Mag-log inShare
39 Parting Ways
Huling Na-update:
2025-03-03 15:04:48
Kaugnay na kabanata
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 40 Those Who Truly Care
Adela felt Herbie’s arms clinging to her waist, the small girl’s sobs tearing at her heart. Unable to hold back any longer, tears slipped down Adela’s own cheeks. She had promised herself she would be strong, especially in front of Herbie, but there was no steel in the world strong enough to completely shield her from a moment like this. So she lowered herself to Herbie’s eye level, gathering her little sister into a trembling hug. Everyone around them—Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Anderson, and even Layson Norman—remained quiet. It was as if the weight of this farewell hung in the air, giving the scene a solemn hush.“I’ll come back for you,” Adela whispered, gently rubbing Herbie’s back in a soothing circle. She had said this so many times before, but saying it now felt like an act of desperation, as though those words were her last defense against heartbreak. It was all she could offer.Steeling herself, Adela gently pulled Herbie away and nudged her into Mrs. Anderson’s arms. It pained her t
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 41 Letting Go of the Past
Adela hadn’t gone more than a few steps before she felt someone grab her wrist. Surprised, she turned around to find herself face-to-face with Dexter Norman, whose expression was a mix of desperation and pleading. She had never seen him look so raw and vulnerable—like a man with nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. For a second, her heart clenched. Despite the tension and confusion between them in recent months, there was no denying that a genuine friendship had once bound them together.Dexter’s eyes were dark with an urgency she had never witnessed before. When he spoke, his voice came out a little unsteady, as if he were holding back a surge of emotion he didn’t quite know how to handle. “Don’t go,” he said softly, but with an intensity that made each word land heavily.Standing there by the airport terminal gate, Adela felt the weight of that plea. A part of her wanted to soothe him, to say something that would ease the pain etched onto his face. Yet she also knew she couldn’t waver n
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 42 Everyone Is Running Away
Liam Walton gently guided his grandfather out of the bustling New York airport, his arm steady around the older man’s shoulders. They moved slowly, partly because of the crowd, partly because his grandfather’s health wasn’t what it used to be. These days, the old man’s legs gave him trouble, making walking any distance a challenge. It was for this reason Liam had initially asked him not to come see Adela off. But the elderly patriarch of the Walton family had been adamant: he wanted, no, needed, to witness Adela’s departure. There was no telling when—if ever—she might return, and he couldn’t bear the thought of never having another chance to confirm that she was safe and well, even if she refused to come home to the Walton family.As they stepped through the sliding glass doors, the hot summer air enveloped them, a startling contrast to the air-conditioned chill of the airport. Liam could sense the mix of regret and sadness radiating from his grandfather, though the old man’s face rem
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 43 Do You Love Me?
Liam Walton was the first to recover his composure. For a moment, he had been caught off guard by the sight of Evelyn standing in front of him, wearing nothing but a loose nightgown and looking about as surprised as he felt. But as soon as his mind cleared, he curved his lips into a faint smile, the kind that usually signaled confidence—maybe even a hint of mischievousness.“May I come in?” he asked in an even tone, trying not to stare too blatantly at her disheveled hair or the pajamas that clung to her figure.Evelyn snapped out of her daze upon hearing his voice. Realizing she had been gaping at Liam, she cleared her throat and quickly lowered her gaze, stepping aside to grant him entrance. “Uh… yes, of course,” she said a bit awkwardly, pulling the door open wider.The moment she moved, Evelyn became acutely aware of her own reflection in a nearby mirror: hair messy, face devoid of any makeup, an old nightgown that bore faint creases from where she’d been sleeping. She couldn’t he
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 44 Have You Been Drinking?
Adela’s older brother, Liam Walton, helped his grandfather into the car outside the airport, feeling as though the entire day had sapped his energy. Yet he wasn’t the only one weighed down by conflicting emotions. Far across town, in a quiet, dimly lit bar, Liam’s close associate and friend—though “friend” might be too strong a term—Layson Norman was sitting with a glass of whiskey. The low hum of jazz music filled the background, and the faint chatter of other patrons hung in the air.But even that subdued setting paled in comparison to the somber mood of another man who was already deep into his own drink: Liam Walton himself had chosen to meet someone in a bar, but not Layson. Instead, he had shown up in response to a spontaneous call from Dexter Norman… or so Layson had assumed at first. In reality, it was Liam who was meeting with Layson, and the location was a sleek, private lounge near the city center.Earlier that day…After visiting Evelyn’s small apartment, Liam had left wit
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 45 Who’s the Baby’s Mother?
