The process of transferring the Royal Bay property deed still required several procedures. Hera planned to let Nash stay at her house temporarily. Since Grandpa's illness worsened, Harrison and his wife had remained at his bedside.
"Dad, Mom… I'm heading back now. Call if anything comes up!" Hera waved from the car window. Harrison nodded, hands clasped behind his back. Lauren then instructed Skadi, "Skadi, drive carefully!" Skadi smiled sweetly. "Don't worry, Lauren. I'm a steady driver!" Lauren noticed bloodstains on Skadi's teeth and a bandage on her forehead, but before she could ask, Skadi accelerated away. Lauren frowned, a frosty expression settling on her face. Harrison approached, asking, "What's wrong?"
Lauren took a deep breath. "Nothing. Probably overthinking!" He smiled. "What do you think about this situation?" "If you possessed half of Dad's insight, you wouldn't let your brother bully you so relentlessly!" Lauren rolled her eyes. Harrison sighed helplessly. "Next time, leave me some dignity with Nash!" She retorted, "When our daughter was bullied, you lacked the courage to act. Now you're concerned about dignity?" She added, "Doctor Tanner returns to Jonford soon. Let's have him examine Dad!"
In Jonford's northern suburbs, known as Northjon, lay four large industrial zones, each housing dozens of small companies. The Lewises owned two medium-sized firms: Baroque Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., specializing in chip production, under Harrison's management; and Rococo Technology Co., Ltd., producing mobile phones, managed by Hubert. Herman remained chairman of both. In the third industrial zone, a Baroque Technology branch, employing over a hundred, had Hera as its general manager.
Skadi parked at the industrial zone entrance, smiling. "Hera, want to show your man your empire?" Hera saw Nash sleeping in the rearview mirror, shook her head, and said, "I'll take him home to rest first…" Skadi licked her lips, smirking. "Should I help you buy some rubber?" "Is the factory short on gloves?" Hera glanced at her company. Skadi rolled her eyes. "Condoms!" Hera blushed, covering Skadi's mouth. "What…what are you talking about?" Her best friend was wonderful, except for her carefree nature and bluntness. Though Hera was with Nash, they were new to the relationship, making any physical intimacy premature.
Skadi chuckled. "You have a one-bedroom apartment. You can't make your fiancé sleep on the couch, right?" "I…I can sleep on the couch!" Hera stammered, flustered. She'd never had a man at her apartment before. Skadi giggled and drove towards Hera's residence. After parking, Skadi offered Hera the keys, lamenting, "Someone else will protect you now. You won't need me anymore. I hope he's as gentle as I am!"
"Pfft… You're my driver. How will you get back? Walk? Pick me up tomorrow!" Hera kept the keys. Opening the back door, she nudged Nash gently. "Ah… Where are we?" Nash rubbed his hair, looking around sleepily. Hera whispered, "My place…" Nash looked at the twenty-story building. "Your home is huge! Can I be a landlord here?" "What? I rent one apartment!" Hera explained helplessly. Nash looked disappointed. "My landlord dreams are shattered!" Skadi chuckled. "Nash, is your master powerful?" "Of course, he's like a Terrestrial Immortal!"
"Wow, he must be rich, huh?" Skadi looked at Nash with admiration. Though Nash was powerful, his boasting skills were even more impressive. He was her savior, so she wouldn't expose him. "Um… My master has no material desires. He donates to mountain schools. Before he left, he gave me ten dollars!" Nash explained sheepishly. Skadi remembered the crumpled bills; a smirk played on her lips. She knew earning money would be effortless for someone like Nash.
Hera brought Nash to her seventy-square-meter apartment. A gray carpet, a pink two-meter bed, and a fluffy toy sat in the room. A drying rack with clothes, including intimate garments, stood before the floor-to-ceiling window. The translucent pink silk underwear was particularly noticeable. Nash averted his gaze, swallowing hard.
"I haven't prepared slippers, so wear mine," Hera said, handing Nash a pair of spares. She noticed Nash's reddening face, realized her mistake, and quickly put away the lingerie. Nash, wearing size 36 slippers (his shoes were size 43), felt uncomfortable. He sat on the sofa, at a loss. Hera offered him a drink. She was nervous, more so than when announcing her marriage to Nash. Nash drank half the bottle quickly. Hera sat beside him, the silence awkward. Then, her phone rang.
"I…I need to answer this," she stammered. Nash pulled out his flip phone. His contacts displayed unusual names: Prince of the Sand Country, Beautiful Grim Reaper of the Gorgeous Country, Butcher of Dallard, Queen of Yerusia… over a hundred such contacts. Hera checked her phone, frowning, and rejected the call. It rang again. She gave it to Nash. "Can you answer and say I'm not here?" Nash saw 'Hunter Hill' on the caller ID, answered, and said casually, "Hera's asleep!"
Hera's eyelids twitched; a blush crept onto her cheeks. That was blunt. Silence followed, then a roar. "Who are you?! Why is Hera's phone in your hands?!" Nash's lips curled. "Hera's mine. Find another woman!"