Kris Cooper has always been exceptionally intelligent. If he finds out that Nathan Leafcastle is secretly collaborating with the Holland Consortium, he would surely feel suspicious.

Smith immediately revealed a smile, "Mr. Leafcastle, rest assured, we understand this principle."

He snapped his fingers, and a secretary walked in with the prepared contract. Smith and his partner signed their names on it one after another and handed it to Nathan Leafcastle.

Nathan Leafcastle carefully reviewed the contract from start to finish, word by word, noticing that all terms were consistent with before, except for an added clause regarding his equity as collateral.

Receiving a pen from the other party, he glanced at the signature line, took a deep breath, as signing that name meant betting his entire fortune.

If this fails, he will be left with nothing.

Images of his mother lying in a pool of blood flashed before his eyes, imagining her falling from a great height...

Nathan Leafcastle’s fingers tightened on the pen bit by bit, finally placing the pen tip to the paper, slowly signing his name—Nathan, Leaf, Castle!

Seeing him sign his name, Winson Summerton and his partners smiled and signaled the assistant to fetch the wine. Winson Summerton personally poured three glasses of wine and walked over, handing them to Nathan Leafcastle and his partner. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Once this succeeds, Ashton’s financial chain will break and face an unprecedented crisis. Then we can take the opportunity to acquire Ashton. Mr. Leafcastle, happy collaboration!"

Nathan Leafcastle raised his glass and gently clinked it with theirs.

"Happy collaboration!"

After finishing the wine, Smith suggested finding some fun together. Nathan Leafcastle politely excused himself, saying it was inconvenient to accompany them. Smith did not insist, only escorting him out of the suite.

Nathan Leafcastle went downstairs and quietly drove away.

In a car not far away, a man following him quickly took out his phone and sent the taken photos and information to Kris Cooper’s phone.

When the message arrived, Kris Cooper had just finished showering and lay down next to Vera Wave.

Hearing the phone’s ringtone, he quickly reached out to grab the device.

Vera, who was about to fall asleep, was also startled by the phone’s sound.

"What’s wrong?"

Kris Cooper scanned the information on the screen and looked at the several photos below.

"Nathan Leafcastle just went to meet Smith."

"What?" Vera opened her eyes in shock, propped herself up, took his phone, and looked at the information and photos on it, "Why... why is he still doing this?"

She had clearly given him the USB drive, and he should already know the truth. Could it be he still intends to go against Ashton and Kris Cooper?

Kris Cooper, as a man himself, certainly understood that Nathan Leafcastle’s hatred toward him was not just due to Liliana Davis but also largely because of Vera.

Yet, he did not want to mention this in front of Vera.

He reached out to put the phone back on the table, "It’s late. Let’s sleep!"

Vera held his shoulder, "Then what... what are you going to do?"

"The Holland Consortium has always been eyeing Asian economies. They once discussed cooperation with my father but were rejected. If I’m not mistaken, their target should be Ashton." Kris Cooper sat up and looked seriously at Vera, "Vera, I’m sorry. Ashton was created by generations of the Cooper Family, a labor of love for my grandfather and father. I can’t let it be destroyed in my hands. Do you understand?"

Vera nodded.

"I understand. Honey... I’m sorry, it’s all because of me..."

Although Kris Cooper did not explain, it was not hard for Vera to realize that she was part of the reason.

...

...

Good afternoon.