"Hmph!" Kris Cooper’s lip curled into a cold smirk. "So, he’s planning to scapegoat Irene Spencer to save himself."

"At present... we can’t be sure, but I tend to agree with your speculation," Tommy Taylor said.

Kris Cooper’s gaze returned to the lawyer in the photo. He slid the picture out and handed it to Tommy Taylor.

"Contact this lawyer. I want to know what exactly is on that note."

Tommy Taylor nodded. "I’ll arrange it right away."

"No!" Kris Cooper looked up, his expression serious. "You go in person." This matter was too important; he didn’t trust anyone else to handle it.

"Alright." Tommy Taylor picked up the photo and slipped it into the file. "Don’t forget you have dinner at home with Miss Wave tonight."

Kris Cooper glanced at his watch. He quickly gathered the documents, grabbed his car keys, and headed for the door. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

As he opened the door, he paused and turned back to Tommy.

"Notify me immediately if there’s any news."

With that instruction, he strode out of the office and headed downstairs to the floor where the Advertising Department was located.

It was now the end of the workday. A few staff members on their way out greeted him respectfully as he passed.

"Mr. President!"

He offered a slight nod in response and quickened his pace toward the entrance of the Planning Department Office.

Just then, Merlin Bradley and a few others emerged. Seeing him, they quickly stepped aside and greeted him.

"Where’s Vera?"

"The Manager is in her office."

He nodded at the group, then walked over to Vera’s office door and knocked lightly.

There was no answer from within.

Kris Cooper raised an eyebrow. Gripping the handle, he pushed the door open a crack. Inside, Vera was leaning back on the sofa, engrossed in a book.

He pushed the door open wider, walked in, and quietly approached her. "Manager Vera," he said softly, "what are you reading so intently?"

Startled, Vera looked up and shot him a glare.

"You jerk! You scared me!"

"It’s because you were too absorbed!" Kris Cooper chuckled, taking the book from her. "A restricted novel? Reading it so seriously?"

"Give it back!"

She reached for it, but he held it high out of her reach, his eyes on the cover. It featured a picture of a cute baby with the title printed above.

"Parenting Guidebook, 2-5 Year-Old Baby Brain Development?!"

Kris Cooper laughed out loud. "Seriously? Isn’t it a bit early to be reading this kind of book?" The baby isn’t even born yet, and she’s already studying brain development—for two-to-five-year-olds, no less! Isn’t that jumping the gun a bit?

"Give it back!" Vera stood, snatched the book, and quickly inserted a bookmark. "I want to read it. Is there a problem with that?"

"Alright, alright!" Kris Cooper stepped closer, cupping her face in his hands. "My wife can read any book she wants! But seriously, a brain development guide for two-to-five-year-olds? Isn’t that a little... premature?"

"What do you know?" Vera retorted, shoving the book into her backpack. "A child’s development starts early. That’s the whole point of prenatal education—it begins in the womb!"

"You don’t need to go to all that trouble. With your husband’s superior genes, even if yours bring the average down a tad, our kid will still be smarter than most."

She playfully smacked his chest with her bag.

"Bastard! You dare call me stupid!"

Taking the bag from her, Kris Cooper laughed and pulled her into an embrace, his arms around her waist.

"You managed to capture someone as brilliant as me; how could you possibly be stupid?!"