Chapter 5：First kiss

The head of the design department saw the situation and hurried over, smiling at Lumi Hawthorne, "Miss Lumi, what's happening here?"

Lowering her head, Lumi Hawthorne played with her meticulously done nails and spoke lazily, "Even a mere assistant from Horizon Global Enterprises Inc. dares to be so arrogant? This assistant should either kneel and apologize to me or get lost!"

A hint of anger flickered in Lyra's eyes as she said, "Lumi Hawthorne, you're going too far!"

The head of the design department frowned, trying to appease the situation, "Miss Lumi, this employee is new here and doesn't quite understand the rules. I'll have a word with her, but asking her to kneel and apologize is a bit..."

Lumi Hawthorne casually smiled but with a strong tone, "I'm the high-priced spokesperson for Horizon Global Enterprises Inc. If she doesn't kneel today, I'll quit being the spokesperson!"

"This..." The head of the design department didn't expect Lumi Hawthorne to be so difficult. Asking for a kneeling apology was excessive. He scratched his head and, in a gentle tone, said, "Lumi, don't be angry. I'll make her apologize to you!"

The design department head then nudged Lyra with his shoulder, giving her a signal to apologize to Lumi Hawthorne.

Burning with anger, Lyra lifted her chin and remained silent.

Lumi Hawthorne sarcastically remarked, "Do you know how many people outside are queuing up to have me as their spokesperson for their company?"

When everything seemed at a standstill, a charismatic voice suddenly resonated, "Horizon Global Enterprises Inc. is indeed outstanding, and what's most outstanding is it will never make things difficult for its employees!"

The voice was resounding and forceful, catching everyone's attention in the venue.

Lyra didn't expect Torin to step forward and speak up for her. He was followed by a group, including Lumi Hawthorne's manager.

Torin, clad in a black suit, had a cold yet refined demeanor. His voice was unwavering, "Miss Lyra represents the company's reputation. Asking her to kneel is equivalent to making the entire Horizon Global Enterprises Inc. kneel!"

Furious and embarrassed, Lumi Hawthorne completely disregarded her manager's subtle cues and pointed at Torin, "Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me like this? Get your company's boss out here! If I don't get an explanation today, I'll call the reporters!"

The manager was flustered, trying to control the situation, "Lumi, calm down..."

"Quiet? I must have an explanation today!" Lumi Hawthorne arrogantly insisted.

Torin looked at her and suddenly smiled faintly, "Are you looking for me? I'm the CEO of Horizon Global Enterprises Inc."

Lumi Hawthorne was momentarily stunned, her voice stuck in her throat as she glanced at Torin. She found it ridiculous that the acclaimed CEO of the rising Horizon Global Enterprises Inc. was such a young and handsome man.

She didn't anticipate such a young, handsome figure!

Realizing the potential backlash of offending a rising star like Horizon Global Enterprises Inc., the manager hastily intervened, "Torin, Lumi has a straightforward personality. Such characters are rare and valuable in today's society. Please don't mind her, hehe!"

Lumi Hawthorne's aura diminished, and her voice softened. She had been in the entertainment circle for years and was adept at maneuvering situations. She immediately tried to be charming, "So, you're Torin, the esteemed CEO. I've heard a lot about you!"

Torin shook his head, displaying a noble demeanor, and made a contemptuous comment, "You've misunderstood. You're just too good at pretending. Your image doesn't meet the requirements for our company's spokesperson. Since you've just said you don't want to be a spokesperson anymore, let's terminate the contract!"

Lumi Hawthorne's new movie was about to premiere, and terminating the contract with Horizon Global Enterprises Inc. at this moment would be detrimental to her.

Suddenly feeling aggrieved, Lumi Hawthorne's eyes reddened.

The manager desperately tried to defuse the tension, "Torin, this is a misunderstanding!"

However, Torin didn't seem inclined to engage further, and he walked away with Lyra.

Exiting the venue, Lyra stopped and sincerely said, "Thank you for speaking up for me earlier!"

