h4Chapter 172: Chapter 170: Handle It Yourself/h4

    ―――3:00 PM.

    Elliana Lyle was already in her dress, seated in the car heading to the hotel, but to be honest, she was still sleepy.

    "Lana... what are we going to do..."

    She fell asleep as she was asking the question, not hearing a word of Lana’s answer.

    Today was a meeting cocktail party for the director, investors, and actors, as they had yet to confirm the exact start date of filming.

    The whole series of matters needed to be discussed.

    Originally, Norman Bet didn’t want Elliana Lyle to go, but it was better for her future work adaptation and necessary social connections to make an appearance.

    At the same time, it was also a way to give Elliana Lyle some experience.

    When she arrived at the hotel entrance, Elliana Lyle groggily woke up, and her lotus-pink dress had be a bit wrinkled from her sleeping.

    However, with a bit of tidying, it was not noticeable. The dress was made of organza fabric, rtively stiff, but the petal-enclosed design on the bodice was indeed quite beautiful.

    After getting out of the car, she saw Norman Bet already waiting for her. The jet-ck bespoke suit highlighted a jawline sharper than life itself, exuding a don’te-near aura.

    But this man, she could get close to.

    The man was already in front of her, and despite wearing sky-high heels, she only reached 170 cm, while he was a full 20 cm taller.

    "Norman Bet, what’s on the agenda today?"

    The man tidied the stray hairs by her cheeks and said, "We’re meeting some unimportant people, you just sit by me without saying much."

    "What kind of people?" She was still curious.

    "Director, producer, investors."

    The man mentioned the people they were expected to meet, and she finally understood. She still remembered the previous investor meeting, where Norman Bet was angry.

    Then the man solemnly said, "Alright, remember to stay by my side, and don’t run around, understood?"

    His reminder was somewhat deliberate, which made her a bit puzzled, but she obediently nodded.

    Then he handed her a phone with information about a few people on it.

    After entering the hotel, they came to a private room. The room wasrge with many people present. Although the lighting was bright, it still seemed somewhat "dim".

    The table was covered with various drinks, and almost every man in a suit had a woman by his side, but judging by their clothes, they were merelypanions.

    The main seat on the sofa in the center was reserved for Norman Bet.

    Apart from The Bets, Norman Bet’s own business, Melody Harmony, allowed him to sit on equal footing with these people, if not above them.

    Therefore, in the eyes of these rich second-generation and government officials’ offspring, Norman Bet had a certain status.

    The man had said she didn’t need to say much, and indeed, no one spoke to her, everyone was talking to Norman Bet.

    "Hey! Brother Bet, thedy beside you is really beautiful." A man in a floral shirt fixed his gaze on Elliana Lyle.

    The man was Shane Donovan, the Vice President of thergest domestic filmpany, East Glory Group, aplete yboy who, relying on his family’s wealth and his charming appearance, frequently mingled at various cocktail parties just to fool around with women.

    Shane Donovan patted the woman beside him, smiling as he spoke to Norman Bet, "What do you think? Isn’t she attractive? Brother Bet, want to switch with me?"

    This remark startled everyone present. Although Norman Bet did not exin who the woman next to him was, it was clear without needing to think that she was Elliana Lyle, the current Mrs. Bet.

    After all, Norman Bet was known for never bringing a femalepanion. Some of his closer friends teasingly called him a monk, uninterested in worldly pleasures.

    Seated beside the man, Elliana Lyle frowned. This Shane Donovan was obviously no good; his handsome appearance contradicted his extremely repulsive behavior.

    She wasn’t afraid of being switched, after all, how could Norman Bet agree? A bit narcissistically, she was Norman Bet’s cherished little treasure.

    Norman Bet, with a steady expression, suppressed his anger and said, "Shane Donovan, let’s not go there."

    Though his tone was not heavy, the threat within could be heard.

    To Norman Bet, these people were merely business connections and, naturally, not good people, but to prevent Elliana Lyle from future harm, he brought her to shake hands with these people.

    The atmosphere in the room instantly froze, Shane Donovan’s smile faded, and a hint of menace shed in his eyes.

    At this moment, Zane Collins quickly spoke to ease the tension, "Brother Shane, you’re out of line. This is sister-inw, how could you switch? Are you drunk?"

    Zane Collins was Hannah Collins’s brother. The Collins family was a third generation of red, Hannah joined the military, Galen joined the police, and Hannah’s uncle was someone of the highest rank.

    Zane, however, went into business, and in this crowd, he was on Norman Bet’s side.

    It was a graceful step down. Shane Donovan wasn’t ignorant of who Elliana Lyle was, but his mouth tended to run and he was bold, testing Norman Bet’s regard for Elliana Lyle.

    If he didn’t care much, he’d make a move; if he cared, he’d back off.

    "Oh, getting upset over just a joke, Brother Bet, I’m sorry, let’s drink to that," Shane Donovan said, holding a ss.

    Norman Bet symbolically clinked sses with Shane Donovan, and the atmosphere returned to its previous harmony.

    Elliana Lyle sat quietly, legs crossed under her dress, holding a ss of champagne she wasn’t allowed to drink, her posture exuding an aloof arrogance, embodying the vibe of a woman of a boss.

    She calmly scanned the speakers, intentionally or unintentionally introducing themselves. Zane Collins she somewhat recognized, naturally connecting his name to the next, Theodore Collins.

    After all, Theodore was magnificent in his prime.

    Apart from Shane Donovan, there was another man who didn’t leave a good impression, Nichs Llyod. Unlike Shane Donovan, he wasn’t a big talker, but a man of action.

    Just earlier, Nichs Llyod had forced his hotel escort to drink. When she couldn’t, he pped her and kicked her out.

    That kick looked painful, but the others seemed oblivious, continuing their conversations.

    Only directors, producers, and actors who couldn’t join in showed pity. The director, in this case, seemed to have a low status, almost silent, only speaking when addressed.

    Strangely enough, all the actors present were actresses. Most were to y minor roles, with the second female lead being Shane Donovan’spanion.

    At this point, thepanion kicked by Nichs Llyod was still kneeling on the ground.

    "Sister-inw, what are you thinking about, so absent-minded?"

    Nichs Llyod suddenly addressed her, and she was a bit slow to respond.

    "Is it any of your business?" Elliana Lyle asked with a smile, tone slightly pressed.

    Nichs Llyodughed immediately, "Oh no, it’s none of my business, here only Brother Bet has that privilege, right Brother Bet?"

    Norman Bet didn’t speak, but his expression showed a hint of satisfaction with the little girl’s response.

    "Norman, let her go, it’s not good for her to keep kneeling." Since no one mentioned it, she took the liberty to do so.

    Without Norman Bet needing to speak, Nichs Llyod immediately shouted at the woman on the ground, "Did you hear that? Hurry up and get out?"

    "Yes, yes." The woman, as if receiving amnesty, hurriedly climbed up from the ground, though there were ss shards, and her knees were bleeding red, slowing her movements.

    "Didn’t you hear?" Nichs Llyod said, preparing to kick her again.

    Elliana Lyle’s expression instantly tensed, narrowing her almond eyes, gripping the ss tightly, Nichs Llyod was provoking her.

    "Wait a minute!"

    Elliana Lyle’s voice stopped Nichs Llyod’s action, retracting his foot in mid-air, he smirked, "Sister-inw? What’s the matter? Any further instructions?"

    Although his words seemed respectful, Elliana Lyle caught the challenging menace in his tone.

    Beside her, the man remained indifferent, maintaining a cold face, seemingly wanting her to handle it on her own.