Chapter 3: Authority

―――Lyle Household. This is a beautifully decorated large villa with a blend of Chinese and Western styles, hidden in the suburbs, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. At the entrance, Uncle Leo was holding some fresh flowers to go inside. He turned his head towards the iron gate upon hearing a car stop, and saw a cute girl getting out of the car, realizing it was the young miss returning home. Elliana Lyle rushed inside in a hurry. Uncle Leo’s friendly face broke into a smile, "Good morning, Miss." "Morning, Uncle Leo!" Elliana casually greeted and dashed into the house without a care. Norman Bennett hadn’t gotten out of the car. Watching the petite figure disappear through the Lyle household door, he smiled wryly. Was she really in such a hurry? She even forgot her phone. At this moment, Elliana charged into the house. It seemed her parents had already finished breakfast. They were sitting on the couch: her gentle and intellectual mother flipping through a magazine, and her father, with an air of seriousness, reading the newspaper while sipping red tea. Both were stunned to see Elliana. Elliana glanced at the cabinet just by the entrance and had a sudden idea. It had all the car keys in the house! Ignoring the curious looks from everyone inside, Elliana opened the small cabinet in one swift motion. Inside, keys were neatly organized, each compartment with a label. There were keys to seven cars in total. Apart from four luxury cars, the other three BMWs were for the butler and drivers! Watching Elliana gather all the car keys and hurriedly run upstairs, she even lost one of her bedroom slippers! "What is that girl up to this morning?" Mr. Lyle stared at the rabbit slipper on the stairs and asked, "What did she just take?" Uncle Leo quickly replied, "The young miss took the car keys." Elliana efficiently locked away all the car keys and even hid her room key in the bathroom. She couldn’t let them out today! ... "Elliana! Give me the car keys. I have a meeting to attend!" Mr. Lyle’s expression was slightly angry; he was truly somewhat upset, having no time to mind Elliana’s early return. Standing at the door, Elliana shook her head desperately, almost about to cry: "You can’t go out today." Elliana didn’t know how to explain to the two people in front of her. She only hoped her parents wouldn’t go out today no matter what. This... looking at Elliana’s demeanor, she didn’t seem like she was causing trouble out of willfulness. Mrs. Lyle glanced unexpectedly at Mr. Lyle, then slowly walked over to Elliana, bending slightly to ask, "What’s the matter with you, girl?" "You just can’t go out!" Elliana spoke with rare determination, leaving no room for negotiation, which puzzled Mrs. Lyle but also led her to think of something. "Elliana, then Mom also has a condition!" Mrs. Lyle smiled, but the smile seemed a bit off for Elliana. "What?" Elliana looked at her mother curiously, with a mix of anticipation and some doubts in her heart. Mrs. Lyle smiled gently, tapped her on the nose, and said directly: "We won’t go out, but you have to agree to the marriage with the Bennett Family." "I agree." Elliana replied almost without thinking. Everyone in the room was stunned. The young miss actually agreed? The same young miss who went on a hunger strike last month just agreed so easily today! Even Mr. Lyle, who had been frowning all along, was a bit incredulous. He clearly remembered his daughter being very resolute. Could it be that after spending some days together, Elliana found something good about Norman Bennett? However, this was a different matter. Mr. Lyle felt somewhat dissatisfied, saying, "Many people are waiting at the company, and I..." "Old Lyle!" Mrs. Lyle immediately stopped Mr. Lyle, not letting him continue, and reassured, "The meeting can be postponed. Our daughter’s marriage is more important." Mrs. Lyle always cared deeply about Elliana and Norman Bennett’s relationship. Years ago, Norman Bennett’s mother passed away due to a heart condition. Her last wish was not being able to see the two children, promised to each other as infants, get married, which was her lifelong regret. Mrs. Lyle and Norman Bennett’s mother were childhood friends, and the Lyle Family and the Bennett Family were old family friends, a bond as close as kin. Seeing Mr. Lyle push his glasses up, his frown unable to relax, Elliana knew her father cared most about work matters, making it difficult for him today. Not wanting her father to be caught in a bind, she had an idea and said, "Dad, when was the last time you exercised? How about you and Elliana walk to the company today, okay?" "Walk?" Mr. Lyle was noticeably surprised. It had indeed been a long time since he had exercised, always racing against time, especially after taking over the Lyle Corporation, he had been even busier. "Okay?" Elliana tilted her head slightly, her bright eyes looking at the usually stern father. In the past, she was both scared and disliked him, as he always had a stern face and often admonished her. Perhaps she had been spoiled by the household’s butler and other servants, so she would often throw tantrums over minor displeasures, yet during the three years at the Southwell Family, she was subjected to bullying but dared not complain... Thinking of this, Elliana’s gaze dimmed. At that time, she lived a miserable life, knowing full well Shane Southwell didn’t like her, but still deceiving herself! "Alright! Let’s walk; it’s better to be late than not go at all." Mr. Lyle said, then turned to Mrs. Lyle, "Tell Lewis to postpone the meeting to the afternoon." Mrs. Lyle nodded, pursing her lips with a smile, and said with great relief, "You both go ahead. I have nothing urgent today, a perfect time for a break." As they stepped out, Elliana still felt slightly uneasy. She changed into a warm apricot dress, simple without any patterns, adorned only with a six-petal pearl blossom on the chest, making her skin appear even fairer, with her slender legs not looking too thin. She placed her hands behind her back, holding them as she walked alongside Mr. Lyle, feeling this moment was surreal. She had never connected with this father before. In her childhood, her parents were both very busy, and her grandparents disapproved of her for being a girl, never showing her a pleasant face. She became increasingly spoiled, always feeling if others didn’t like her, why should she like others, and so, never taking the initiative to be kind, even to her family. "Elliana, focus while walking; this is the roadside. What if you get into an accident while being absent-minded?" Mr. Lyle suddenly spoke, breaking the silent atmosphere between them. Although Mr. Lyle’s tone was stern, he was genuinely concerned. Were it the past, Elliana might have immediately retorted with a rebellious attitude. "Alright~ then... Dad, will you hold my hand as we walk, okay?" Elliana beamed with a bright smile, extending her small hands. Elliana was petite, only 160 cm tall, appearing cute and youthful. However, both her parents were quite tall. People often speculated that Elliana was not their biological child, but she actually inherited from her uncle, who was just 158 cm, and he in turn inherited from their grandmother. "How old are you, still wanting to hold hands? That’s unreasonable!" Despite his words, Mr. Lyle still reached out, taking Elliana’s hand. Their large, warm hands held hers for the first time like a real father-daughter bond. Elliana smiled, yet tears welled up in her eyes, discreetly wiping them away as she adjusted her bangs. The road was long, a full seven kilometers, yet it felt so short. Half an hour later, the father and daughter arrived at the South Gate overpass, the very spot where her parents had a car accident in her past life! Elliana’s hand involuntarily trembled slightly. Yet this subtle movement didn’t escape Mr. Lyle’s notice. He immediately let go of Elliana’s hand, took off his jacket, and draped it over her, admonishing her while doing so: "When going out, you should dress more warmly. You’ll only realize how hard it is once you’re sick."