Chapter 13: Midnight Reverie

After bidding farewell to Auntie Nan, Elliana Lyle planned to first check Nancy's entry and exit records.

She didn't quite believe that Nancy would be someone to cut off contact with Auntie Nan.

She returned to Norman Bennett's office, and by 11 o'clock, Norman Bennett was back.

"Norman Bennett, can you find someone to help me check a person's entry and exit records?" Elliana thought Norman surely knew someone, better than asking her dad.

Initially, Elliana planned to tell Mr. Lyle about this, since he had acquaintances, but then she thought he'd definitely ask a lot of questions, making it troublesome and inefficient.

"Sure, checking on your high school friend Nancy?" Norman Bennett had already guessed, and was just confirming.

He knew Nancy too, as he used to frequently pick up Elliana from school, and Nancy and Elliana were almost inseparable.

"Yes, she's gone abroad, and I'd like to know which country she went to." Elliana replied.

Norman Bennett called Raymond Wood in, said a couple of words, and then Raymond left.

"He's gone." Seeing Elliana still scrolling through her phone, Norman Bennett reminded her.

"Oh, just a moment." Elliana didn't look up at Norman Bennett, instead focusing on her phone screen, chatting with Joy Lyle.

Joy told her she'd return to the Lyle Residence tomorrow and had also gotten the script for the second female lead in "South Wind Song."

And how could Elliana let Eleanor Llyod play the lead? It was just to let some people be proud for a while.

After sending the last message, Elliana turned off the phone screen and wanted to put it in her pocket, only to find her tracksuit had no pockets.

"Hold my phone for me, I'm afraid it'll fall." Elliana trusted Norman Bennett entirely as she handed him the phone.

They left Melody Harmony, and Elliana instinctively frowned; it was so hot this noon.

As soon as she stepped outside, beads of sweat began to form on her forehead, while Norman Bennett seemed unfazed by the heat. His fair skin was delicate and smooth, with no visible pores or sweat.

Once in the car, Elliana felt alive again; nothing beats air conditioning!

"To Prosperia International." Norman Bennett instructed the driver.

Prosperia International is a plaza where there's a bespoke couture store named "Lina."

However, Elliana wasn't familiar with it; she didn't like wearing dresses, so she'd only been there once.

Perhaps that's why the old lady always said she didn't understand the rules and had a small-town attitude.

This time going back to the Lyle Residence, she felt uneasy. In her past life, she hadn't attended this banquet, but Joy had said Norman Bennett went.

In her past life, Joy told her Ada Lee acted up, causing Norman Bennett to leave the Lyle Residence in anger.

She didn't know the details because she didn't care about these things then.

The more she thought about it, the more melancholic she became, all of which was captured by someone nearby.

"What are you thinking?" Norman Bennett's voice was magnetic, cold, yet with a hint of care.

Elliana snapped back to reality in an instant, looked at the man's cold face, and shook her head. She didn't know what she was thinking—always too much on her mind, too chaotic.

"Come here." Norman Bennett dominantly pulled her into his arms, making her sit on his lap.

This embrace always brought a sense of security, calming even the most anxious heart. Elliana decided not to think about anything anymore and take things one step at a time.

She looked up at Norman Bennett's side profile, well-defined and pleasing to the eye, and couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Norman Bennett, how do you maintain your skin better than mine?"

The little girl's hands, as she spoke, began to restlessly touch his face.

Suddenly, the little hand roaming his cheek stopped, and immediately he felt a slight pain on his cheek.

"Getting bolder?" Norman Bennett's light comment made Elliana withdraw her hands instantly, nestling into his neck as if nothing had happened.

Elliana felt like she was pulling hair from a tiger's head, yet felt a sense of accomplishment.

...

In less than half an hour, they arrived at Lina.

Lina is a standalone building in the Prosperia International plaza, and from the outside, it didn't seem special.

"Welcome to Lina, please show your reservation code or VIP card." The receptionist at the door wore a standard fake smile.

The reservation code is obtained by filling out information online, and the deposit isn't small. Besides that, there's the VIP card issued by Lina's invitation, which few could obtain.

Having a VIP card, they smoothly entered Lina, and the receptionist led them to a private elevator to the eighth floor.

Ding~

When the elevator doors opened, a man wearing bright colors with red lipstick stood at the door.

"Oh, Mr. Shane is here, and this must be Miss Lyle. I'm Peter, pleasure to meet you," he said, extending his hand gentlemanly to Elliana.

This man named Peter had a slightly sharp voice but was Lina's chief designer, with a certain status globally.

Norman Bennett shielded Elliana in his arms and coldly said, "No need for handshakes. Is everything ready?"

"Oh, stingy, I've prepared everything early, just waiting for Miss Lyle to choose." Peter smiled, retracting his hand and smoothing his short curly hair to ease the awkwardness.

Elliana didn't find anything strange as she had met Peter in her past life when she was about to marry Shane Southwell.

Walking through the corridor to the eighth-floor hall, there weren't many people in the hall. It's said that Peter personally attending to customers depended on his mood and couldn't be forced.

However, Norman Bennett was different; he and Peter were old acquaintances, though often using authority to pressure others.

The hall was spotless white, with leather sofas in the middle and various tea sets displayed in front, while three mannequins adorned with dresses stood in the center, accompanied by two female employees in gray suits.

"These designs are all mine, every stitch personally done by me, no carelessness allowed." Peter, gesturing with flair, circled Norman Bennett.

Elliana, however, was amazed by the three dresses. Rather than stunning, it was more shocking.

Peter smiled as he spoke to Elliana, "These were designed a month ago at Mr. Shane's request, custom-made for Miss Lyle."

Was this what Norman Bennett ordered for her? But... these three dresses were what Peter showed her in her past life.

She chose one of them, a fishtail gown, as her wedding reception dress then.

"Go try them on." Norman Bennett's voice sounded in her ear, calming her turbulent emotions.

She nodded slightly, smiling, "Okay."

Each of the three dresses was distinct: a fishtail gown as dazzling as a diamond, designed to fit her height, understated yet remarkably luxurious.

However, Elliana didn't favor that one. She knew the old lady disliked white dresses, as Joy was once berated after wearing a white dress.

She favored a darker colored swallowtail gown, shimmering in indigo. The irregular design rid itself of monotony, and the unique diamond clasp at the waist was the highlight of the dress.

After selecting, a female employee led her to the fitting room. A dress isn't easy to wear alone; it requires assistance.

Once the dress was on, paired with a pair of blue single-strap high heels, everything seemed nearly perfect.

As soon as she stepped out of the fitting room, Norman Bennett's gaze rested eternally on her, the girl like a starry night was his.

This strapless dress revealed her fair swan neck, with a longer right front creating a dignified appearance, short in front and long at the back, displaying slender legs from the front and a long train from the back.

"How is it?" Elliana walked cautiously towards the man, not for any other reason but fear of twisting her ankle in the seven-centimeter heels.

"Oh~ Miss Lyle looks absolutely divine in that starry night dress," Peter exclaimed with excitement.

Norman Bennett remained silent, but Peter was overjoyed.

Seeing Norman Bennett's unchanged expression, Elliana suspected he didn't like it. She approached him, asking again, "Norman Bennett, does it look good?" turning around lightly as she spoke.

"Yes." Just a simple word, spoken hoarsely, as if suppressing his voice.