Chapter 244: Chapter 241: Reluctant to Part
"..."
In her sleep, Elliana Lyle’s face looked uneasy, her brows furrowed, indicating she wasn’t sleeping well.
Norman Bennett was a light sleeper, and having just fallen asleep after coming back in the middle of the night, he could sense even the slightest movement beside him.
Upon opening his eyes, the little girl lay obediently in his arms, her body curled into a ball, her small feet pressed against him...
This peculiar sleeping posture was something he saw for the first time; usually, the little girl would at most put her feet on his waist.
After reaching out to turn on the small table lamp, he finally saw the sleeping face of the little girl. Her brows were tightly knitted, and the eyes under her lids were roaming from time to time; even her lips occasionally trembled.
Could it be a nightmare?
He frowned slightly, reached out to hold the flushed sleeping face, and half sat up.
"Girl? Wake up!"
The voice wrapped in tenderness was urgent.
At this moment, Elliana was running, a sandstorm enveloping the sky behind her, pushing her to run forward with all her might.
Suddenly, she seemed to hear a voice, unclear in its words, but the sandstorm behind her was gradually disappearing.
"!" Elliana suddenly opened her eyes, immediately gasping for air, having covered her mouth to breathe due to the sandstorm.
She almost suffocated herself, and now her face felt hot.
"Sandstorm! So huge!" She murmured, only to realize that it was Norman hugging her.
The man looked down at her, a slight confusion in his eyes, his robe somewhat disheveled, revealing some of his collarbones and muscles.
"Nightmare?" He asked gently, reaching out to softly touch her face to comfort her.
She was momentarily disoriented, with her head feeling foggy, her eyes like pear blossoms in the rain gazing blankly at the man.
The dim light made her feel the man before her was like a deity, both hazy and clear, the edge of his white robe tinged with a halo.
Like a dream, making everything feel unreal.
Perhaps she was buried by the sandstorm and now saw God, who looked exactly like Norman Bennett.
As she was engrossed in the man’s beauty, she suddenly felt something was amiss.
Isn’t God supposed to be Western? Logically, if she died, she should see King Hargreaves!
She mumbled, "Are you King Hargreaves?"
King Hargreaves?
Norman paused, then raised his eyebrows in puzzlement, confusion visibly filling his eyes.
He truly didn’t know what bizarre things were running through this little girl’s head.
"I’m your husband."
Elliana was already awake by this point, having woken up as soon as she asked that question, perhaps because the suffocating feeling was too real.
Moreover, her heart was still racing, so she was a bit dazed upon waking.
"Norman Bennett~" She buried her face in his arms, quite fearing, "I dreamt about a sandstorm, I thought I was dead..."
The man gently patted her back, rhythmically, helping her heart to calm down.
"Don’t be afraid, day thoughts and night dreams."
Then, she raised her head, "Norman Bennett, do you think we’ll encounter a sandstorm?"
The man gradually lay back, pulling her into his embrace, comforting her, "No, even if you do, you’ll be on the outer circle, you’ll be able to evacuate quickly."
"Mm~" Because of this dream, she was indeed a little scared.
However, the man’s magnetic voice gradually helped her to relax.
So many actors go to the desert to film, what’s stopping her?
It’s just that she never went before, creating a bit of resistance towards the unknown in her heart.
"Sleep, I’ll wake you in the morning."
"Mm~"
She softly responded like a kitten, snuggling into the man’s embrace to find a comfortable position to sleep.
Usually, she wouldn’t sleep on Norman Bennett’s arm because the man’s flesh was not soft, making her head and neck uncomfortable.
The man’s arm was placed above her head, not much different from holding her.
Yet, tonight she found it difficult to sleep again; closing her eyes only brought the black and blue face of King Hargreaves...
The next day.
AM.
Elliana barely fell asleep at 5; now she was already being picked up by the man beside her, feeling the care as he dressed her, despite her drowsiness.
Only when the hot towel was placed on her eyelids did she finally wake up.
...
―――Airport.
At the airport entrance, she reluctantly hugged the man’s waist, resting her head against his chest.
This departure was an unknown duration; she truly couldn’t bear to leave, even though she knew Norman Bennett couldn’t be by her side all the time.
But she really wanted to pack the man in her luggage, unfortunately, it wasn’t that big.
"Be good." He ruffled her hair, his eyes full of affection.
"Norman Bennett, I’m leaving now. Remember to eat well and sleep well by yourself, don’t stay up late anymore; staying up late is bad for your body and skin."
Perhaps fearing he wouldn’t listen, she deliberately warned, "If you get ugly, I won’t want you anymore."
He looked down at her, slowly saying, "I’ll grow old."
"Huh?" She was puzzled. What did getting old have to do with getting ugly?
Although... come to think of it, it’s simultaneous, but that wasn’t what she meant.
So she said, "It’s okay to age, but age naturally; you always tell me to be good, yet you don’t behave yourself at all."
Having said that, she lifted her hands, cupping the man’s face in her palms.
"President."
A hurried voice interrupted, startling her into quickly withdrawing her hands and looking towards the source to see Raymond Wood.
"President, it’s getting late."
Though a reminder, inside Raymond’s mind: There’s only half an hour until the meeting starts; why are you still lingering here!
He truly didn’t understand what there was to be reluctant about; it’s not like they’re not coming back, is it necessary to act as if it’s a farewell?
Norman Bennett glared at Raymond, clearly in a foul mood.
After all, no one can tolerate being interrupted during a good moment.
"Norman Bennett, you go busy yourself, I’ll go on my own." With that, she glanced at the several bodyguards following her and continued, "I have them, I’m very safe."
After parting ways, she watched Norman Bennett’s car leave, then took a deep breath.
This time, she’ll be away for at least a week, up to half a month, the duration being somewhat long.
Maybe she relied on Norman Bennett too much daily, hence feeling so reluctant now, unable to even move her feet.
"Elliana, let’s go." Luna reminded her.
"Mm, okay." She took the first step, finding it not that hard, her heels clicking on the marble floor.
On the plane, several main actors were on the same flight, as well as the director, but most of the staff had arrived yesterday.
"Elliana, what’s wrong?"
Because the director booked the tickets, she couldn’t sit with Luna, and now Yates Zander was seated beside her.
She waved her hand, saying, "Nothing... just a bit airsick."
It’s not just a bit; she’s incredibly airsick, feeling like she would throw up at any moment, thankful she hadn’t eaten anything that morning, thus unable to vomit even if she wanted to.
She couldn’t pay attention to Yates Zander’s concern, closing her eyes to try falling asleep.
"Elliana, have some water." Luna’s voice sounded in her ear, and she opened her eyes, noticing Luna sitting beside her.
She remembered Luna booked an economy class ticket; how did she get here? Did Yates Zander switch with Luna?
"Yates switched with me, allowing me to come and take care of you."