CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 198: NO NEED FOR REASONS (3)

Vera Wave hesitated for a moment before she eventually began to speak softly.

"Um... actually, I... I wasn’t just practicing my signature. I really signed it."

As she said this, she blushed, shyly burying her face in his chest, not daring to look up.

Kris Cooper said with a smile, "I know."

"You knew?!" Vera looked up in surprise. "How did you know...?"

As she said this, she suddenly thought of a possibility. Her eyebrows furrowed, her lips pouted, and an angry expression crossed her face as she pointed a finger at his nose.

"You knew, and yet you were still mad at me! You made me think... I thought you’d ignore me forever... I was so upset! You big, bad jerk, you were pretending all along..."

Seeing her throw a tantrum like a child, Kris simply grinned, quietly watching her. Noticing his gaze, Vera quickly withdrew the finger pointing at his nose.

"What are you laughing at? Why are you so pleased? I... I merely signed a contract; I wasn’t truly prepared to be your girlfriend... Hmph. Laugh, laugh, laugh... Laugh until you die..."

Watching her throw a small tantrum, just like she used to, Kris’s smile grew wider until he eventually laughed out loud. Once again, he reached out to draw her into his embrace, placing her on his lap as one would a child.

Vera tried to squirm away awkwardly, but he took hold of her free hand—the one without an IV—and placed it around his waist.

At first, she was too embarrassed and tried to pull her hand back. As soon as she did, he pulled it back and held it firmly.

Resting his chin lightly on top of her head, Kris spoke in a soft tone, "Sweetheart, just stay still... hug me for a little while!"

She didn’t struggle anymore. Her fingers lightly hooked onto his waist as Vera spoke softly, "I’m sorry, I... I just... I just feel it’s all happening too fast."

She had just ended a failed relationship and was now starting another so soon; it all felt a bit strange.

Gently nuzzling her hair, inhaling that familiar, light scent, Kris Cooper asked softly, "Vera, do you like me?"

Vera pursed her lips but finally plucked up the courage, giving a soft, affirming hum.

"What did you say? I couldn’t hear."

She raised her voice a little.

"Like."

Though a little reluctant to admit it... every time she saw him, her heart would race, as if tiny rabbits were fluttering in her chest.She’d been upset all day worrying he would ignore her; what else could it be, if not that she liked him?

"I didn’t hear."

Annoyed, she bit her lip, then lifted her face and leaned close to his ear. "Like, like, like! Did you hear me that time?"

His ears ringing from her nearness, Kris Cooper just laughed and held her even tighter.

"Nope. Say it again."

"In your dreams!" Vera scoffed and turned away from him. After a moment, she lifted her face again, her expression serious as she met Kris’s gaze. "I have a question... Don’t you think... that I’m a fickle woman?"

Kris raised an eyebrow slightly. "Why do you ask that?"

Vera looked down, her fingers fiddling with one of his buttons. "I just broke up with Harry Snowpine, and now I’m... dating you. And on top of that, it feels like we’ve put the cart before the horse... I... I feel like a bad girl."

"Put the cart before the horse," eh? Understanding her meaning, Kris laughed again. He held her tighter, his large hand gently stroking her long hair.

"Nonsense. How could you be a bad girl? I’m the only man you’ve ever slept with in your life... Unless you were to lead me on only to abandon me, or be completely irresponsible about us—*that* would make you a bad girl."

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Let’s stop here for now, good night little princesses~!