CHAPTER 244: CHAPTER 245: PLEASING

"I just want to see how ugly you look in it!"

Kris Cooper left these words behind before stepping out, leaving Vera Wave speechless.

True to form, he was different—was this his version of a punishment?

Well, it was her mistake after all.

Vera left the gym and returned to the back bedroom. She picked up the dress she’d taken off earlier, gave it a shake, and a handkerchief fluttered out.

In her haste to undress, Nathan Leafcastle’s handkerchief had become entangled in the dress.

The handkerchief was clearly old, its edges frayed, but apart from the bloodstains, it was immaculate. The owner had clearly cherished it deeply.

She couldn’t be certain that the initials stitched into it were hers, but it did belong to Nathan Leafcastle, and giving it back was the right thing to do.

Picking up the handkerchief from the ground, Vera examined the cross-stitched initials, then headed to the bathroom. She turned on the faucet and carefully washed the handkerchief clean.

She started to hang the handkerchief to dry but hesitated, retracting her hand. If Kris Cooper saw the handkerchief, he might get upset again.

With this thought, she hurriedly took a hairdryer to it, dried it, folded it neatly, and tucked it into her backpack. She resolved to find a way to return it to Nathan Leafcastle at work the next day, and that would be the end of the matter.

With the handkerchief safely packed away, she picked up the dress lying on the bed, slipped it on, and checked her reflection in the mirror.

Seeing her disheveled hair, she quickly sat down at the dressing table and took the time to comb and tidy it. Looking at her face, she reached for her makeup bag and applied light makeup in front of the mirror.

Satisfied with her reflection, Vera finally rose from her chair and made her way back to the front yard.

She made her way through the living room to the dining room, carefully peeking in, only to find Kris Cooper carefully plating the cooked steak.

"Wow, this smells amazing!" Vera exclaimed exaggeratedly as she walked into the dining room and sidled up to him. "Honey, you’re amazing! This steak looks delicious."

Kris Cooper turned and found Vera wearing that light green dress. Her previously messy hair was now neatly combed, and her face looked even more radiant than before.

Feeling his gaze, Vera immediately looked up, as if presenting a treasure.

"Honey, don’t you think... I look better than before?"

Fearing he wouldn’t notice, she intentionally blinked her mascara-coated eyelashes, making them appear even longer and thicker.

So she’d put on makeup—no wonder her lips looked so enticingly soft. She was clever indeed, finally understanding the principle of dressing to impress.

Kris Cooper’s mood improved, though his face remained impassive.

"I didn’t notice!"

What a tough nut to crack!

Vera pouted privately, then quickly moved closer. She went behind Kris Cooper to untie his apron strings and then reached out to hug his arm.

"You must have worked hard cooking, Honey. Quick, sit down!" She pushed him into a chair, grabbed a napkin, and laid it across his lap. Spotting the red wine on the table, she quickly reached for the bottle. "That’s right... steak, candles—how could we forget the red wine? Let me pour you some!"

Watching the young woman attentively wait on him, a hint of a smile flickered in Kris Cooper’s eyes. But the moment she looked his way, his expression immediately became impassive again.

After pouring wine for him and a little for herself, Vera turned and sat down across from him.