adela exhaled sharply, relief washing over her like a wave.“Herbie, where did you get that bread?” Adela asked as she moved to pull her little sister close, inspecting her carefully.“The man from yesterday brought it over,” Herbie replied, her face lighting up with innocence.Adela paused, confused for a moment. She assumed Herbie meant Layson, though she didn’t realize it was actually Barnes who had delivered the food.“Herbie,” Adela said softly, crouching down to Herbie’s level. “You can’t open the door for strangers, okay? Call for me first. Promise?”Herbie nodded
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
The whole incident with Richard’s car accident had been quietly handled by Layson. After all, the Norman Group was a publicly traded company. Richard might not have been in charge, but he was still a shareholder.Any news about his health could shake the stock price. Suppressing it was his own idea too.Layson’s own gossip, though? That wouldn’t touch the market. That’s why, no matter how much Richard disliked Adela, he never seriously made things hard for her.In his eyes, it was just his son’s personal drama. As long as it didn’t mess with the stock, it was nothing serious.Publicly announcing a girlfriend? That was a private family issue—nothing to do with the company.The middle-aged man Layson had greeted earlier—Jason—chuckled when he heard that explanation, then turned his gaze to Adela and patted Layson on the shoulder.“Man, ever since you popped up on TV a couple weeks back, all the young ladies have been crying their eyes out.”Jason had made his fortune overseas years ago
Marah sat at the edge of the bed, watching Lily’s unconscious face with a smile that never quite reached her eyes.She slowly spread out her fingers, admiring her freshly manicured nails, and murmured to herself, “You once said I go to great lengths for little gain... But tell me, doesn’t this look like a fine result? You’re lying right here, exactly where I wanted you.”The sun dipped low in the sky, painting the room in shadows. The light dimmed into dusk. Just then, her phone buzzed from inside her handbag—it was a call from Bard.Marah blinked as if waking from a trance, quickly drew the heavy curtains tight to ensure no light leaked in. She checked Lily’s breathing, then pulled out a small vial of incense and placed it by the bed.Only after making sure Lily wouldn’t wake soon did she return Bard’s call.He had the candlelit dinner ready and was waiting downstairs.Marah left the top-floor presidential suite and made her way to the second-floor private dining room. Bard stood the
It was just past ten in the evening when Layson returned to the apartment from the Norman estate.The moment he stepped through the door, the warm glow of the soft lighting melted some of the cold edges from his heart. On the sofa, Adela was video-chatting with Herbie on her phone.Months of rehab had done wonders for the little girl. Her once pale and fragile face now carried a healthy glow. Though the process was tough, Herbie had inherited Adela’s unyielding resilience. Every call home, she masked her pain with joy. If it weren’t for the nurse Layson had hired to stay with her, they would never have known how often Herbie cried into her pillow at night.When Adela found out, it had broken her. She was determined to keep Herbie hopeful. Every phone call was filled with encouragement, silly stories, and laughter. Herbie always hung up smiling.As soon as Layson sat down, Herbie spotted him through the screen and grinned. “Layson! You came to see my sister!”She didn’t yet know that t
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
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
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
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
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
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