<h4>Chapter 20: Chapter 19: Lying</h4>


    "Norman Bet, wait a moment, I’m going to the bathroom. We’ll talk when I get back." Elliana Lyle said and dashed off.


    Buzz buzz~


    Elliana’s phone rang on the carpet, and a message popped up on the screen.


    Rnd: "Elliana, meet me at the café in front of Lotus Park at 1 PM tomorrow. You must be tired today, so get some good rest."


    Elliana came out three minutester, leaping into the man’s arms and continued to coo, "Norman Bet, is that alright?"


    "Alright."


    Norman Bet agreed immediately, but his eyes grew darker.


    "Go to sleep. Tomorrow afternoon, apany me out." Norman Bet’s tone wasmanding, with a chill like snowkes slipping down the neck.


    Elliana nestled in his arms, her big eyes staring at the man’s distinct chin.


    She couldn’t quite figure it out. Really... everything was fine just now, how did he suddenly get so fierce?


    Seeing the little girl a bit dazed, Norman Bet spoke again, "Don’t make me repeat myself."


    "Oh... goodnight then!"


    Norman Bet’s grim face was somewhat frightening to her, prompting her to obediently get up and run back to the room.


    She really found it strange, why did Norman Bet suddenly get angry? Was it because she was being unreasonable?


    Forget it, forget it, anyway, she already agreed.


    Sitting on the sofa, Norman Bet was lost in thought, his slender fingers tightly pinching his brow, still able to feel the lingering warmth of the little girl in his embrace.


    He had investigated the rtionship between Eleanor Llyod and Shane Southwell, not wanting the little girl to be deceived, and tried to stop it several times.


    Yet, she didn’t trust him.


    Now she hated Eleanor Llyod so much, she must have known.


    Sometimes... he really wanted to let go, as long as she would be happy.


    But he was selfish, wanting to possess her alone.


    ...


    AM.


    Elliana sleepily ran out to get some water, perhaps because North City was too dry, making it hard for this girl who was raised in misty rain to adapt.


    After drinking water, she unsteadily returned to her room, habitually opening the door on the right. Whether at Norman Bet’s house or her own, her room was always to the right.


    The person in the room was a light sleeper, easily awakened by the slightest noise.


    A pair of phoenix eyes, shrouded in darkness, opened, watching the little girl secure the door, climb into bed, and settle down after a couple of nudges.


    Elliana smelled the fragrance of lotus in her daze and turned towards the source, as if embracing arge elegant lotus blossom, holding it tighter with affection.


    With the gentle sound of breathing, Norman Bet found it utterly impossible to sleep. Beneath his eyes, as deep as a cold pool, were emotions invisible to anyone else.


    "Mm... Norman Bet..."


    "I like you... mm~..."


    The tender murmuring tightened the man’s body.


    Exhaling heavily, Norman Bet turned to embrace the little girl.


    This little trickster always softened his heart.


    "Stay by my side forever, alright?" Norman Bet’s voice was unusually gentle, like the breeze across distant spring mountains or the morning dew from a summer lotus.


    The next day.


    Elliana woke up in thete morning, cautiously eating the wontons Lana made at the dining table.


    From time to time, she would sneak a look at Norman Bet, who sat not far away, his face indifferent.


    The man sat on the sofa, long legs crossed, an icy gaze seemingly unfocused, engulfing him in a cold pool-like calmness.


    Sincest night, until now, Norman Bet’s demeanor towards her was indifferent.


    And... when she woke up today, she found herself in another room. Could Norman Bet have moved her out in the middle of the night?


    "Are you done? If you’re done, go and change clothes." Norman Bet’s expression stern, his tone carried a hint of authority.


    "Oh~" Elliana finished herst sip of soup, pouting in frustration and ncing at Norman Bet with annoyance. What’s the point of being so fierce!


    "Miss Lyle, Master had a few dresses sent over today. Let me take you to see them." Lana offered with a smile, assisting Elliana as she could sense the tension between the two today.


    She wondered what was going on, perhaps they had fought? Normally, Master wouldn’t argue with Miss Lyle.


