Chapter 21: Elliana

"Miss Lyle, come on, let me help you up."

Elliana Lyle was very light, which made it easy for Lana to help her onto the sofa.

"Miss Lyle, I'll get some warm water to wipe your body, you sit for a moment." Lana was about to leave when Elliana grabbed her wrist.

"Norman Bennett, don't leave... don't leave... sob sob~..." Elliana whimpered, staggered to her feet, feeling like her whole body was being supported by soft clouds, wanting to lean but couldn't steady herself.

"I'm not leaving, I'm right here, don't be afraid." Lana held Elliana steadily, gently soothing her agitated emotions.

Elliana said nothing more, only clung to Lana and sobbed.

"Come, let's sit for a while."

Lana gently helped Elliana to sit down, noticing how Elliana's gaze was unfocused on the floor, but her emotions had calmed down somewhat.

"Miss Lyle, I'm going to the bathroom to get some warm water to wipe your body, I won't go far." Lana said, turning back every few steps towards the bathroom, worriedly.

The sound of rushing water soon came from the bathroom.

"Miss Lyle!" When Lana emerged with the water, Elliana was no longer on the sofa, and the door was open!

―――North City, Blue Night Bar.

The environment here was dim, with only faint glimmers of light, not so dark as to be unseen, nor so bright as to see clearly.

Unlike other lively bars, this one was rather quiet, with soothing music, ideal for conversations.

"Bro, why come here? It's so quiet, wouldn't it be better to get a booth with me?" The voice sounded somewhat immature, full of youthful energy.

It was Zane Bennett, Norman's younger brother, looking like his elder brother but with a different personality.

"Bro, say something, is it Grandfather who sent you to find me?" Upon saying this, Zane turned his head in displeasure, "I'm not going back."

Then Zane looked excitedly at Norman, eyes gleaming: "Bro, let me tell you, my friends and I are working on a game that will soon be in beta testing."

"Mm." Norman responded barely, downing his drink in one gulp.

Zane immediately lost his previous excitement, his brother was always so boring, as if nothing ever pleased him.

"Bro, you've only said three words to me so far, not even three sentences, why call me out?" Zane couldn't help but complain, feeling like he was acting in a solo play.

"You can leave." Norman said coldly, swallowing glass after glass of alcohol.

Zane was taken aback, haughtily saying, "I… I'm not leaving."

Then jokingly asked, "Bro, are you in a bad mood? Did your wife run off with someone? Oh wait, bro you haven't…"

As Zane spoke, there was a sudden bang, which startled him into silence.

Norman's glass hit the table heavily, splattering his hand with liquor.

"…" Zane pursed his lips, not daring to make a sound; among the Bennett Family, his brother's temper was the scariest.

Silence reigned, the atmosphere tense, as Norman stared at the chipped bottom of the star-shaped cup, his grip tightening painfully.

Zane internally grumbled: called me out, then scolded me, what if I leave?

He knew he had touched his brother's sore spot, guessed it was that wretched girl Elliana running off with Shane again.

Suddenly, a phone started ringing, Zane instinctively covered his pocket, finding it wasn't his, then cautiously pointed at Norman: "Bro, your phone is ringing."

Seeing Norman not reacting, he leaned closer: "Should I answer for you?"

He took Norman's phone, seeing it was an unknown number, which was typical as Norman never saved contacts.

"Hello, you're speaking to Norman Bennett."

"Young Master, it's Lana, Miss Lyle got drunk and ran out while I was fetching warm water, I've searched everywhere but can't find her." A worried voice on the other end.

Miss Lyle? Must be Elliana.

Zane touched his nose, handing the phone to Norman: "Someone named Lana says your wife got drunk and ran off."

In an instant, Norman grabbed the phone and dashed out of the private room, his speed akin to a sprint, leaving Zane momentarily stunned.

He hurriedly shouted towards the door: "Bro, settle the bill before you go! I'm broke!"

...

Lana was already waiting at the hotel entrance, tears unable to stop streaming, hands clenched nervously.

Luckily, Norman wasn't far away, returning within mere minutes.

"Young Master, it's all my fault for not watching over Miss Lyle, all my fault…" Lana blamed herself, bowing her head.

Norman said nothing, leading Raymond Wood to the surveillance room.

Despite his outward calm and indifference, his heart trembled underneath.

Through the surveillance, they saw Elliana initially take the elevator straight to the lobby.

"Norman Bennett~ where are you?" Elliana, eyes red from crying, looked around the bustling lobby.

Her singular thought now was to find Norman Bennett.

However, at this moment, she was coincidentally encountered by Shane Southwell.

"Elliana!" Cari looked at Shane in surprise.

Elliana now, in a seductive strapless little black dress, exuded enchanting charm, especially her flushed face and dreamy eyes from intoxication, enticing any man.

Of course, Shane wasn't immune either, though annoyed at Elliana for standing him up, seeing her now, he was less angry.

He used to think of her as a mere kid, since when did she become so alluring?

"Take her to my room, I want to have a 'good talk' with her!" Shane's eyes carried a sinister gleam; making him wait all afternoon deserved some consequences.

Cari obeyed reluctantly, coaxing and tricking Elliana away.

Though puzzled, Cari noticed Shane's obvious interest in Elliana.

Shane preferred tall, leggy beauties, except for Eleanor Llyod, possibly because Elliana wasn't dressed childishly like before today.

In the surveillance room.

Raymond promptly spoke for Elliana: "Mr. CEO, Miss Lyle clearly didn't want to, we…"

"Bring the men."

Norman led Raymond and several bodyguards towards Shane's room, 402.

Norman's gaze was dark; no matter what, Elliana was his, nobody could take her, even if she was a deceitful little brat.

Room 420.

Cari pressed Elliana onto the sofa, Shane sat opposite, staring at her.

"I'll ask you one more time, where's the money?"

Elliana gave no response, only cried incessantly: "I want Norman Bennett, I want Norman Bennett~ sob sob."

"Ha, Norman Bennett? I'll ask you one last time, where's the money!" Shane raised his voice, evidently out of patience.

"Vice President, please don't be angry, Miss Lyle is drunk." Cari soothed.

Shane shrugged off his jacket, tossing it aside, approached Elliana step by step, holding her chin, forcing her to look up.

Shane curled his lips into a smile: "What do you think Norman would do if I uploaded a video after sleeping with you?"

At this moment, the door made noises and was then opened.

Outside, Raymond held back several bodyguards: "I'll let you in, only then you go in."

Seeing Norman, Cari stood up in fright: "How… how did you get in!"

Elliana, held by Shane, kept pleading: "I want Norman Bennett, I want…"

Shane looked up at the man approaching him, provocatively saying: "Oh, isn't this the famous… ugh!"

Before Shane could finish his taunt, his face took a solid punch, sending him sprawling to the floor.

"Ah!!!" Cari screamed in fear, stepping back repeatedly.

Norman, taking off his jacket, wrapped it around Elliana, picked her up, face stern, walked out without a word.

"Spit!" Shane spat blood onto the floor, a large tooth followed.

Raymond saw Norman leaving, instructed several bodyguards: "Make sure he pays dearly."