Adela leaned against the cool elevator wall, rolling her neck to ease the tension from a long day. The familiar ding signaled the elevator’s stop, and the doors opened to reveal a poised and elegant woman stepping inside.Adela instinctively moved to the side, creating space even though there was no need; they were the only two in the elevator. Something about the woman’s presence commanded respect. She exuded a quiet grace, her faint floral perfume adding to the aura of sophistication.As the elevator began its descent, the woman turned to Adela with a soft but clear voice. “Are you Adela?”Startled, Adela blinked. How does she know my name? she wondered, but she nodded out of politeness. “Yes, I am.”The woman smiled gently, her demeanor warm yet unreadable. “I thought so.”Before Adela could ask anything, the elevator arrived at the ground floor, and the doors slid open. Neither woman moved. The woman finally extended her hand, her smile deepening.“My name is Evelyn.”Adela hesita
Liam Walton and Layson Norman stepped out of the upscale private club into the crisp afternoon air of New York. They had come together for business-related matters, but now it was time for each of them to head their separate ways. Just as they were about to part, Liam caught sight of a familiar figure across the street, inside a small, street-corner café with large glass windows.“Is that… Adela?” Liam’s voice was tense, his brows knitting together in disbelief. He narrowed his eyes, peering through the reflective glare of the café’s glass. Next to him, Layson squinted as well, adjusting the collar of his tailored coat. Adela, Liam’s long-lost sister, was sitting at a corner table. What was she doing here alone, and, more importantly, who was she meeting with?Liam’s heart sank with worry. He knew that Adela wasn’t supposed to be indulging in too much caffeine these days—her health had been delicate. And yet, there she was, leaning over the small wooden table. He and Layson both notic
When Liam Walton felt Layson Norman’s firm arm holding him back, he realized only then that his body had tensed, ready to dash after Adela without a second thought. Forced to stop, Liam turned and found himself face-to-face with Evelyn. He saw a new expression there—one he had never seen before. Evelyn, who had always been gentle, soft-spoken, and keenly aware of propriety, now stood before him, eyes rimmed red from tears she had tried to restrain, shoulders drawn tight with remorse.He himself was unsettled by the note of anger and doubt he had heard from her earlier. It was the first time Evelyn had spoken to him that way, her voice laced with bitterness and jealousy. She was usually so understanding, gracefully fitting into the Walton family’s expectations, never raising her voice, never challenging Liam’s decisions. Now, she looked lost and guilt-ridden, as if only now comprehending the consequences of her impulsive confrontation.“I’m sorry,” Evelyn managed, her voice barely abov
The soft click of the door opening echoed in the quiet hospital room. Adela, who had been lying in bed with her eyes closed, instinctively squeezed them shut even tighter. She had woken up some time ago but wasn’t sure how to face anyone, especially after everything she had learned. So when she heard the faint sound of the door, she remained motionless, pretending to be asleep.Layson Norman stepped in, his gaze sweeping over Adela’s still figure. Seeing no movement, he assumed she hadn’t woken yet, so he lingered at the threshold. After a brief moment, he quietly slipped back out, gently closing the door behind him so as not to disturb her.Out in the corridor, Liam Walton had just returned from escorting the doctor out, during which he’d also gone over Adela’s test results and arranged for any additional examinations she might need. Concern weighed on his usually confident features as he spotted Layson standing near the door.“Is Adela awake?” Liam asked, his voice low, but edged wi
Adela bolted awake, fingers clenched so tightly around the bedsheets that the IV line in her hand pulled painfully against her skin. A small smear of red began to seep beneath the clear bandage, the sting jolting her out of the lingering remnants of her unsettling dream. Her forehead was damp with cold sweat, and her breath came in ragged bursts as she tried to reorient herself.As her vision cleared, she noticed the dim light of the hospital room and heard the hum of the air-conditioning. Only then did she become aware that someone was there with her. Turning her head, she saw Layson Norman, eyes shut, leaning back on the small couch tucked against the wall. But the moment she stirred, he immediately opened his eyes, as though he had not really been sleeping at all.Without a word, Layson rose from the couch and approached her bedside. His eyes flicked to her sweat-drenched hair, then to the IV in her hand, where fresh blood had begun to seep. A slight crease formed between his brows
Early the next morning, Layson Norman left the hospital shortly after Adela finished her breakfast. Duty called—he had pressing matters at the office, and he couldn’t afford to neglect them any longer. Before departing, he made sure Adela had everything she needed. Though he didn’t voice it aloud, there was a lingering worry in his expression, as if making certain she’d be all right without him hovering around.Adela, on her part, underwent another round of medical tests. She felt faintly relieved that most results looked normal, but her mind was far from at ease. The doctor advised more rest and minimal stress, yet her life had suddenly become the very definition of chaos. After the check-up, she returned to her private hospital room, sitting listlessly on the edge of the bed and replaying the events of the past few days.Just before Layson left, he had briefly mentioned that Herbie was doing well. Adela took that to heart, but she still wanted personal confirmation. Walking down the
