After finishing the dishes, Adela turned around and realized that Layson was still there. She froze for a moment, awkwardly rubbing her hands together. She had already felt uneasy when he followed her into the kitchen, and now, with him still standing there, the discomfort only grew stronger.“Uh… do you want something to drink?” she asked hesitantly.Layson, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality at the sound of her voice. His gaze landed on her, and after a brief pause, he nodded slightly. The faint smile that surfaced on his usually cold face left Adela momentarily stunned. Ever since returning, she had noticed something different about him, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.“Sure,” he replied.Hearing his response, Adela turned to the kitchen cabinets, rummaging through them to see what she had. After searching for a while, she found a packet of chrysanthemum tea. She held it up for him to see.“This okay?”“Yeah, that’s fine.”Layson’s eyes remained on h
Late at night, Layson lay awake, staring at the faint glow of streetlights reflecting on the ceiling. Beside him, Ralph was sound asleep, his soft, steady breathing filling the quiet room. Layson turned his head slightly and glanced at the boy—he was sleeping so soundly, completely at ease.Just then, a faint noise came from outside.The guest room where Layson was staying was right next to Adela’s bedroom, and the sound seemed to be coming from her direction. Frowning slightly, he got up quietly, wanting to check what she was doing.Meanwhile, in her room, Adela stirred awake, feeling incredibly thirsty. Reaching out for the glass of water she usually kept on her nightstand, she realized it was empty. Letting out a small sigh, she slipped out of bed as quietly as possible, careful not to wake anyone. She tiptoed toward the kitchen, poured herself a glass of water, and drank it all in one go.Just as she placed the glass back on the counter, a deep voice suddenly spoke from behind her
Adela stood still, watching Layson, who still looked half-asleep. She didn’t know how to respond, so she simply stayed quiet. Layson, seeing that she wasn’t going to acknowledge him, stepped further into the kitchen, his gaze falling on the eggs she had prepared.“You made breakfast?”“Mm.”Adela rubbed her hands together and answered softly. Layson lifted his eyes to her, noticing the way she was acting a little strange. He wasn’t sure what she was being so shy about, but he had no idea that in his current, slightly disheveled, just-out-of-bed state, he was even more dangerously charming.“The kids are still sleeping. You should freshen up first, then come have breakfast,” Adela said quickly, feeling her face heat up again. Without waiting for his response, she turned toward the kitchen, clearly trying to hide her discomfort.Layson didn’t say anything, just gave a small nod before heading to the bathroom. By the time he returned, Adela was already sitting at the table, quietly eatin
The weekend flew by in a blur of cozy movie nights and home-cooked meals for Adela and Herbie. They had spent two peaceful days together, indulging in the little joys of life. But soon, Monday arrived, bringing back the usual hustle of work and school.“Adela, I’m heading to school!”Herbie called out, her voice slightly muffled by the piece of toast she was hastily chewing. She quickly slipped on her shoes and dashed out the door before Adela could even remind her to be careful.Adela sighed, shaking her head as she grabbed her own bag and headed out.At Starry Jewelry, the office building was already buzzing with energy. As soon as Adela stepped inside, she was greeted by a crowd gathered around the elevators. She exhaled deeply—New York’s fast-paced work culture was no joke. But the busy environment also meant less time for overthinking. Adjusting her expression, she reminded herself to start the day with a smile.Meanwhile, in the Director’s Office…Leopold Davis leaned back in hi
“What’s up with Cora?”Layson’s voice was calm, but he was definitely paying attention now. After all, Cora was Adela’s direct supervisor. If there was any friction between them, he needed to know—especially if it involved Adela. Besides, she could be a useful source of intel in the future.Leopold leaned back in his chair, grinning. He was still amused by how jealous Cora had been earlier. Truth be told, he had thought about making things official between them many times. But whether it was his own hesitation or Cora’s reluctance, neither of them had ever taken that step.“She thinks Adela and I have something going on. You should probably clear it up yourself,” Leopold teased.Layson’s face darkened slightly. A misunderstanding like that was unacceptable. The very thought of anyone associating Adela with another man—even in a false rumor—rubbed him the wrong way.“I will.”Leopold chuckled, hearing the subtle possessiveness in his friend’s tone. There weren’t many things that Layson
Summer was quickly approaching, and the sun was the best proof of it. At Starry, the entire design team was working overtime, racing against the clock to finalize the summer jewelry collection.Adela had also been working late for several days in a row. Just last night, she had stayed at the office until well past midnight, making sure everything was on track. She was exhausted, so when Saturday morning rolled around, she was relieved that she could finally sleep in.But her peace didn’t last long.Half-asleep, she heard her phone ringing. Groggily, she fumbled under the covers until she finally found it.“Hello?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.“Adela, wake up! We have an emergency meeting at the office!”It was Cora.Hearing this, Adela snapped awake, sitting up so fast that her blanket slid off her shoulders.“What?! A meeting? On a weekend? Why?”“No idea, but Mr. Davis just announced it. Get here ASAP.”The call ended before Adela could ask anything else. She sat there f
Layson met Adela’s gaze, and when she shot him a sharp glare, he simply chuckled under his breath, his amusement barely concealed.Ever since he had left her house that night, he hadn’t found a proper excuse to see her again. So today, on a whim, he had dragged Leopold along and arranged this completely unnecessary meeting.“Well then, why don’t you introduce your design to everyone?”His voice was calm and composed, but there was a hint of teasing in his tone that only Adela could pick up on. She stared at him in disbelief, her eyes widening slightly. She knew he was doing this on purpose.Of all the designers present, why single her out?But now, with everyone’s attention on her, she had no choice but to stand up. She took a slow breath, steadied herself, and turned towards the projected design on the screen.“My concept revolves around the theme of ‘coolness.’ In the heat of summer, the idea of something cool and refreshing is particularly appealing,” she explained, her voice stead
Cora followed Leopold Davis into his office, barely settling into her seat before he spoke with a teasing smirk."Didn’t expect you to be so entertained today!"Leopold had been observing her reactions the entire time. It wasn’t just Layson acting out of character today—Cora had clearly enjoyed the show too. She had subtly nudged the conversation toward Adela multiple times, even stealing amused glances whenever Layson found ways to keep Adela engaged. Her usual cool demeanor had cracked just enough to show something else—curiosity, maybe even excitement.Cora hesitated for a moment, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious."I just found it amusing," she admitted.She had always thought of Layson as someone untouchable—cold, distant, someone who didn’t waste time on unnecessary interactions. But today, he had gone out of his way to put on a whole act just to have lunch with Adela.Leopold watched her closely, his usual playful smirk softening
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