Chapter 478


    The tension in the room was palpable, actors and directors exchanging nces that were just off. It left


    Elio with an odd feeling in his gut, but Astrid was the picture of poise, not a trace of intoxication on her.


    Puzzled, Elio asked, "What''s up?"


    Astrid locked eyes with him for several long seconds, then, with a yful smirk, she looped an arm


    around his neck and nted a quick kiss on his lips.


    Elio''s brain short-circuited, and the room exploded into chaos! It was like the ball dropped on New


    Year''s Eve all over again.


    [Holy cow, Astrid''s got game!]


    [I must be seeing things!]


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    [So, are they actually dating???]


    [It''s gotta be!]


    [Elio finally won over the heartthrob, talk about abor of love!]


    Astrid nced at him, ruffling her hair awkwardly, and began in a soft voice, "Elio, the thing is..."


    "No need to exin," he gently cut her off, "whatever the reason, you kissed me. We should head out;


    it''s gettingte."


    "Right." Astrid bid farewell to the crowd and followed Elio out.


    The night air was cool, but Astrid''s cheeks betrayed her with their warmth.


    Elio, catching her profile, chuckled softly, "Ohe on, our Astrid shy? It''s not our first kiss. What''s


    there to blush about?"


    As he spoke, Elio spun around, pulling Astrid into an embrace and pinning her gently against the wall.


    "I was ying Truth or Dare with them, lost, and chose a dare. They dared me to kiss you," Astrid


    confessed in a hushed tone, though her voicecked confidence.


    Truth be told, she could have refused, but whether it was the alcohol or some inexplicable impulse, she


    had agreed!


    Their child was already four; what''s a kiss in the grand scheme of things?


    Elio grinned, "Who thought of that dare? They''re going ces, because who knows when you''d have


    kissed me on your own initiative."


    At this, Astrid pushed him away, amused and mock-annoyed, "Get off me! Who even does that outside


    of TV dramas anymore? Are you stuck in the past? We have a kid, and I kissed you, so what?"


    Elio started to reply when a voice interrupted, "Quite the scene you two are making."


    Elio turned to see a group of masked men in ck approaching, steel pipes in hand.


    Astrid shoved Elio aside, scanning the parking garage exits now blocked by the thugs.


    Caught off guard.


    She hadn''t expected them to make a move in public.


    But Astrid was always one step ahead, never without a n.


    Elio moved to shield her, "Astrid, stay back. My guys are nearby."


    "Tell your guys to hold off. I want to handle this. We''re a society ofw and order, right? Time to show


    some civility!" Astrid pushed Elio away again, popped a piece of gum into her mouth, and with a defiant


    stance faced the goons, "Got insurance, boys?"


    The thugs were baffled.


    Astrid sneered, "Jay Lampard, that lowlife, can''t face me himself, so he sends you to do his dirty work?


    You think you can take me down, a bunch of misfits? I was taking on ten at a time while you were still in


    diapers!"


    The leader felt insulted and barked, "Say that again?"


    Astrid mocked, "Wow, first time I''ve seen someone beg to be insulted twice. I''m in a good mood today;


    I''ll indulge you, you trash!"


    As she spoke, a hidden de shot from her sleeve, striking the man square in the chest!


    In the next instant, the once-cocky thug hit the concrete, his legs twitching before going still.


    Astrid stepped forward and kicked him disdainfully, "Useless."