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
Dexter Norman ended up living in a tiny, run-down neighborhood on the outskirts of New York. He managed to find a small, relatively clean single-room home—a shabby place that barely offered basic shelter, but at least it was all his own. He spent days, then weeks, waiting for someone from the Norman family to come looking for him, but no one ever showed up. The absence of any search party confirmed what Dexter had always suspected: he wasn’t truly wanted back home.The impoverished neighborhood he lived in was tight-knit and wary of outsiders. Before long, rumors started swirling about the mysterious newcomer. Some speculated that he was a runaway from a wealthy family; others insisted he was just an aimless street kid. Dexter tried to ignore the whispers, but being only a child, it wasn’t always easy to brush off the stares and gossip. He often found himself stewing in frustration—he felt he didn’t belong in the Norman mansion, and he certainly didn’t belong here. Was there no place
Layson Norman dropped Adela off at the entrance to her apartment building without saying much. The whole ride there, they had remained in silence—Adela quietly gazing out the window, and Layson focused on his own thoughts. When they arrived, Adela pushed open the car door and got out. Before heading up the stairs, she paused and glanced back at him, feeling like she should at least say goodbye.“Thanks, Big Brother Layson. I’ll head upstairs now,” she said softly, fingers curling around the edge of the car door.Hearing her voice, Layson turned to look at her, his expression as cool and detached as ever. “Mm.” A single syllable of acknowledgment, nothing more.Adela offered him a small, polite smile, then darted toward the building’s front steps. She took them two at a time, moving with a buoyant energy that made Layson’s chest tighten inexplicably. He frowned, keeping his eyes on her until she disappeared around the landing. Only then did he withdraw his gaze and survey the apartment
Liam Walton stood at the broad window of his office, one hand resting on the windowsill, the other pressed lightly against his side. He had just ended a call with Layson Norman, and the weight of what he’d learned kept him silent. From that conversation, Liam realized Adela—his younger sister—was not merely resisting her newly discovered family; she was actively planning to slip away if the Walton family tried to claim her.He sighed, recalling how the Walton family patriarch had already contacted him, demanding an explanation about Adela and insisting Liam “bring her home.” Liam, however, felt torn. On one side, duty urged him to obey his grandfather’s wishes, but on the other side, a fierce protectiveness for Adela took hold of him. She had already lived through so much suffering. If forcing her to return would only hurt her further, was it truly the right thing to do?Finally, Liam grabbed his suit jacket from the back of the leather armchair and left his office. He would think abo
Adela was busy signing some paperwork at the police station, the last formalities required before she could bring Dexter Norman out of custody. The officer behind the desk flipped through the pages, checking the information. Although Dexter had sobered up considerably since the brawl, he avoided looking at her for more than a moment at a time, clearly feeling guilty for dragging her into his troubles yet again.Not far away, the man Dexter had beaten up continued to groan and rant. He demanded compensation for his “serious injuries,” hurling all sorts of accusations. Each time he locked eyes with Dexter, however, Dexter’s cold glare was enough to make the man shrink back, momentarily silenced.Suddenly, the station doors swung open. Several people entered, and Adela couldn’t help but pause in mid-signature to glance over. In front was Layson Norman, exuding his usual imposing aura. She froze for just a second, pen poised above the line where her signature was supposed to go. The prese
As soon as Layson Norman ushered Adela out of the police station, she quietly followed him—her usual confidence dampened by the tense reunion she had just witnessed. The moment they got into his car, Layson finally broke the silence.“How did you end up there?” he asked, fastening his seat belt before turning his head slightly in her direction.From her spot in the passenger seat, Adela glimpsed the edge of his profile—his sharp jaw, the slight furrow of his brow. For a brief moment, she was caught off guard by how striking he looked against the city lights filtering through the windshield. Feeling self-conscious for staring, she took an extra second to respond.“Dexter…called me,” she said simply, hoping her slight flush wasn’t too obvious in the dim light.Layson raised an eyebrow in subtle curiosity, but before he could press further, his gaze dropped to her abdomen. “You’re pregnant,” he reminded her in a level tone. “You shouldn’t be running around late at night, especially not t
Layson drove steadily through the quiet streets, making sure Adela and Herbie got home safely. After seeing them both settled, he finally left and headed straight to the police station. Meanwhile, Liam Walton was in the interrogation room with the officers, listening to Ella’s statement. Apparently, she had been following Adela for a while, originally just intending to ask her for money. But somehow, her greed had spiraled out of control, and things escalated into the kidnapping of Herbie.“I have nothing more to say. I just wanted to take her with me,” Ella muttered, her head hanging low. The confidence and aggression she had earlier were now gone, replaced by a hollow expression. Sitting in the dimly lit interrogation room, she seemed completely unaware of the weight of her actions.Liam, who had come to check on the situation, frowned at her indifferent attitude. “Do you even realize what you’ve done?”Ella scoffed and lifted her head slightly. “What did I do? Taking my own daughte
Ella watched as Jackson surrendered, surrounded by countless cars. She knew that today was the end of the road for her—there was no escape. Just as she came to this realization, Layson’s car arrived.Adela saw the chaotic scene before them, and a deep sense of unease settled in her chest. The moment the car came to a stop, she hurriedly pushed the door open and ran out. Layson hadn’t even had time to react before she was already on her way. His heart clenched in alarm—police officers had their weapons drawn, and the situation was clearly dangerous."Adela, come back!"Layson quickly opened his door to chase after her. At the same time, Liam’s car pulled up, and he caught sight of Adela rushing toward the scene. His chest tightened with anxiety.Adela ran into the crowd of officers but didn’t see Herbie or Ella. Instead, she only spotted a man she didn’t recognize. Her heart pounded in fear."Where is my sister, Herbie?"She grabbed a nearby officer, desperate for answers. The uncertai