Layson Norman pushed open the front door of his house, only to be greeted by a piercing wail from down the hallway. It was so loud and inconsolable that he couldn’t help but furrow his brow in worry. Even from this distance, he could tell his son was crying harder than usual. The two-month-old had been fussy before, but tonight seemed different—more intense, like he was in genuine distress.Quickening his pace, Layson strode toward the nursery, his footsteps echoing across the polished marble floor. When he walked in, he found the nanny standing there, gently bouncing the baby in her arms with an anxious look on her face.“What’s going on?” Layson asked, trying to keep the impatience out of his voice. He wasn’t angry with her, but the child’s frantic sobs were getting under his skin. He had never been one to handle chaos well.The nanny, who looked both worried and a little intimidated, bowed her head slightly. “I’m not sure, sir. He’s been like this for hours, just crying nonstop. I’
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 46 He Needs to Come Back
The early morning sun cast a warm glow through the tall windows of Layson Norman’s home. Diana—his mother—lingered near the living room, already occupied with cooing at little Ralph, who was gurgling happily in the nanny’s arms. Layson, having just come downstairs, greeted them with a slight nod before continuing on his way. He had a long day ahead, but first he needed to handle a few family matters.Far across town, another corner of the Norman family was stirring. Diana had come to check on Ralph, but her real aim had been to talk to Layson about Dexter Norman, who was still stubbornly living on his own. To her surprise, the conversation took a quick turn when she realized Layson had even bigger problems—like the unexpected child he was caring for.“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Diana asked in a low voice, arms folded over her chest. She was more than a little upset that Layson had kept the baby a secret for so long. Despite having lived in the Norman family for decades, she somet
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 47 Dexter in Trouble Again
Adela had just settled into her new life in England, but the excitement of being in a foreign country was tempered by her struggle with jet lag. She found herself lying awake at odd hours, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling of the cozy bedroom her elderly landlady had set up for her. She couldn’t help imagining what was happening back in New York—life was still rolling on without her, and she felt both relieved and apprehensive at having left so much behind.Determined to build a new future, Adela climbed out of bed early. The sun was barely up, but she was wide awake, so she decided to head over to the university. Although Layson Norman had pulled many strings to help her settle in—arranging her admission and even suggesting a few housing options—Adela wanted to handle the rest herself. She needed to prove her independence to herself as much as to anyone else.She chose to major in jewelry design, a field she had always adored from afar. Her fascination with delicate gemstones and
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03
Pinakabagong kabanata
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 240 The Photo
Adela was a little tempted by the idea of giving Layson a gift. “He doesn’t need anything… What would I even give him?”Cici rolled her eyes. “It’s not about what the gift is, it’s about who is giving it! Guys need to be sweet-talked sometimes. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.”Seeing how confidently she spoke, Adela was almost convinced.“Wait—you said you don’t have a boyfriend. How do you know so much?”Another eye roll from Cici. “Please. I’ve watched enough TV dramas. And every time my parents fight, my dad always wins my mom over with a gift.”“Oh…” Adela looked a little envious. “So your dad’s the one making it up to your mom. But me…”The air turned awkward.Cici cleared her throat. “Hey, whatever works, right? Don’t overthink it. I’ll go with you at lunch. You pick something nice and give it to him tonight—easy fix.”As soon as lunch break hit, the two headed to the biggest mall in the city. Adela was still debating what kind of gift would be best.After grabbing a bi
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 239 Cheer Him Up
The phone was quiet for a few seconds. Just as Barnes thought Layson might hang up, Layson finally said calmly, “Let her stay at the apartment. You head back.”After hanging up, Layson dialed Diana.“Mom, Adela’s not in the best mood right now, so she’s staying at the apartment. I’m flying abroad in the morning—no need to wait up for us tonight.”Diana wanted to say something to get Adela to come home, but hearing that, she chose not to push.“You two just take care of yourselves, don’t let anyone else interfere.”And by “anyone,” she obviously meant Marah.Layson smiled faintly. “I know, don’t worry.”After he hung up, he lit a cigarette. Smoke curled in the air, veiling the cold detachment in his eyes.Barely fifteen minutes later, Barnes knocked and opened the door. “Sir, are you heading back to the apartment tonight?”Layson, cigarette between his fingers, tapped the ashtray lightly. His expression was as composed as ever—but something darker lingered behind his cold gaze.“Is my
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 238 The Argument
Layson looked at Adela sitting across from him—fresh from a shower, cheeks still flushed pink. Her eyes burned with a bright, piercing light—he couldn’t tell if it was from anger or confusion.Her thick, dark hair hung loosely over her shoulders, the ends softly curled. She looked effortlessly beautiful in her loungewear—there was something so cozy and real about her like this.Layson always knew she was stunning. That’s what drew him to her in the first place. But it wasn’t just her looks. It was her passion, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about jewelry design. She had a fire in her that was rare.He especially liked those quiet nights in the study, when she curled up in his lap and excitedly pointed out the elements of her designs, explaining her inspiration. The joy she radiated when he praised her ideas was irresistible.And this afternoon—watching her speak so animatedly to Carl Rodriguez about her design, her face glowing, the way Carl looked at her like he was entrance
