Chapter 4 He Died

• The leader didn’t want to provoke Dexter, so he took the opportunity to back down. Smiling, he took the bag and counted the money, saying, "Still two hundred thousand short."
• Barnes nodded. "It’s late at night, and there’s a child here. How about we talk another day?"
• Dexter also nodded. "I think another day sounds good. Don’t you agree?"
• The leader thought for a moment. "Fine, let’s talk another day."
• And so, what could have been a major scene took a different turn thanks to Dexter’s arrival.
• Once the house quieted down, Dexter resisted the urge to swing the iron rod at Calvin. He growled through gritted teeth, "If you weren’t Adela’s father, I’d kill you."
• Calvin gave a bitter smile. In truth, he wasn’t even Adela’s biological father.
• Ella hugged the frightened Herbie, crying bitterly. "That’s it! No more discussion! We’re getting a divorce tomorrow!"
• Calvin lay limp on the ground like a dead fish, staring blankly at the ceiling. He murmured, "Fine, let’s get a divorce."
• Relief flashed across Ella’s face as she buried her head in Herbie’s neck, a glint of calculation in her eyes.
• Dexter let out a scoff and threw the iron rod onto the ground with a loud clang.
• Adela pressed her lips together and walked up to him. "Dexter, thank you so much for today. Really."
• "Why are you crying again?" Dexter frowned and pulled out a tissue to hand to her.
• Dexter, at nineteen, wasn’t skilled at hiding his emotions. The concern in his eyes was evident, and Barnes noticed it clearly.
• After some hesitation, Barnes stepped forward and reminded her, "Miss, Mr. Norman is still waiting."
• Adela’s body stiffened.
• To be honest, she didn’t want her surrogacy arrangements to be brought up in front of her family or friends.
• Dexter stood up and raised an eyebrow. "Which Mr. Norman?"
• "..." Barnes forced a smile and said reluctantly, "Mr. Layson Norman."
• Dexter’s expression changed instantly.
• D.amn it!
• It’s him?!
• It’s actually him!!
• Letting out a sarcastic laugh, Dexter looked at Adela with a peculiar gaze. "You sold yourself to him?"
• "..."
• Adela turned her head away, unwilling to answer.
• Her silence made it clear, and Dexter couldn’t accept it.
• He slammed his fist onto the table, pulled out his phone, and dialed Layson’s number.
• "Hello?"
• Dexter shouted angrily, "Layson Norman, f*** you, f*** your mother!"
• Layson’s voice remained calm. "That’s your mother you’re talking about."
• Dexter’s expression twisted as he was about to respond, but Layson hung up the call.
• Adela couldn’t understand why Dexter reacted that way, but one thing was clear—Dexter and Layson knew each other.
• This realization left her feeling even more embarrassed, unable to face Dexter.
• Before she could think further, Dexter shoved Barnes toward the door and said arrogantly, "Get out!"
• "..." Barnes gave an awkward smile. "Adela signed an agreement with Mr. Norman. She must return tonight."
• "An agreement?"
• Dexter’s face grew darker as he turned to Adela, looking for an explanation.
• Adela felt humiliated. She stepped up beside Barnes and lowered her head. "It’s true. I have to return tonight."
• Dexter was furious. Barnes took her arm and led her out of the house.
• "Adela!"
• Dexter’s loud voice stopped her in her tracks. "Layson is my brother!"
• Adela froze but couldn’t muster the courage to turn around.
• Dexter’s words echoed in her mind, and she ran forward with all her strength, unwilling to face him.
• Behind her, Dexter stood in the dark, his expression unreadable.
• ……
• Back at the villa, Layson was still awake.
• When he saw Adela come in, he put down his book and said nonchalantly, "Take off your clothes. Let’s do it again."
• Adela stood at the door, looking at him without moving.
• He was Dexter’s brother.
• The two faces alternated in her mind until Layson pulled her onto his lap. "Something went wrong at your home?"
• Sitting on a man’s lap for the first time, Adela was so uneasy that she didn’t know where to put her hands. "It went fine. Thank you for the money."
• Adela’s eyes were filled with confusion, like a helpless little animal.
• Layson’s heart softened for a moment. He leaned in to kiss her.
• Adela trembled, responding hesitantly, not daring to refuse.
• Soon, they rolled onto the bed. Just as Layson was about to move to the next step, his phone started ringing incessantly on the table.
• Exhaling heavily, he got up to answer the call.
• Seeing the caller ID, he sighed in exasperation.
• He answered, "Dexter, it’s two in the morning. Can’t you save your tantrum for a better time?"
• There was silence on the other end before Dexter’s voice came through, filled with suppressed anger. "I’m begging you. Don’t touch Adela."
• "Her?" Glancing at Adela, Layson let out a soft laugh and asked, "What is she to you?"
• "I..." Dexter hesitated, unable to answer.
• Layson rubbed his temples. "Dexter, I don’t care what she is to you. Starting today, you two can only be friends. Because she has to give me a child."
• Dexter: "?"
• Before Dexter could reply, Layson hung up and turned off his phone, leaving Dexter seething on the other end.
• When Layson returned to the bed, his gaze was cold. "What’s your relationship with my brother?"
• His tone wasn’t pleasant. Adela stared at him blankly before answering honestly, "We’re just friends."
• Layson narrowed his eyes. "Does he like you?"
• Although it was phrased as a question, his tone was certain, sending shivers down Adela’s spine.
• "I..." She licked her lips and whispered, "I’m not sure."
• Her eyes didn’t seem to be lying, and Layson’s expression softened slightly. He gently bit her earlobe and warned, "Stay away from him, understand?"
• Adela’s expression changed slightly, and she murmured a faint acknowledgment.
• Layson turned off the bedside lamp.
• When he entered her again, it felt as if he was staking his claim on her.
• Outside, the fog was thick, and the moonlight barely shone through. In the darkness, he couldn’t see Adela’s expression, only hearing her soft, restrained responses.
• ……
• The next day, Adela was woken up by a phone call.
• This time, it wasn’t Ella. It was the first debt collector who had come to her home.
• The man’s voice was calm. "Your father committed suicide. Come collect the body."
• Adela’s phone slipped from her hand onto the floor.
• When Layson came out of the bathroom, this was the scene he saw.
• Adela was sitting on the bed, her upper body exposed, completely oblivious.
• Drying his hair with a towel, Layson asked, "What happened?"
• Adela raised her teary eyes to look at him, silent tears streaming down her face.
• Layson frowned slightly and bent down to pick up the phone, which was still connected.