Layson Norman’s words hung in the air, and after he spoke, he fell silent. Diana was visibly shocked, her mouth slightly ajar as she stared at him, waiting for him to explain further. Richard, however, remained calm. He knew Ralph was aware of Adela and that meeting her was inevitable—it was just a matter of how Layson would arrange it.“Has she come back?” Richard asked with a serious tone, his voice carrying a certain weight. He didn’t have much of an impression of Adela. The first time they met, something unpleasant had occurred. Although it wasn’t directly her fault, it was because of her that things had escalated.Afterwards, Adela went abroad, leaving the child behind without a care. Richard was still bothered by that. While the Norman family could easily support a child like Ralph and give him the best life, Richard had reservations about Adela’s background. If word got out about how Ralph came to be, it would certainly cause a stir.Diana, on the other hand, didn’t think the s
Layson didn't need anyone’s approval to do what he had already decided. No one could change his mind once it was set. He had come today to take Ralph with him—his secret weapon. If he wanted to win Adela back, Ralph would be the key.Hearing that Layson was taking Ralph away, Marah felt an immediate wave of unease. It wasn’t just about what had happened earlier—she was afraid of missing another chance. Summoning her courage, she took a few hesitant steps forward. Even as she stood in front of him, she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze."Layson, I need to talk to you."Layson glanced at her, his expression unreadable. He had always been indifferent toward Marah. Though she had lived in the Norman family home for years, she had never once truly caught his attention. The only reason he had noticed her recently was because of the growing complaints from Ralph and Diana. That was when he finally realized Marah harbored feelings for him."What is it?"His tone was as cold as ever, mak
Adela followed the assistant into the office, where a man sat at his desk. He had a refined, scholarly look—not exactly what she expected from a jewelry designer. There was something about him, though—a quiet dominance beneath the polished exterior. As soon as she stepped inside, he lifted his gaze, a subtle smirk playing on his lips."Adela, welcome. I'm Leopold Davis, the creative director at Starry Jewelry."Adela extended her hand confidently, and as they shook, she felt a slight but noticeable firmness in his grip. Was it just her imagination, or had he held on just a second longer than necessary?Once they were seated, she slid her portfolio across the desk. "Mr. Davis, here’s my resume and design samples."Leopold took it with an easy smile, flipping through the pages with genuine interest. "Impressive background. Honestly, someone with your experience could easily go to one of the larger international brands."She smiled modestly. "You flatter me, Mr. Davis. Most of my opportu
Layson stood by the elevator, waiting. The moment the doors slid open, his lips curled into a rare, almost imperceptible smile. It was a stark contrast to his usual cold demeanor. He had timed this perfectly—he knew exactly when Adela would be leaving. When Leopold had called, he had already been on his way. It was time they saw each other again."Hello."That single word carried the weight of five years. Five years of waiting. Five years of holding back emotions he never fully processed. It wasn't just a greeting—it was a declaration. You’re here. Finally.Adela stepped out of the elevator, momentarily caught off guard. She had expected many things today, but running into Layson Norman was not one of them. She had, of course, been aware that he was in the city. After all, New York was his domain. But she had convinced herself that their worlds wouldn’t intersect again. Not anymore."Hi," she replied cautiously, her voice even. "What are you doing here?"Layson studied her for a momen
"Find a top-tier jewelry artisan to craft this piece. The usual ones won’t do it justice."Leopold Davis was completely absorbed in the design before him, his eyes tracing every intricate detail. He was so captivated that he had momentarily forgotten the conversation he was having with Layson Norman. Layson, watching his friend’s reaction, smirked slightly."Aren’t you one of the best artisans yourself?"Leopold wasn’t just a renowned jewelry designer—he was also an exceptional craftsman. From a young age, he had an intuitive talent for jewelry, and by sixteen, he had already designed and handcrafted a piece that represented the U.S. in an international jewelry competition.Leopold finally tore his gaze away from the design and looked up at Layson. "Did Adela draw this?""Yeah. It was one of her college projects."Layson’s mind drifted to the memory of how he had come across the design. It was back when Adela was still in school. He had been watching her from a distance—not that he’d
Ralph’s tears wouldn’t stop. No matter how much Diana tried to soothe him, he just kept crying, his little shoulders shaking as he sniffled between sobs. Seeing no other option, Diana sighed and pulled out her phone."Layson! Where are you? Your son is crying his heart out, and I can't calm him down."Layson, who had been busy with work, immediately straightened up. He could faintly hear Ralph’s muffled cries through the receiver. His brows furrowed. Ralph was tough—he rarely cried, and if he did, something was really bothering him."What happened?" he asked, his voice sharp with concern."We ran into Adela outside the school," Diana explained. "The kid ran up to talk to her, but she didn’t recognize him. That crushed him."There was a pause on the other end of the line. Layson had expected this, but hearing it still stung. He could already picture Ralph’s disappointment, the way his face must have crumpled when Adela looked at him like a stranger."Give him the phone," Layson said.D
After dinner, the night had fully set in. The spring sky was filled with twinkling stars, more than usual, making the evening seem even more peaceful. Adela and Mrs. Anderson sat together on the couch, sipping warm tea that a maid had just served them. Meanwhile, Herbie had retreated to her room to finish her school assignments.“Mrs. Anderson, I really appreciate you taking care of Herbie all these years,” Adela said sincerely, cradling her teacup between her palms, letting the warmth seep into her skin. It reminded her of the warmth she had always felt from Mrs. Anderson—gentle, steady, and full of kindness. She was truly grateful for everything this woman had done, giving Herbie a safe and loving childhood, something she herself had never experienced growing up in the chaos of the Walton family.“Oh, nonsense, dear. I should be thanking you,” Mrs. Anderson replied with a warm smile. “Having Herbie with us has made our later years much less lonely. She’s like a granddaughter to me.”
Adela fidgeted with her fingers, feeling slightly uneasy in the quiet car. Even after all these years, something about being around Layson made her uncomfortable. It wasn’t fear—at least, not anymore—but an awareness that unsettled her. Layson, sitting beside her in the driver’s seat, stole a glance at her out of the corner of his eye. Five years had passed, and she had changed in so many ways, yet some things remained the same. Like now, her small, nervous habits gave away her discomfort. It was both frustrating and endearing.“How have you been these past five years?” Layson asked, his voice calm yet oddly weighted with something deeper.Adela turned sharply to look at him, clearly caught off guard. She hadn’t expected that—hadn’t expected him to ask such a personal question. Layson had never been the type to inquire about others’ lives, not in a way that felt… genuine. He had always kept his distance, detached and unreadable. The fact that he was asking now threw her completely off
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