Chapter 4: Norman Bennett, I Like You

This private room is very large. Looking behind Norman Bennett, there is a resting sofa and a coffee table. However, this already large enough table made Elliana Lyle feel too close to him.

It seemed so close that she could hear his breathing and smell that lotus fragrance. In fact, lotus was Elliana Lyle's favorite flower, but she never wore perfume. No matter when she encountered Norman Bennett, she always felt like summer had arrived, yet these lotus flowers seemed to bloom in winter.

"Um... where's my phone?" Elliana Lyle felt a bit uncomfortable being looked at by Norman Bennett, so she broke the silent and oppressive atmosphere first.

Norman Bennett restrained his expression, gently pressing the screen menu at the edge of the table with his slender fingers, then calmly looked at Elliana Lyle and said, "Let's eat first, then... I have something to tell you."

"Oh~ okay." Elliana Lyle nodded slightly, her hands clasped together, appearing a bit restrained, which was unusual, as she wasn't like this before.

After finishing a bowl of wonton, feeling the warmth in her stomach, Elliana Lyle gently blew on a soup spoon, holding her temple's stray hair with one pale, delicate hand, sipping the hot soup in small sips.

Elliana Lyle's looks were exquisite. Even just sipping soup was enough to dazzle someone's eyes.

"Alright, what's the matter?" Elliana Lyle put down the spoon, having been constantly recalling what Norman Bennett had said earlier, wondering about what he wanted to say, feeling a bit expectant for a moment.

Norman Bennett first returned her phone to her, then said, "I know you oppose the marriage arranged by your parents. Marriage is not a game; it naturally needs to be careful, and I respect your decision. This engagement... is annulled."

The words 'annulled' were almost squeezed out of Norman Bennett's mouth. He was reluctant, yet had no choice but to let go.

However, Elliana Lyle's face didn't show the joy he expected. Instead, she was stunned, and the light in her eyes vanished at that moment, becoming lost and dim.

Her already fair and slightly moist skin appeared pale and unbearable at this moment. Elliana Lyle never thought that Norman Bennett was going to break off the engagement with her!

The hand holding the phone gradually tightened, fingertips turning red. Her nose started to tingle with soreness, and the next second, tears welled up in her eyes, looking like pearls dropping onto the table, but actually falling into someone's heart.

Norman Bennett couldn't fathom Elliana Lyle. His handsome brows slightly furrowed, contemplating for a moment, then said, "You're the one who asked to cancel it, and I agreed!"

With Norman Bennett saying this, the sobbing Elliana burst into tears, like a child who lost her favorite doll.

She blamed herself, regretted it, having personally driven away someone who loved her. She couldn't hold back the sadness inside, crying out in embarrassment.

"Stop crying!"

Norman Bennett really didn't know what to do with her, his gaze sharp like a stern parent scolding a child.

As expected, Elliana Lyle held back, wiping her face chaotically with her hand, turning her breakdown into quiet sobbing.

"Do you hate me that much?" This sentence was spoken so softly, it seemed only Norman Bennett could hear it, yet Elliana Lyle still caught it.

Then Norman Bennett stood up, walked to Elliana Lyle's side, reverting to his usual indifference: "After you've cried enough, I'll have someone take you back."

As he finished speaking, Norman Bennett took long strides toward the door, intending to leave.

"Don't go!"

With these words, a soft figure like a kitten wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, those red little hands trying hard to grasp, her small face pressed against his back, warm tears soaking the suit.

"No, Norman Bennett, don't leave me. I don't hate you. I don't hate you. I like you." Elliana Lyle choked, actually from the beginning, she merely disliked others deciding her life, coincidentally meeting childhood playmate Shane Southwell again. Shane Southwell was always ambiguous with her, sometimes treating her well, sometimes ignoring her for long times.

Just like wanting what you can't have, Norman Bennett's goodness was visible to her yet unappreciated. She shouldn't have the face to cry, but she really didn't want to miss him.

"What!"

Norman Bennett seemed as though he heard wrong, a hint of disbelief in his eyes. He slowly turned, gently lifted Elliana Lyle's small face with his fingertip, forcing her to look into his eyes.

Those eyes holding strands of gentleness had countless thoughts in them, yet the expression was extremely solemn. He asked, "Look at me, say it again."

At this moment, Elliana Lyle looked at Norman Bennett with unusual seriousness, not fearing his gaze, those pupils reflecting her, and her alone.

"I... like... Norman Bennett." Elliana Lyle gathered the courage to confess to the man so close, clearly seeing Norman Bennett's eyes quiver lightly. She watched him, that subtly moving Adam's apple, slightly pursed thin lips, features perfectly handsome.

In the next second, before Elliana Lyle could react, the man tightly embraced her. She felt him slightly bend down, lower his head, lips pressed beside her ear, that gentle breath itching and warm.

Norman Bennett lowered his voice, seemingly hiding something, gentle yet hoarse, the tone extremely forceful: "I gave you the chance to leave. From now on, no more."

"Mm~" The person burying her head in the strong chest responded softly, like a kitten moaning, sweet and delicate.

...

A few minutes later.

"???" Standing at the corridor entrance, Raymond Wood heard the door open. Inadvertently glancing over, he seemed frozen in place.

What did he see! The president holding Miss Lyle's... hand! And Miss Lyle didn't look unwilling.

Raymond Wood hurried to greet them, and upon closer inspection, Miss Lyle seemed to have cried, even her eye rims were red. What did the president do! Raymond Wood couldn't help but think too far...

In broad daylight... ahem ahem!

"President, President... Madam." Raymond Wood greeted them with a smiling face. Hearing this title, Elliana Lyle's face immediately flushed slightly.

"Hmm."

Norman Bennett naturally nodded slightly, not being moved by Raymond Wood's comically smiling face. Almost nothing could change Norman Bennett's eternal icy expression.

Walking out of the corridor, everyone recognized this incredibly handsome man, the president of Harmony Group, their boss.

Norman Bennett was not in a family company, but founded Harmony Group, starting with skincare product development, later venturing into film companies, plazas, clothing, and recently even acquiring a gaming company.

The three hotel staff pushing cleaning carts stopped, starting to whisper: "The girl next to President Bennett must be the eldest daughter of the Lyle family, Elliana Lyle, right?"

"It must be. They even have an engagement. Don't know when the wedding is, it's so enviable!" Another staff laughed, looking at them like a mother admiring her daughter and son-in-law, liking them more the more she looked.

"What's there to envy? It's just a business alliance. How would President Bennett fancy Elliana Lyle? She's dull. She's even less than me." The one speaking cast a disdainful look at Elliana Lyle's back.

This remark instantly dampened the mood of the other two gossipers, helplessly shaking their heads: "Let's go, let's go."

Outside the hotel, Norman Bennett suddenly stopped, looking at the person beside him and asked, "Where do you want to go? Today I'll accompany you."

Raymond Wood was stunned, thinking the president was going back to work, suddenly becoming anxious, wishing to grab the president's collar and shout "Don't you know how much work you haven't done? Are you giving up the company?"

Unfortunately, Raymond Wood didn't dare vocalize, so he could only imagine it in his heart.

"I want to go..." Before Elliana Lyle could finish, she saw a car stopping at the hotel entrance, followed by someone coming hurriedly to greet and help park.

And the license plate of that car! ... Even if she were blind, she could recognize it!