Tommy Taylor passed the newspaper over. "See for yourself!"

On it, the entertainment section’s front-page headline was emblazoned in bold, oversized print, impossible to miss.

"Explosive! Ashton’s CEO in Secret Meeting with Irene!" Below that, a large, bolded subtitle read, "Irene claims, ’We live together.’ Journalists spotted the two entering the same hotel; Irene only left in the wee hours..."

"This is ridiculous!"

Kris Cooper merely glanced at the headline and tossed the paper back to Tommy before returning to the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth.

Tommy followed, standing in the doorway with a furrowed brow.

"Aren’t you going to call and explain?"

Kris Cooper spat out the toothpaste, splashed water on his face, and responded nonchalantly, "Explain that Irene Spencer and I weren’t in the same room? She’s not that bothered by such things. Besides, that little sleepyhead is definitely still fast asleep. If I call now, wouldn’t I just be waking her?"

Tommy stood at the door, momentarily stunned and unsure what to say. Kris Cooper, however, simply leaned against the doorframe.

"Order two breakfasts!"

With that command, the man closed the door.

Tommy raised an eyebrow, then turned to call and order their meal.

After Kris Cooper showered and sat down for breakfast, he checked his watch. Then, he picked up his phone to call his old residence. Once he confirmed that Vera Wave had finished her breakfast and left, he dialed her cell phone.

On the other end of the line, Vera had just walked into the office.

Merlin Bradley and the others were huddled together, looking at the news about Kris Cooper, when one colleague spotted Vera and immediately whispered a warning.

"Manager Vera’s here!"

At the warning, everyone hastily folded their newspapers and quickly dispersed.

Wang Xiaoya, being a bit slower due to her build, bumped her leg against the corner of a chair in the sudden scramble and cried out in pain.

Vera looked around at everyone with a puzzled expression.

"What’s going on?!"

"N-no... nothing!" Wang Xiaoya stammered, waving the hand still clutching the newspaper. "H-have... have you had breakfast? I brought rice balls for you..."

Nearby, Merlin Bradley saw the newspaper waving in Xiaoya’s hand and gently nudged her arm. Wang Xiaoya, still oblivious, just kept smiling at Vera.

"Really? Did you add meat floss?" Vera asked with a smile.

Merlin Bradley grew anxious and nudged her harder, pointedly glancing at the newspaper in Xiaoya’s hand.

Wang Xiaoya had been about to put the newspaper on the table to get the rice balls for Vera when she finally realized what was happening. Panicking, she quickly grabbed the paper and shoved it into her drawer, pinching her fingers in her haste and letting out another yelp of pain.

Vera hadn’t initially paid any mind to the newspaper in Wang Xiaoya’s hand, but all this commotion piqued her curiosity. She glanced around at everyone, then held out her hand to Wang Xiaoya.

"Give it to me."

Wang Xiaoya handed over the container of rice balls. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Vera took the rice balls and held out her hand again.

"That’s all! I gave you everything!"

Vera then nodded her chin towards Xiaoya’s drawer. "I meant... the newspaper!"

"N-newspaper?!" Wang Xiaoya’s chubby face froze. "Wh-what... what paper?!"

Vera didn’t bother arguing. She walked over, placed the rice balls on the table, then reached out, opened the drawer, and pulled out the newspaper.

On the entertainment section, a large photo of Kris Cooper immediately met her eyes.

"Wang Xiaoya!" Merlin Bradley shot Xiaoya a fierce glare, causing her to shrink back. Merlin then quickly walked over to Vera. "Uh... Vera, this... it’s definitely just fabricated by the journalists. Don’t look at it; it’ll only upset you!"