Kris Cooper lifted his face, watching him with a beaming smile.

How could he hold back? This guy’s really something, huh?

As Nathan Leafcastle returned to his seat, Cooper simply taunted him. He had been expecting Leafcastle to lash out so he could seize the opportunity for a fight. However, Leafcastle unexpectedly didn’t give him the chance. His restraint was truly impressive.

Kris Cooper had naturally disliked Nathan Leafcastle ever since the scandal between him and Vera Wave. He had only tolerated him because he was worried about upsetting his own wife.

"Kris Cooper." Nathan Leafcastle drew a deep breath, suppressing the boiling emotion in his chest. "For Vera’s sake, I won’t make a fuss today. But you should remember, this is the last time."

He drained the glass in one gulp, slammed it onto the table, rose from his seat again, pulled his chair out, and walked towards the exit.

Kris Cooper leaned back lazily in his chair, swirling a glass in his right hand.

When he saw Nathan Leafcastle get up, he brought his glass up, holding it before his eyes and swirling it.

In the glass, the ice was almost melted. When shaken lightly, the ice cubes collided with the wall of the glass, making a clear, crisp sound.

Bending his arm, he slowly brought the glass to his mouth.

Upon reaching the end of a row of tables, Nathan Leafcastle changed direction and continued forward, his eyes fixed on Kris Cooper’s movements from a distance.

Noticing that Cooper had brought the glass to his mouth, Nathan narrowed his eyes and halted in front of the cashier.

Kris Cooper brought the glass to his mouth and tilted it slowly, the liquid inside trickling towards his lips.

Nathan Leafcastle’s hand, clutching the money, tensed.

"That’s 360 USD in total," the cashier said with a smile, reaching for the money he offered. She took hold of it but couldn’t pull it away, as Nathan was gripping it tightly.

The man’s fingers were clenched. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Sir?!" the cashier asked, puzzled.

Nathan Leafcastle looked away from her, handed her the money, and turned his gaze back towards Kris Cooper.

He saw that the man had already put the glass back in its place and had risen from the sofa.

Nathan Leafcastle smirked coldly. "Keep the change!"

At that moment, Kris Cooper had slung his coat over his shoulder and was sauntering lazily in his direction.

Meeting Nathan Leafcastle’s gaze, he stopped. With a flick of his fingers, he flung a few large bills at Leafcastle’s chest.

"I, Kris Cooper, don’t drink your wine!"

After speaking, he strode away without looking back.

The bills fluttered to the ground. Nathan Leafcastle watched his steady departure, his eyes narrowed. He stepped over the fallen bills and walked back to the table. Kris Cooper’s glass was still there, the liquid inside still slightly swaying—he hadn’t drunk any of it at all.

His gaze swept over the crushed ice bobbing in the drink. Nathan Leafcastle clenched his fist abruptly.

"Damn it!"

An assistant walked into the bar and, upon seeing him, quickly headed over.

"Everything is prepared. But where is Kris Cooper?"

Nathan Leafcastle frowned. "Hold off on notifying the journalists for now. There’s been a change of plans."

「A hotel room.」

By the time Irene Spencer awoke, it was already dusk. She raised her hand to rub her slightly throbbing temples, looking around in confusion.

The room was very quiet, the curtains drawn tightly. There was no one else around.

She threw off the covers, got out of bed, and walked out of the guest room, but she couldn’t see either of her two assistants.

Where could those two have run off to?

Irene Spencer picked up her bag from the coffee table, fumbled inside for her phone, and dialed one of her assistants.

"Where are you two?" she asked, her tone laced with displeasure.