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 door clicked open, and Adela stepped inside, greeted by the sound of Herbie’s cheerful laughter. A faint smile tugged at her lips, momentarily easing the weight on her chest.“What’s so funny?” she asked, her voice soft as she stepped into the room.Herbie’s head whipped around, her face lighting up with pure joy. “You’re back, sister!” she squealed, bounding over to Adela.Adela knelt and pulled her into a gentle hug. No matter how dark her day had been, Herbie’s innocent enthusiasm was a reminder that there was still something in life worth holding on to.“What are you watching?” Adela asked, glancing toward the TV.“It’s a cartoon!” Herbie replied, holding a piece of bread in her hand. “Look, they’re dancing!” She pointed to the screen with glee.Adela noticed the bread and asked, “Where did you get that, Herbie?”Herbie shrugged, still munching on her snack. “The nice man from yesterday brought it. He left it for us!”Adela froze for a moment, her thoughts jumping to Layson. D
Days had passed since Calvin’s funeral, but Adela still found herself and Herbie living in the hotel that Layson had arranged for them. While the accommodations were comfortable, she couldn’t help but feel like an unwanted guest, relying on others for something as basic as a roof over their heads.She resolved to take control of her life. There was still a contract between her and Layson, but their relationship was purely transactional. Adela didn’t want to feel like she owed him anything more than she already did.The weather in New York had improved that day. The sun was warm but not overpowering, and a slight breeze ruffled the hem of Adela’s simple dress. A newspaper clutched in her hand, she walked down the street, scanning for the address she’d circled in ink.“It should be around here somewhere,” she muttered, squinting up at the buildings.The address in the classified section had promised a job opening at an advertising agency, but the rundown appearance of the neighborhood d
The bathroom door opened, and Layson stepped out wearing nothing but a white towel wrapped loosely around his waist. Water dripped from his still-damp hair, trailing down his neck and shoulders.“Go take a shower,” he said casually, his deep voice breaking the silence.Adela, who had been lost in thought on the sofa, jerked her head up at the sound. Her eyes widened when she saw him like that—barefoot, broad-shouldered, and utterly unbothered by his state of undress. Her face turned a deep shade of red, hotter than she thought possible.“Uh… okay,” she stammered, standing abruptly. She scrambled to make her way past him, her movements so awkward she almost stepped on his foot in the process.By the time she returned from her shower, wearing a loose robe and toweling her wet hair, Layson was already in bed. He sat propped against the headboard, one hand flipping through a folder of documents while the other rested casually on the bed.“Come here,” he said without looking up, his tone a
Bella noticed Adela zoning out as she organized files at her desk. Her usually attentive new assistant seemed unusually distant.“Adela, is everything alright?” Bella asked gently, setting down a stack of papers.Adela snapped out of her thoughts, quickly mustering a polite smile. “Oh, yes. Sorry, Bella. I guess I’m just a little distracted.”The truth was, Adela couldn’t shake the disbelief that she had landed a job at Walton Enterprises. She suspected it had everything to do with Liam Walton’s influence, a thought that made her both grateful and uneasy. While she appreciated the opportunity, she was determined to prove herself and not rely on charity.That morning, she’d left Herbie at the hotel again, guilt gnawing at her. Her little sister had been remarkably patient and well-behaved, but Adela hated leaving her alone. She promised herself she’d start looking for an affordable apartment soon, somewhere they could truly settle down.Arriving at Commerce Tower early, Adela was greet
Layson had been watching Adela from the car window, his gaze sharp and unreadable. As she stepped out of the Walton Enterprises building, he gave Barnes a slight nod.“Bring her over,” he said simply.Barnes immediately exited the car and approached Adela, who hesitated as he neared her. She hadn’t anticipated this. Although she had planned to meet Layson later in the evening, she wasn’t prepared for it to happen so abruptly.“Miss,” Barnes said politely, gesturing toward the sleek black car parked a few meters away. “Mr. Norman is waiting for you.”Adela glanced at the car, her stomach twisting with nerves. She bit her lip, trying to steel herself. “Alright,” she murmured, stepping toward the vehicle with hesitant steps.Sliding into the car, she was immediately enveloped by the quiet, luxurious interior. Layson sat in his usual place, his posture immaculate and his expression as cold as ever. His jaw was set, and his dark eyes barely flickered in her direction.“Mr. Norman,” Adela g
Layson’s decision to take Adela out for dinner had been impulsive, but now, watching her delicate movements and quiet demeanor, he thought it might have been the right call. For a man as calculated as he was, such spontaneous actions were rare.Walton EnterprisesLiam Walton had been watching from the window of his office as Layson’s car idled downstairs. His sharp eyes tracked Adela as she exited the building and was ushered into the car. Though he was tempted to interfere, he restrained himself. Right now, his only connection to her was through Layson, and he couldn’t risk jeopardizing that tenuous link.The night outside was illuminated by streetlights and the glow of skyscrapers. The bustling city had an almost magical quality, but Liam’s thoughts were far from the scenery. Finding his sister had brought him equal measures of joy and sorrow. He was thrilled she was alive and within reach, yet saddened by the distance—emotional and otherwise—that still lay between them.Liam’s phon
After Layson left to shower, Adela sat frozen on the couch, his words still ringing in her ears.“Not tonight. Go sleep in the next room.”She blinked, trying to make sense of it. Why had he asked her here at all? What was the point?The sound of water running in the bathroom snapped her out of her thoughts. Her cheeks burned, perhaps from the wine, or maybe from the confusion swirling in her mind. She got up, stretching stiff legs, and walked toward the room Layson had mentioned.Opening the door, a cool breeze greeted her. The room’s window was slightly ajar, allowing the crisp night air to seep in. Adela welcomed the relief, stepping over to close the window. The room was minimally furnished but tidy, with an inviting bed waiting in the corner. She sighed, shaking her head.“What’s gotten into him today?” she murmured to herself, slipping under the covers.The following morning, Adela woke early. She had to head to work at Walton Enterprises and didn’t want to be late. Grabbing her
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