    ...


    North City, Night Banquet International.


    This was a ce for business gatherings, and Elliana didn’t know why Norman Bet brought her here.


    She clung to the man’s arm, tilting her head to ask, "Norman Bet, what are we doing here?"


    Norman Bet kept a cold face, showing no intention of acknowledging the little girl, noting her absentmindedness as she peeked at him asionally along the way.


    Perhaps he was too selfish; today, he deliberately didn’t want her to meet Shane Southwell.


    With her question going unanswered, Elliana suddenly got a bit angry, letting go of his arm and muttering, "I don’t want to go! I want to go back."


    Norman Bet stopped, his lips parting slightly, his tone frigid, "Do you really want to see him that badly?"


    "Huh? Who?" Elliana was left in confusion, who was Norman Bet talking about?


    "I don’t like being lied to by others." Norman Bet looked down at her, a chill in his eyes.


    Elliana didn’t know how to reply momentarily; she couldn’t understand what Norman Bet meant by his words.


    When did she lie? She didn’t.


    "Let’s go." No sooner had Norman Bet’s words fallen than he started walking on his own.


    Raymond Wood looked at their CEO, then at Elliana, hesitating before deciding to quickly follow Norman Bet.


    "..." Elliana bit her lip, unable but to follow.


    Entering the hall, through thevish corridor, Elliana continued to follow Norman Bet, not too close nor too far.


    It was only upon entering arge private room that she began to understand why Norman Bet hade.


    She might not recognize the others here, but one woman’s face she could not forget!


    It was Eleanor Llyod.


    This seemed to be a business gathering for investors and the film crew.


    Elliana felt a surge of hatred upon seeing Eleanor Llyod, recalling how she and Shane Southwell treated her in her past life.


    And also recalling the truth Eleanor Llyod had long told her, that Shane Southwell married her for money, that the tonic he gave her was poison, and once she died, Shane Southwell would marry Eleanor Llyod.


    But back then, she was foolish enough to believe Eleanor Llyod was saying those things out of jealousy.


    "President Bet is here, please, take a seat," Director Thomas Lee hurriedly got up, warmly approaching Norman Bet. In his forties, his appearance was fairly conventional, with slightly sharp eyes.


    It’s said that Thomas Lee was previously a spice seller, infamous for his high prices, which led to a tarnished reputation and the closure of his spice factory, prompting his switch to directing.


    Norman Bet was ushered to the main seat by Thomas Lee’s enthusiastic wee, seated in the very center of the sofa.


    A few mboyantly dressed women then gathered around.


    Standing by the sofa, Elliana helplessly looked at Norman Bet, where should she sit?


    However, Norman Bet casually epted a drink from one of the women, elegantly swirling the ss, with no interest in acknowledging her.


    Raymond Wood was utterly stunned, hadn’t ever seen other women around Norman Bet before; anyone who darede near would be thrown out.


    Moreover, beads of sweat started forming on Thomas Lee’s face.


    If they angered Norman Bet, this business world King Hargreaves, his career as a director mighte to an end.


    But seeing Norman Bet take the drink from a female liaison, Thomas Lee, besides his astonishment, breathed a sigh of relief.


    Everything seemed to fall silent for a moment, and the attention shifted towards Elliana.


    In a little ck dress, the beautifully curved sweetheart neckline making her slender waist seem barely grabbable.


    Jet-ck locks fell straight down, covering her swan-like neck, exuding a hint of sensual allure.


    Eleanor Llyod, not recognizing Elliana at this moment, watched as she stood alone in the center, seemingly someone President Bet had brought along.


    She waved warmly at Elliana, "Sister,e sit."


    Simultaneously, a distinctive man seated to Norman Bet’s left also spoke up, pointing at Elliana, raising an attractive eyebrow with a mischievous grin, "Come here, sit on grandpa’sp."


    With that, he pushed the woman beside him away, opening his arms for Elliana toe over.


    This man was vice-president of Tian Sa Group, named Tian Ming, and besides Norman Bet, the biggest investor in South Wind Song.