...

...

After it was over, she was so exhausted that her arms ached, and she lay sprawled out on her back on the pillow.

"Go take a shower, I’m done for!"

The man didn’t immediately get up to take a shower; instead, he carefully wiped her small hands clean, then turned over and gently kissed her lips again.

"I’ll go take a shower, and when I come back, I’ll give you a massage."

She was too lazy to move her hands, so she just lifted her chin towards him.

Kris Cooper walked into the bathroom and returned moments later, fresh and clean. He sat cross-legged and gently started to massage her small arm with his large hands.

"I’ve been busy with the Jade River project lately, so the wedding photos will have to be delayed a bit. Please don’t be mad, my love."

"It’s alright, your career comes first, and we can take the wedding photos after we’re married," she smiled at him, suddenly remembering something. She sat up quickly, "Oh right, I nearly forgot. Wait, I’ll get you something."

Saying this, she got out of bed, retrieved a document that Sally Dalton had previously given her from the study room, and handed it to Kris Cooper.

"Where did this come from?"

"Sister Sally gave it to me. She also mentioned..." Vera shrugged, "Barker wants to cooperate with Ashton to compete for the Jade River project."

Gently shaking the document in his hand, Kris Cooper faintly smiled, "Did Nathan Leafcastle send her?"

"She didn’t say," Vera shook her head lightly. "But now that Brother Nathan is the president there, they must have discussed it together!"

Her gaze fell on Kris Cooper’s face, and she reached over to take the document.

"I’ve already told her I’m only the messenger and won’t influence your opinion. No matter what decision you make, I will support you." She raised her small arm, "I believe my husband is the best!"

"Of course!" Kris Cooper laughed without modesty and casually tossed the document onto the bedside table, then opened his arms to her, "Come, let hubby hold you!"

With rare free time to spend with her, he didn’t want to use it pondering those schemes and intrigues. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Vera moved gently into his arms, finding a comfortable position to lie down. He bent down slightly, lightly nuzzling her hair with his nose.

His gentle hand rested softly on her stomach, which didn’t yet show any signs.

"Vera, promise me one thing."

"Tell me."

"Don’t tell anyone about your pregnancy for now, okay?"

Vera looked up, meeting his gaze. Without asking why, she simply nodded.

"Okay."

"Good girl!"

He gently kissed her forehead, his arm curling slightly to hold her closer.

On one hand, secretly contacting people from the Holland consortium, and on the other, sending Sally Dalton to make nice with me, it seems Nathan Leafcastle really intends to fight me to the end.

Then he can’t blame me, Kris Cooper, for being ruthless!

Softly kissing the girl’s delicate cheek, he began to speak in a low voice.

"I’m going to do something soon that you might not like. You might feel upset when you find out, so... I’ll tell you about it after a while, okay?"

The struggle with Nathan Leafcastle wouldn’t benefit Vera. This girl is too simple-hearted, and it might backfire.

She furrowed her brow slightly, "Will there be danger?"

Danger?

He shook his head with a smile.

"The danger is for others, not me."

Vera pursed her lips, "Is it related to... Brother Nathan?"

He took a deep breath, "Do you really want to know?"

From his face, she had already guessed some part of it. After hesitating for a moment, she eventually nodded.

If, indeed, things were as she imagined, she was willing to face it with him.

Kris Cooper slightly straightened her back, so she could rely on him more comfortably, then briefly explained to her what he had found out.

"So... you think this collaboration is a trap?" Vera asked.

He nodded.

"Then I’ll call them tomorrow and reject them."

"You can’t do that, Vera," Kris Cooper gently smoothed her hair, "If someone wants to target you, they won’t give up easily. We can avoid it once, but we can’t always avoid it, and you know that’s not my nature."

"So what are you going to do?"

Kris Cooper pondered for a moment, then uttered four words.

"An eye for an eye!"

That was always his nature; if others didn’t provoke him, he wouldn’t provoke them. But if others provoked him, he wouldn’t hold back.

"But what if... this is just a misunderstanding?"

Vera still found it hard to believe the outcome.

Kris Cooper thought for a moment with a frown, "Then we will try it. I’ll work with him and see if he’s genuine or not."

"No, if he... really has a scheme, then Ashton will definitely be influenced," Vera looked worried. "Ashton is the labor of love for your Cooper Family, you can’t use Ashton to take risks."

Her heart was in turmoil. On one hand, she feared for Ashton’s losses and for Nathan Leafcastle truly harming Kris Cooper. On the other, she was trying to persuade herself it was all a misunderstanding.

Seeing her conflicted expression, Kris Cooper only felt a pang of heartache.

"Alright!" He pulled her into his embrace, "I’ll handle this. You shouldn’t interfere or pay any attention. Just act as if you know nothing, okay?"

"But, what if..." she anxiously gripped his arm, "I... I’m really worried about you. Brother Nathan, he... he’s very smart. When we were together, he sometimes stood up and fought for me, he... he’s never lost to anyone."

"So what?" Kris Cooper slightly raised the corners of his mouth, "At least, I’ve already beaten him once."

Outshining the predecessor, winning Vera’s heart, in their first confrontation, he had already won.

So, he didn’t mind winning again.

"I..."

Vera bit her lip, hesitating to speak.

In her heart, she always felt she owed Nathan Leafcastle a favor, after all, he had saved her life once. If not for him, when she fell off the horse, she’d have been severely injured, if not dead.

But if Nathan Leafcastle truly targeted Kris Cooper, how could she plead for him?

"Kris!" Vera looked up, "Maybe I should tell him the truth?"

She didn’t want the two to fight again; her father was already dead, and Liliana Davis was also gone. Things should end here, not continue.

Kris Cooper cradled her little face, "Do you think he would believe it?"

"I want... to try."

He pondered for a moment and finally nodded.