Torin gently smiled, "It's not all for you. As I said, you are an employee of the company, representing the company's reputation."

Feeling guilty for potentially causing the company to terminate its contract with Lumi Hawthorne, Lyra was overwhelmed with stress.

Clamping down on her emotions, Lyra bit her lip and said decisively, "Thank you for valuing me, but I don't want to make things difficult for you. So, I'm voluntarily resigning!"

Torin was taken aback; he hadn't expected her to want to resign. He understood he might have put too much pressure on her.

With this realization, Torin faintly regretted it, feigning a disappointed expression, "Really? It's a shame to lose such a good employee like you. I still hope you reconsider."

Lyra returned home feeling dejected. She was about to go online to apply for jobs when she received a call from the Everly Family, asking her to return to the estate in the evening.

Reluctantly, Lyra returned to the Everly Family's estate, where she saw Octavia Everly lounging on the couch, watching TV.

Octavia Everly, upon seeing her, rolled her eyes with hostility and shouted upstairs, "Mom! Lyra Everly's here!"

Lyra's mother had passed away when she was young, and her father didn't care for her, sending her to the countryside.

Later, her father remarried and had Octavia Everly with Rowena Winters.

Two years ago, when they were about to merge families, Rowena Winters had hoped to marry off her daughter Octavia Everly to Ronan, but Orion Everly opposed it.

One reason was Octavia Everly was only sixteen at the time, still a minor.

Secondly, due to Ronan's notoriety, Orion Everly feared for Octavia Everly's safety, so he decided to send Lyra away to the countryside.

Orion Everly promised to take care of Lyra's ailing grandmother, which prompted Lyra to agree to the union.

Rowena Winters came down the stairs, her eyes filled with disdain, and said contemptuously, "Already married but still don't understand basic etiquette! Don't you know how to inform people?"

Lyra, despite her dislike for this mother-daughter duo, still made an effort. She stiffly called out to Rowena Winters, "Auntie."

When Orion Everly appeared, Lyra remained alone in the living room.

"Lyra's here?" Orion Everly asked.

Lyra looked up, saw Orion Everly, and softly said, "Dad."

Orion Everly inquired, "I saw the news. Ronan has been spotted with another actress these days?"

Lyra lowered her eyes, saying nothing, but her palms clenched tightly.

Observing her silence, Orion Everly spoke solemnly, "Since you're married, you should be more understanding. Ronan is busy with work and social engagements. Which wealthy young man doesn't enjoy socializing? As a wife, you should be more understanding. There's nothing insurmountable between husband and wife, understand?"

Lyra tried to speak, but she couldn't utter a word.

Octavia Everly chuckled sarcastically, "Dad, look at what you're saying. They've been married for so long, and when has my sister-in-law ever been treated properly by him?"

Lyra turned and walked toward the kitchen, "I'll go to the kitchen to help."

Angrily, Orion Everly glared at Octavia Everly, "Shut up!"

Octavia Everly immediately threw herself into Rowena Winters' arms, complaining, "Mom! Dad scolded me!"

Rowena Winters comforted her daughter with a mocking smile aimed at Orion Everly, "Your elder daughter is worthless, incapable of holding Ronan's heart! If you had listened to me and married off Octavia..."

As soon as Octavia Everly heard this, she triumphantly raised her chin, "If it were me, my brother-in-law would never act this way!"

Hmph!

It was all because of that despicable woman, Lyra, otherwise, she would have been the enviable president's wife of the Vale family!

Orion Everly scolded, "Shut up! What do you know? I did it all for Octavia's good!"

Lyra endured the dinner at the table, enduring Rowena Winters' sarcastic remarks.

After dinner, she approached Orion Everly, "Dad, how's Grandma doing lately?"

Orion Everly evaded the question with a pretense, "She's okay!"

"Can I go see her?" Lyra asked.

Since she got married, Orion Everly had sent her grandmother to a nursing home and, using the excuse of her grandmother needing rest, prevented her from visiting.

Orion Everly's expression turned stern, "Lyra, don't you trust Dad?"