Liam Walton paused on the other end of the line, his brow furrowed in concern. So much had spiraled out of control that he barely knew where to begin. “I haven’t told the old man yet,” he said at last, voice heavy. “But trust me, he’s going to hear about it soon enough. Once the Walton family’s patriarch finds out the truth about Adela, there’s no way to keep it quiet.”From the speaker phone, Layson Norman let out a slow exhale. He was in his private office, having just pushed the door open and stepped in with a deep scowl on his face. “And once the Norman family’s patriarch catches wind that Adela is pregnant, it won’t be pretty for you,” Liam added, thinking ahead to the potential clash between the two powerful families.Layson set a stack of files on his mahogany desk. The office was spacious, outfitted with modern furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a sweeping view of downtown New York. “I know,” he said quietly, yet resolutely. “That’s why I’m going to propose to her
Dexter Norman returned to his bedroom with a single-minded resolve—he was leaving the Norman family mansion for good. At just eleven years old, he moved with a quiet determination far beyond his years. He slipped a few possessions into his small backpack, along with whatever allowance and gift money he had saved. To anyone else his age, it would have been a terrifying leap into the unknown. But Dexter had long since learned to rely on himself.That night, he barely slept. His mind replayed the hurt and indifference he’d experienced in that huge, cold house. In the dim hours before dawn, Dexter silently crept down the endless corridors and let himself out a side door. The estate’s security lights shone on his small figure for only a moment before he vanished into the early morning shadows. At first, he waited, half-hoping some adult might catch him—someone who would actually care where he was going. But, predictably, no one came.Outside the mansion gates, he adjusted the straps of his
In the meeting room, Layson's gaze remained fixed on Adela, unnoticed by anyone else except for Cici, who was closely observing the subtle interaction.However, Marah couldn't help but scoff softly. When she saw that Layson had eyes only for Adela without sparing her even a glance, she felt a surge of jealousy. Taking a deep breath, she managed to suppress her irritation.As soon as the meeting ended, Marah approached Adela, feigning gentleness, her face adorned with a friendly smile.Cici, who had been keeping an eye on Adela the whole time, immediately noticed her low spirits after leaving the meeting room. Before Cici could ask, she was astonished to see Adela actually inviting Marah out for dinner, leaving her feeling irritated.But Adela seemed determined, smiling softly at Marah, "How about dinner tonight? It's my treat."Marah was still pretending innocence, gently nodding her head with a sweet smile. "Sure, I'd love to!"Cici couldn't hold back her dissatisfaction. Seeing Adel
Worried?Adela wasn't sure herself."If I said no, I'd probably be lying," Adela replied honestly. "But there's no point worrying. Let's just finish our autumn designs quickly; maybe the new boss will appreciate our work."Hearing that, Cici nodded seriously. "True. I should get back to work, then."Adela continued adjusting the details of her designs, fully absorbed until almost five in the afternoon when her phone buzzed lightly on the table. Glancing down, she saw a message from Layson."Let's have dinner together. I'll wait for you downstairs."Seeing his message instantly lifted her spirits, chasing away the gloom that had been hanging over her all day. She quickly typed a reply.Just as she was packing up, Marah walked over to her desk with a friendly smile. "Adela, do you remember last time when I mentioned having dinner together? Are you free tonight?"Adela was a little surprised. She hadn't expected Marah to be serious about that offer. But she'd already agreed to meet Layso
She hadn't slept the entire night.When the sunlight finally poured through the window, illuminating every corner of the room, Cora’s dry eyes immediately filled with tears. She sat motionless on the sofa, like a lifeless doll, completely oblivious to her surroundings.Ever since seeing Leopold’s lifeless body, her heart had stopped beating too.The doorbell rang repeatedly, more than a dozen times before she finally regained some awareness. Slowly, she dragged her heavy feet towards the door, stumbling a bit as she opened it.Outside, Adela was anxiously pressing the doorbell with one hand, holding breakfast in the other. The worry in her clear eyes was unmistakable.When the door finally opened, Adela visibly breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Cora’s pale face, cracked lips, and red, swollen eyes, Adela felt a sharp pain in her heart. She quickly supported Cora and guided her gently to the dining table.Firmly placing her weak friend into the chair, Adela spoke clearly and earnestly,