As soon as Adela stepped into the dimly lit apartment, the stench hit her like a wave—damp mold mixed with the acrid scent of cigarettes and alcohol. The place reeked of decay, of hopelessness. The police had already arrived, but the room was empty. The only things left behind were a dirty mattress and a chair with loose ropes around it. Clearly, they had missed them."Mr. Norman, by the time we got here, they were already gone," an officer reported.Adela walked further inside, her heart tightening as she imagined Herbie sitting there, tied up, scared, trapped in this suffocating place. Her mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions—fear, anger, and a deep-seated guilt. If only she had been more cautious. If only she had noticed something was off sooner.“We need to find them. Now.” Layson’s voice was calm, but the authority in his tone was undeniable. He was fuming inside, not just at the situation, but at himself for underestimating Ella. He had always seen her as nothing more than a
The dimly lit room reeked of damp mold, mixed with the stifling scent of cigarette smoke, making Herbie feel dizzy. Her hands had been tied up for so long that they had gone numb. Across the room, Ella and Jackson sat on a moldy, yellowed mattress, both frowning deeply."So, you're saying we should use this kid to get money from her sister?" Jackson took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling through the damp air, barely dispersing before it clung to the surroundings like an invisible fog. Ella cast a glance at Herbie, who was bound tightly, her eyes darkening with ruthless intent. A chill ran down Herbie’s spine as her sense of unease grew stronger."Yes, her sister has money now. Once we get our hands on a decent amount, we can get out of here and start over somewhere better." Ella’s eyes glimmered with greed, her mind already envisioning a brighter future, oblivious to how terrifying her expression had become. Jackson observed her face and felt a flicker of hesitation. H
Layson saw the redness in Adela's eyes, and it felt like someone had squeezed his heart. A wave of pain surged through him. Without thinking, he gently patted her arms, trying to comfort her."Don't worry, I'm here."His words were like an anchor, grounding her amidst the chaos. Somehow, just knowing he was there made everything feel a little less terrifying, as if things would turn out okay."It’s alright. Get in the car first."Layson held her close and guided her into the car, but he stayed outside, making a call. Adela watched him through the window, noticing the way his brows furrowed as he spoke. She couldn't hear everything clearly, but she caught bits and pieces. His eyes flickered toward her every so often, checking on her. The subtle gestures, the quiet attention—it warmed her heart in a way she hadn’t expected.When he finally finished the call, he circled the car and slid into the driver’s seat.He had been in the middle of a crucial meeting when Mrs. Anderson’s call came
Herbie was heading home as usual that day, completely unaware that she would run into someone from her past—someone she hadn’t seen in years. When she first saw Ella standing there on the street, it took her a moment to even recognize her. The woman looked older, much thinner, and had a weary, almost defeated air about her. Life had clearly not been kind to her."Herbie!"Ella had been waiting along Herbie’s usual route home, and her sudden appearance startled the girl so much that she instinctively took several steps back. Her only memory of this woman was from when she was five years old—the same woman who had abandoned her, leaving her alone in the same house where her father had died."Herbie, it's me, your mother."Ella's face was filled with an exaggerated sadness, as if genuinely hurt by Herbie’s reaction. But her presence here wasn’t some spontaneous decision—she had been planning this moment for a long time. She had been watching, observing from a distance, learning about Her
Liam Walton watched as the old man slowly made his way up the stairs, his back slightly hunched with age. He could tell that his grandfather was feeling down. The man who had once commanded power and influence in the business world was now worn out, troubled by family matters that refused to resolve themselves.Turning back to Evelyn, Liam gently stroked her hand, offering silent comfort."By the way, Liam, when is your father coming back?" the old man suddenly asked, pausing at the staircase. He had almost forgotten that Spencer had called, saying he was returning soon. The thought only struck him now."His flight is the day after tomorrow," Liam replied, his voice carrying a mix of anticipation and tension. He hadn’t yet told his father that they had found Adela.Spencer Walton had left for overseas after his wife passed away. He had been devastated by her death, completely unable to recover from the grief. The knowledge that he had a daughter who had been abandoned only added to hi
The room was filled with the gentle trickle of a small indoor fountain, the sound making the silence between them even more pronounced. Adela sat with her head slightly lowered, absentmindedly toying with her fingers as she processed everything Liam had just told her. She could understand now why she had been abandoned—it was a desperate move, a last resort by a mother trying to protect both her children. But understanding didn't make it any easier to accept.“Adela, I know this isn’t something you can just accept overnight,” Liam said, his voice carrying a mix of patience and pleading. “But Grandpa’s getting older. He’s been hoping for years that you’d come back.”Adela’s lips pressed together into a tight line. She barely remembered her grandfather, and whatever connection they might have had was severed long ago. As far as she was concerned, she had spent her entire life as an outsider to the Walton family, and she wasn’t sure she wanted that to change now.Liam exhaled, sensing he
It was a cold night, one without rain but with a biting wind that swept through the dark streets of New York. Under the dim glow of streetlights, a woman walked slowly, cradling a baby in her arms. She was well-dressed, her makeup still flawless despite the lateness of the hour. Even in the shadows, one could tell she was a strikingly beautiful woman.The child in her arms was unusually quiet, not frightened by the howling wind, as if sensing the inevitable abandonment looming ahead. Perhaps, in its innocent way, the baby was trying to be good, trying not to upset the mother who was about to leave it behind. Wide, curious eyes gazed up at the world, unaffected by the chill in the air.At this hour, New York’s streets were nearly deserted, especially on such a cold night. Most houses had their doors tightly shut, leaving only the occasional glow of lights spilling out onto the pavement. The woman walked aimlessly, as though searching for something—or perhaps stalling for time.At the e