?Chapter 175:

    The speaker was none other than Lise. She entered, holding a thermos container and wearing a gentle smile.

    “Neil, I made some soup. It’s really good for you. Haven’t you beenining about stomach painstely? This should help nourish you.”

    Neil looked up and met Lise’s caring eyes. Her entire being seemed devoted to him, her eyes brimming with affection. Her look reminded him of how Katelyn used to gaze at him three years ago.

    It was often said that the eyes were the window to the soul; emotions could escape through one’s gaze, even if they tried to hide them with words.

    Neil found himself momentarily lost in thought. The warm looks from Katelyn in the past now contrasted starkly with her recent cold and distant manner. It seemed clear that Katelyn didn’t love him anymore. Noticing Neil’s distraction, Lise felt a twinge of irritation.

    Was he still hung up on Katelyn? Was heparing her to Katelyn? Lise knew she could be many things, but a stand-in for the offensive Katelyn was not one of them.

    Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Lise waved her hand in front of Neil’s face.

    “Neil, what’s on your mind? The soup will get cold.”

    This snapped him back to the present. He looked at the thermos with mixed feelings. Due to frequent social gatherings and unhealthy dining habits, his stomach had suffered. Once Lise found out, she started making it a routine to bring him homemade soup daily.

    This affection deeply moved him, causing him to suppress his deepest thoughts. Only a woman like Lise could truly be his partner.

    With his emotions in check, Neil regained hisposure, and a smile appeared on his face.

    “Lise, I appreciate you making soup for me, but it’s a lot of effort. Why not have my assistant order from the restaurant nearby?”

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    Lise immediately responded with warmth, “No, I’ll keep making it myself. Did you know? There’s something truly joyful about watching someone enjoy the food you’ve made.”

    How could she agree to let Neil get soup from a restaurant? That would reveal that she had been buying soup from outside all along and pretending she made it herself. Lise’s thoughts raced, fearing Neil might dwell on this. So, she quickly shifted the conversation.

    She sat down on the sofa next to him and asked cautiously, “Neil, have you seen today’s trending topics? It’s all about Katelyn and Vincent. Do you think there’s real affection between Katelyn and Vincent?”

    She paused deliberately to gauge Neil’s reaction before continuing.

    “In a way, this is actually good news. It seems both you and Katelyn have found new happiness. Seeing her happy, I genuinely feel like giving her my blessings. You feel the same, right?”

    Herst question was clearly a probe. Under typical circumstances, Neil would have quickly grasped Lise’s subtle hint. However, his mind was already troubled by the idea of mutual affection between Katelyn and Vincent. He immediately sneered.

    “Katelyn has been ruining my reputation, making me out to be the viin. Now she wants to be with someone else? How can I just let her have her way?”

    Lise’s heart skipped a beat at his words. She sighed softly, trying to sound generous as she said, “I understand you have grievances against Katelyn, but she’s still young and may not be very mature in her thinking. If you keep clinging to this, neither of you will find happiness. It’s better to let go.”

    “Never!” Neil replied without hesitation, his eyes cold. “I won’t let Katelyn have it easy either.”

    As he spoke, the anger in his eyes was clear. To Lise, it looked like he was determined not to let Katelyn be taken by Vincent.

    Lise inhaled deeply, trying to curb her annoyance. It seemed her earlier attempts to stir trouble for Katelyn had not been harsh enough.

    “Neil…”

    Before Lise could continue, Neil cut her off. “We don’t need to discuss this further. I have my own thoughts.”

    Lise had to bite back her remaining words. Instead, she pulled out some documents from her bag andid them on Neil’s desk.

    “Neil, please take a look at these first.”

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