Looking at the lifeless body lying there covered in blood, Cora could no longer hear the voices around her. No matter how much Mrs. Davis cursed or blamed her, Cora didn’t care anymore.She moved slowly toward the man lying motionless on the hospital bed. Mrs. Davis noticed her movement and immediately began shouting, "Stay away from my son! You have no right to touch him!"Mrs. Davis rushed forward, pulling Cora away from Leopold's side. She even raised her hand to strike her, but Layson quickly stepped in and stopped her."I'll handle this. Stay here and don’t move," Layson instructed Adela gently. He was worried Mrs. Davis, in her current state, would harm Adela as well.Cora didn't even notice how she’d reached Leopold's bedside; she just stared blankly at his pale face. Mrs. Davis grabbed Cora's arm so forcefully that she nearly lost her balance, trying desperately to get closer to her son again."Don't touch him! You're not allowed near him anymore!" Mrs. Davis screamed hysteric
"Adela, did you find Cora?" Layson’s familiar voice came through the phone, filling Adela with an unexpected longing."Yes, I found her. She’s with me," Adela replied softly.It took a moment before Layson continued, his voice unusually hoarse, clearly unwilling to speak of the tragedy. "Leopold Davis had an accident. He died in a car crash."The instant Adela heard this news, her first reaction was to look at Cora. The news was so shocking, so sudden, that it left her frozen in place. She'd just heard Cora express how she'd been waiting for Leopold to come to her, but now he was gone forever."Cora…" Adela called gently, unsure how to break such terrible news. Her heart ached deeply, knowing this revelation would devastate her friend."Where are you now? I'll come pick you both up," Layson's voice came again through the phone, steady yet heavy with sadness.For a moment, Adela didn't know how to respond. The news had completely overwhelmed her, but she quickly regained her composure
Early morning rain had left the old-fashioned street wet. Adela walked slowly along the road, her gaze drifting around uncertainly. It was her first time visiting this village.She had first heard about this place from Cora. This village was where Cora grew up and also where she'd first met Leopold Davis. So, when Cora disappeared, Adela immediately thought of coming here. Yet she wasn't certain if she'd really find Cora here.Although the village was small, locating one person wasn't exactly easy. Adela had been wandering for a while without any luck and was almost ready to give up when she suddenly spotted Cora sitting quietly on a small wooden bridge across a stream, her feet dangling in the clear water. She wore an absent-minded expression, seemingly lost in thought.Seeing her, Adela sighed with relief. She paused briefly, then walked towards the bridge and gently called out, "Cora!"Cora turned around slowly upon hearing someone call her name. When she recognized Adela, she seem
Early morning.When Adela opened her eyes, Layson was already gone. Bright sunlight streamed into the room, and she instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes from the harsh rays. She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep—her legs felt weak, and she didn't have the energy to sit up just yet.At that moment, the door opened, and Layson appeared wearing casual home clothes. Seeing Adela awake, he smiled warmly. "You're awake? Why didn't you sleep a bit longer—you were exhausted last night."As he spoke, he walked over and sat at the edge of the bed, affectionately running his fingers through her messy hair. Adela shot him an annoyed glare, thinking bitterly how he was responsible for her exhaustion, yet still dared to tease her about it.Seeing her blush, Layson chuckled softly, finding her embarrassment incredibly cute. The shy expression she'd worn last night was still vivid in his mind. "Come on, breakfast is ready."After saying that, he stood up. Adela tried moving her legs
Adela followed behind Layson until they reached the door of his apartment. She stared blankly at her hand, which was being gently held by him, and suddenly wondered how she'd ended up here with him. She tugged her hand away awkwardly and murmured, "Um…Layson, maybe I should go home."But since they'd already come this far, Layson wasn't going to let her leave now. Before Adela could react, he'd already pulled her inside, quickly closing the door behind them and wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. She felt his breath, warm and slightly rough, brushing gently against her ear. "Why so shy? It's not like this is your first time here."The dark room was faintly illuminated by lights from outside. Standing just inside the door, they remained in a warm embrace, creating an atmosphere filled with undeniable intimacy. Adela tried pushing him away softly. "Let go of me!"Layson didn't respond to her protests, instead chuckling quietly. "Didn't you say you missed me? Don't you think you
After parting ways with Cici, Adela didn't hail a cab home. Instead, she chose to walk alone along the street. Lost in thought, she wandered aimlessly, unaware of where she was heading. Just as she was drifting away into her thoughts, her phone suddenly rang, snapping her back to reality.“Hello?” she answered softly.A familiar voice spoke from the other end of the call. Today, hearing his voice at this particular moment felt strangely comforting, like stepping onto solid ground after floating in the clouds. "Where are you?" Layson asked gently."I'm..." She hesitated for a second, "I'm still near the company, on the street."He frowned slightly, glancing out his window. It was already dark outside. "It's late; why aren't you home yet?"His voice carried a hint of authority, but tonight, Adela found it oddly comforting instead of domineering. She bit her lip and smiled shyly, feeling playful and unusually bold. "Layson, I miss you so much."On the other end, Layson was momentarily ta