Chapter 1: Rebirth

Knock, knock knock!

"Miss Lyle, it's Lana. I've brought your breakfast."

On the soft bed inside, nestled a petite figure. She frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with the noise outside. After several knocks, the person on the bed finally woke up.

As she opened her sleepy eyes, what she saw first was the mushroom lamp on the bedside table, under which a white rabbit was hugging a carrot!

Was she dreaming?

"Miss Lyle? Are you awake? May I come in?"

The clear and gentle voice from outside brought Elliana Lyle back to reality. It sounded like Lana, and this was… Norman Bennett's villa!

Elliana woke up almost instantly, abruptly throwing off the quilt. She was wearing white pajamas with rabbit ears and hurriedly reached for the phone on the bedside table.

Could it be that Norman brought her back to the Bennett Family? She opened her phone, and the date and time appeared before her eyes.

July 20, 2019.

2019? She had gone back three years!

Memories from the past flooded her mind. Elliana remembered that at this time, she was forced by her parents to come to the Bennett Family to get along well with Norman Bennett, to whom she was betrothed!

Back then, she extremely disliked Norman Bennett, even hated him! After coming to this villa, she locked herself in, and Norman, knowing she disliked him, never disturbed her.

"Miss Lyle? It's Lana. May I come in?" Lana patiently knocked on the door from outside, repeating her words over and over; it seemed to be her daily task ever since Elliana arrived.

She was still being called outside. Elliana got out of bed and ran barefoot to open the door!

Seeing her, Lana's face, both beautiful and gentle, carried a hint of a smile. Dressed in a uniform light green short sleeve top and gray wide-leg pants, Lana looked quite amiable.

"Good morning, Miss Lyle."

Lana always smiled with her eyes curved. Elliana liked this girl from the bottom of her heart, perhaps because of Norman; that care Lana showed was so thoughtful.

"Morning." Elliana smiled at Lana, a somewhat bitter smile. She realized she hadn't smiled in so long and felt a bit unaccustomed.

Holding a bowl of wontons, Lana was somewhat surprised; even her smile froze. Elliana had almost never shown her a friendly face, let alone greeted her, both startling and surprising Lana.

Through Lana, Elliana saw the redwood railing behind her. She bit her lip as if making a decision and exhaled.

After seemingly preparing herself psychologically, she carefully tiptoed to the edge of the redwood railing, holding onto it while looking down. As expected, Norman Bennett was sitting on the sofa there.

He was in a black bespoke suit, meticulous, without a single crease. Long legs crossed, left hand holding a cup of coffee, and the right hand browsing something on a laptop.

At this moment, Norman Bennett sensed something unusual, feeling a burning gaze on him. When he looked up to the direction of the gaze, they unexpectedly locked eyes.

On Norman Bennett's handsome face, his features were well-defined and sharp, with striking eyebrows under which shone eyes bright as stars, deep like a cold pool.

"Morning, you're up." Norman Bennett's face was expressionless; his greeting to Elliana had a distant, indifferent tone, deep and magnetic.

At this moment, Elliana couldn't hold back anymore. Her hands released the railing, her hair swung forming an arc as she turned and ran toward the redwood staircase, the sound of her hurried footsteps echoing, showing her urgency.

Elliana's heart was racing; she was eager to get closer to him.

Sitting on the leather sofa, Norman Bennett's brow furrowed slightly, his pupils dilated, he put down his cup and quickly stood up, striding to the staircase in a few steps, and in that moment, Elliana crashed into Norman Bennett's solid chest.

As she caught a whiff of that familiar elegant lotus fragrance, Elliana's eyes reddened, sour tears burst forth, like strands of lingering thread wrapping around the person before her.

In the past, how blind had she been to ignore Norman Bennett's goodness, hurting him deeply.

Elliana's teary almond eyes, even her little red lips quivered, making her appear both adorable and pitiful. Norman Bennett's heart felt as if it had been gripped, surprised, worried, and somewhat at a loss.

"Why are you crying?" Instinctively, Norman Bennett wanted to reach out to pat the little girl's head, but his hand paused mid-air and then withdrew.

"Oooh..."

The little girl in his arms said nothing, burying her face in his chest, crying harder, her small hands clutching his waist tightly, as if once released, he would run away.

I'm sorry... I'm sorry...

In Elliana's heart, this was the only phrase, repeated countless times silently; she felt no matter how many times she said it, it couldn't make up for anything.

This scene was witnessed by everyone inside, especially Butler Lewis and Lana, whose jaws nearly dropped in shock; could Miss Lyle have changed her nature? She had always avoided seeing their young master, and today, she initiated an embrace!

The more Elliana acted this way, the more panicked Norman Bennett felt. His long, clean fingers gently patted the back of the person in his arms, glancing down to see her barefoot, peach-pink toes on the cold marble floor.

Though it was midsummer, the air-conditioned room made the floor somewhat chilly. Norman Bennett could only scoop her up in his arms, his chin feeling the warmth of Elliana's head, her soft hair like silk.

"Had a nightmare?" Norman Bennett's voice softened significantly.

"Ooooh..." Elliana, choking with sobs, clung to Norman Bennett's neck. She wanted to say so much, but the words were too many to find a starting point.

Seeing her not speaking, only crying, Norman Bennett didn't press her, just quietly continued to stroke her back.

Elliana, crying to the point of oxygen deprivation, wiped her tears on the man's neck. Glancing sideways, she noticed everyone watching them, everyone looking like spectators at a show, with mischievous smiles in their eyes.

Elliana felt a bit embarrassed when suddenly, she remembered something. The slight sound of her sniffing abruptly stopped! Today was July 20th! Which meant… it was the day her parents had their car accident!

"Norman Bennett, take me home, please take me home?" Elliana lifted her head from Norman Bennett's neck, her face wet with tears, even her nose tip red. She stared at Norman Bennett, a pleading look in her eyes.

So... she just wanted to leave.

Norman Bennett's deep eyes dimmed, glancing away, no longer looking at the person who caused him heartache, just nodding slightly, his voice betraying no emotion: "Okay! I'll take you home, but put your shoes on first."

As they stepped out the door, a wave of heat hit, and a thin layer of mist formed on Elliana's forehead. She hadn't tidied herself up, still in silky rabbit pajamas, with pink bunny slippers on her feet. She was in a hurry to go back, afraid she wouldn't make it in time.

All the way, sitting in the front passenger seat, Elliana picked at her fingernails, her expression tense and anxious.

All of this was noted by Norman Bennett. Perhaps, he thought, he shouldn't use the betrothal agreement to bind her. Perhaps ending the engagement would make her happy, but... he was reluctant to let go.