CHAPTER 224: CHAPTER 225: DO YOU LOVE HER THAT MUCH?

She packed up the files and materials on the table into her laptop bag, stood up, and left the office, dialing Kris Cooper’s number on her cellphone as she went.

"Honey... where are you?"

After all, it was her first time personally planning an advertisement, and Vera was worried she might mess things up due to her lack of experience. She just wanted Kris Cooper to take another look at the storyboard for her.

Since she was asking for his help, her words were naturally very sweet.

On the other end of the line, there was a smile in Kris Cooper’s voice.

"Off work?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Head back to the old residence and wait for me. I’ll be home soon."

"What do you want to eat? I can buy it for you."

"No need, there are servants at the old residence. Just head straight back."

Vera stepped into the elevator, "Honey, goodbye."

"Goodbye, my wife."

Huh?! He called her... his wife?

The call disconnected, but Vera stood in the elevator, forgetting to press the floor button. She didn’t come back to her senses until another company employee opened the elevator doors from the outside and entered. She hurriedly reached out and pressed the button for the first floor.

Holding her cellphone, she recalled the term he’d used. Remembering Kris Cooper holding her hand and saying he wanted to take her to the Civil Affairs Bureau, her heart began to pound wildly once more.

To make her feel at ease spending his money, he actually wanted to marry her... Did he... love her that much?

Lost in her delightful thoughts, she didn’t notice when the elevator reached the first floor. The doors opened, and everyone else exited, but she remained standing in place. A passenger standing behind her asked curiously, "Miss, are you getting off?"

"Ah?!"

Vera snapped back to reality. Finally realizing she had reached the first floor, she hurriedly stepped out of the elevator.

「Barker Group, CEO Office.」

The assistant pushed open the door and walked softly to the large desk. "Sir."

Behind the desk, Nathan Leafcastle looked up. "How did they respond?"

The assistant shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "The middleman said the owner stated that no matter how much more money we offer, the owner won’t sell."

His CEO had set his sights on this house, but now the owner adamantly refused to sell. What could he, the assistant, possibly do?

"Have you found out who the owner is?" Nathan Leafcastle asked.

The assistant shook his head again. "The middleman absolutely refuses to say. I went to check the old residence; only a servant seems to be around. I haven’t seen anyone else."

Nathan Leafcastle frowned and waved his hand. The assistant exited, closing the door behind him.

Setting aside the half-read document on his desk, Nathan Leafcastle rose to his full height and walked towards the floor-to-ceiling windows. From his elevated vantage point, he gazed out over the familiar yet strange city.

After a moment, he took a deep breath, walked back to the desk, picked up his cellphone from it, and dialed a number.

"Hello, Mr. Leafcastle. Is there something you need?"

A moment later, Vera’s voice, accompanied by some background noise, came through the phone.

"Vera, where are you?"

"I’m on the subway."

"Actually... I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me. Afterwards, we could also go visit Grandmother."

"Not today, I have something on. Let’s do it another day. It’s pretty crowded where I am, and the signal isn’t very good. Let’s talk another time. Goodbye, Mr. Leafcastle."

After a polite goodbye, Vera hung up.

Nathan Leafcastle clenched his fist, his grip so tight that his knuckles CRACKED and the phone in his hand creaked ominously.

Frowning, he walked over to the coat stand, took his suit jacket from it, pulled open the door, and strode out of his office.