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 237 Confrontation
Adela watched Carl Rodriguez study the designs so seriously that she felt bad interrupting. She just quietly sipped two glasses of juice while waiting.Carl chuckled as he looked over the pages. “Not a coffee fan? I noticed you always order juice.”Her expression tensed slightly. “Yeah, not really into coffee.”That wasn’t true—she actually liked coffee. But now that she was pregnant, she’d intentionally switched to juice.She was still conflicted about the baby.Letting out a quiet sigh, Adela turned her gaze to the window, zoning out again.After nearly an hour, Carl finally nodded. “I’m impressed. Let’s go with this design.”Adela looked up at him, completely confused. You made me wait a whole hour just to say that?“If you’re satisfied, then we’ll move forward,” she said calmly. “The final payment can be sent to the same account as before. If that’s all, I’ll be heading out.”Just as she was about to stand up, Carl unexpectedly placed his hand on hers. His fingers were warm and sm
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 236 The Meeting
Adela was resting her chin on her hands, staring blankly at the design on her screen, her mind still stuck on what Layson said that morning.She couldn’t help wondering—how much did he know?Did he already know about what Marah tried to do to her?Last night, when he had her bowl taken away so suddenly, she didn’t think much of it. But looking back now, it felt completely out of character for him.Layson was someone who grew up in privilege. He had that natural aloofness, elegant and refined. Ever since taking over the company, he became even more calm and composed. Publicly embarrassing someone? Definitely not his style—unless someone touched his bottom line.Did he even have one?Was it... the child she was carrying?As she was spacing out, her phone lit up. A call from an unfamiliar number.She picked up, and a lazy, low-pitched male voice came through, smooth and teasing, “Adela, I’d like to see the design in advance.”There were still two days until the deadline, and Adela had al
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 235 The Ride
Marah made a move to grab Adela’s hand, but Adela casually tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, avoiding her without looking obvious. Marah’s hand just hung there awkwardly in the air.Still smiling sweetly, Marah watched Adela standing in the doorway.Adela stepped aside and walked into the house, calm and composed. “The director was asking about you today—why you haven’t been showing up at work. Something happen?”Ralph had already run down from upstairs and jumped into Adela’s arms. She carried him to the couch and sat down.Marah trailed closely behind, letting out a delicate laugh. “I went on a short trip with a friend—just a weekend getaway. The car broke down and I lost my phone. I called in to report to the director as soon as I got back.”Adela gave her a look. The woman sitting across from her wore an innocent expression with wide eyes and a hint of flirtatious charm at the corners. If not for her unusually pale complexion giving away her real condition, Adela might
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 234 The Visit
Adela thought about it and decided to take Cici’s advice—she needed to get the truth from Lily. She still didn’t really know what happened that night. Layson didn’t talk much, and Barnes had brushed her off, saying he didn’t know.She didn’t tell Layson she was going to see Lily. But she’d overheard Barnes mention she was still being held at the precinct. So, right after work, she and Cici drove over together.A police officer led them toward the holding cells and casually mentioned something strange along the way.“That Lily girl—she left an impression. She admitted to everything and since the victim wasn’t really hurt, the sentence was light, only eight months. But get this—she begged for three years. Isn’t that weird?”Adela and Cici exchanged glances. “Did she lose her mind or something?”Cici clutched Adela’s arm like she expected to find a lunatic behind bars.But when they saw Lily, she actually looked surprisingly normal—none of that wild-eyed mess they’d been imagining. In fa
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 233 Moving Back to the Norman Family Estate
Several teachers rushed in to calm things down. The program director and staff tried to smooth over the tension with the parents. This was the Royal Prep Academy—more upscale than most preschools—where kids were trained in special skill sets.One young teacher nervously explained the whole incident.Apparently, three kids had gotten into a scuffle over something someone said about moms. One little girl had overheard an adult say that Ralph didn’t have a known mother, and she blurted it out today.Ralph insisted he had a mom, but the girl didn’t believe him. That led to arguing. The girl got angry and scratched Ralph first. Ralph instinctively tried to scratch back. Then two of her little friends jumped in to defend her, and suddenly the four kids were all rolling on the floor. By the time teachers stepped in, Ralph already had a big scratch across his cheek.Now, this wasn’t a huge deal—none of the kids were seriously hurt. But it wasn’t a small thing either. Ralph had clear marks on
Reclaiming His Runaway Baby Mama 232 The Fight
Adela frowned at Mr. Norman, realizing just how alike he and Layson were—both stubborn and unwilling to listen.After a brief pause, she said, “Mr. Norman, I really don't see any reason for me to move into your family estate.”Mr. Norman's face turned red with anger. “You're carrying Layson's child. That means you must live at the estate. I make the decisions here.”Adela countered, “When I was pregnant with Ralph, no one mentioned moving in.”The two went back and forth, neither willing to back down.Layson, rubbing his temples, sat down on the hospital bed, watching them silently. His presence seemed to dampen their argument, and their voices gradually lowered.“Are you two done?”He smirked, though the smile didn't reach his eyes, as if watching a farce.Once the room quieted, he said, “Let's go to your room, Father.”The caregiver, relieved, quickly wheeled Mr. Norman out.Left alone, Layson pulled Adela close, one hand gripping her chin, the other around her waist. He kissed her
