Love in the Limelight

Chapter 42
“Are you awake now?” Elio looked down at the woman in his arms, her cheeks rosy as she stared back at him.
She looked like a kitten just waking up from a nap, lazy and captivating.
Astrid: “Yeah... Um, could you put me down?”
Elio set Astrid down and Roman instantly rushed over, wrapping his arms around Astrid’s thighs and shooting Elio a disapproving
look.
They had reached the elevator. Astrid glanced at the elevator and then back at Elio, smiling. “Mr Lampard, I’m home now.
Roman’s sleeping with me tonight. I can look after him all day tomorrow. You can come to pick him up tomorrow night.”
Roman quickly nodded in agreement.
Elio wasn’t too pleased. She was calling him Mr Lampard again. Had she forgotten everything he’d told her?
He wasn’t going to be kicked out that easily.
After a few seconds of thought, Elio pretended to cough a few times, covering his mouth with his hand. “...I’m suddenly not
feeling so well. Could I rest at Ms Irvine’s place?” Astrid was taken aback. He could really come up with such an unreliable
excuse?
Half–asleep Roman, hearing his dad’s ridiculous excuse, said disdainfully: “Shameless.”
Elio: “...”
Seeing this, Carson quickly stepped in: “Ms Irvine, I just remembered I have something urgent to do. I’ll leave Mr Lampard in
your care!”
With that, Carson sped off in his car.
Astrid asked, “Mr Lampard, you drove here yourself, didn’t you?”
Elio: “Drowsy driving can lead to accidents. If something happens to me, would you take responsibility, Ms Irvine?”
Astrid: “...”

The elevator arrived and Elio promptly followed Astrid in..
Remembering what Fannie had told her earlier, Astrid gave Elio a serious look. “Mr Lampard, Fannie told me everything. It’s kind
of weird, don’t you think? Trying to irritate your girlfriend by messing with other girls? What’s that all about?”
Elio had only heard Astrid’s last sentence when he came down from upstairs. He had no idea that Fannie had lied to Astrid about
them being a couple. Hearing Astrid’s words now, he frowned in displeasure. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Astrid shrugged, “I know you guys are in a secret relationship. Of course, you can’t admit it.
“I’m telling you I don’t have one. I’ve lived for twenty–nine years and I’ve only had one woman in my life, Roman’s mother. That
was an accident. I’m single and unmarried. Elio usually wouldn’t bother explaining, but this time he felt the need to clarify things
to avoid any misunderstandings with Astrid.
Seeing the earnest look in his eyes, Astrid didn’t quite know what to say... Could Fannie have been lying to her?
It was possible. After all, Fannie was known for her dishonesty.
At that moment, Roman, who was clinging tightly to Astrid’s leg, was clearly on the brink of sleep.
Astrid looked at Roman’s adorable state, quickly crouched down to pick him up, and stepped out of the elevator.
At her front door, Astrid paused, not turning back as she said, “Mr Lampard, I can take care of Roman, but it’s not really
appropriate for you to stay overnight at my place. Please go home.”
After saying this, Astrid punched in her door code, opened the door, and quickly closed it behind her..
Being denied entry made Elio quite uncomfortable.
He was the master of this house, and he could enter whenever he wanted. But if it made Astrid uncomfortable, it would defeat
his purpose.
He checked his watch. It was already nine o’clock. Elio rubbed his temples and was about to leave when a young man emerged
from the elevator.
The man was carrying an armful of snacks and started knocking on Astrid’s door. “Sweetheart Star, I’m here, open up.”
Sweetheart!?

Elio turned around to look at the man at the door.