"That's not what I meant." Lyra pursed her lips.

Orion Everly softened his tone, "Your grandmother is in the nursing home, receiving the best treatment. She has dementia and doesn't recognize anyone. You can rest assured; I'll take good care of her!"

With that, Lyra found it hard to say anything further.

After leaving the estate, Lyra decided to visit Ronan's villa.

When leaving, she grabbed a USB drive containing her clothing design sketches from the past few years. Reluctant to spend money on a taxi, she chose to take a bus back.

The bus stop was a considerable distance from the villa. After about half an hour's walk, when she saw the grand gates of the villa, she unexpectedly noticed a car parked by the roadside.

The entirely black Maybach was conspicuous enough, but even more noticeable was a young man leaning on the car door, apparently feeling extremely unwell.

Initially reluctant to interfere, the more Lyra looked at the man's back, the more familiar he seemed.

She approached cautiously, and when she saw the handsome profile of the man, her entire being froze.

Ronan!

How could he be here?

Today, a doctor from the Mayo Medical Center called Ronan, saying Cordelia Locke's condition was worsening, and they urgently needed to find a suitable bone marrow donor.

Ronan, anxious and helpless, had a few extra drinks. He had set the navigation for Majestic Crest Villa a few days ago when driving. Tonight, feeling uncomfortable due to excessive drinking, without looking, he had directly selected the navigation history, mistakenly arriving at Majestic Crest Villa.

When he realized something was amiss, he was already feeling extremely unwell, and he started vomiting.

Lyra stood there hesitating for a long time. Her emotions were extremely conflicted, almost tearing her mind apart.

Ronan was genuinely unwell, almost collapsing after vomiting, his body almost unable to stand upright.

At that moment, Lyra gritted her teeth and rushed over, supporting him. She forcefully bit her lip, took a deep breath, and called out his name, "Ronan, are you okay?"

Ronan's dark eyes lacked focus as they glanced in her direction.

Lyra's heart skipped a beat inexplicably as if caught by a giant hand.

"Cordelia!" Ronan suddenly embraced her with all his might, tightening his arms as if trying to embed her in his body. "Cordelia, you're finally better..."

His murmurs caused an unexpected pang in Lyra's heart.

Cordelia?

So, Ronan's heart harbored so many women—Lumi Hawthorne, Cordelia... but unfortunately not her.

"I'm not Cordelia..." Lyra hadn't finished speaking when something heavy pressed against her.

Ronan's head, resting against her forehead, tilted to the side and heavily fell onto her.

Lyra felt like collapsing. Gritting her teeth, using all her strength, she slowly carried him toward the Majestic Crest Villa.

Ronan's entire weight bore down on her, and she exerted all her strength to carry him to the doorstep of Majestic Crest Villa. Dozens of steps felt like an eternity as she was drenched in sweat.

Lyra, panting heavily, finally managed to carry the unconscious Ronan to the doorstep of Majestic Crest Villa.

The security guard, upon seeing them, hurried over, surprised, "Mrs. Lyra?" Then, he looked perplexed at the man leaning against her.

"It's my husband..." Lyra gritted her teeth. "My husband drank too much."

"Oh, it's CEO Ronan!" The security guard suddenly realized and hurriedly lent a hand.

With the security guard's help, they managed to get Ronan to the doorstep of the villa. Lyra attempted the gate's code, and it hadn't been changed.

It seemed that after she left, Ronan had come back for the first time!

Lyra thanked the security guard, closed the gate, and helped Ronan onto the sofa inside.

She was completely exhausted, lying on the carpet, panting heavily.

Unexpectedly, Ronan furrowed his eyebrows, tilted his head, and suddenly rolled off the sofa, landing heavily on her.

His thin lips landed directly on hers, perfectly aligned!

Lyra was stunned. This was her first kiss!

She pushed Ronan away and vigorously rubbed her lips with the back of her hand.

Was Ronan born solely to oppose her? She couldn't help but feel extremely infuriated by this thought.