"Dying from palladium poisoning is extremely painful."
On the flight back, Tony hid in the kitchen.
Every word Ivan had said struck his heart like a heavy hammer.
The Iron Man myth has been shattered. The Arc Reactor is no longer his exclusive invention. And then there was the practically scrapped Mark V—his injuries had been exposed to everyone.
At that moment, Tony, who was close to breaking down, desperately wanted to go out and relax properly with Pepper.
When he walked out of the kitchen, he saw Pepper outside and Leo sitting nearby drinking cola. The dejection on Tony's face vanished.
On the television, the fat senator at the hearing was facing the cameras and sarcastically spouting nonsense.
"Tony Stark said that Iron Armor would never appear anywhere, and it has never appeared anywhere. At least not within the next five to ten years..."
"Mute!"
Tony sat down, placed the tray in his hands in front of Pepper, and pulled several knives and forks from his trouser pocket.
"What's that?" Pepper asked.
"Your meal on the plane."
Tony lifted the cover. Inside was a plate of burnt mushroom omelet.
"You made this?"
"Yes. What did you think I was doing for the past three hours?" Tony said, looking at Pepper.
Leo leaned over to take a look.
"Leo, there's none for you."
"Oh, I'm so lucky." Leo lay back down.
"Are you hiding something from me?" Pepper stared at Tony, her eyes filled with confusion, helplessness, and sadness.
Ten years of companionship had allowed her to notice that something was wrong with Tony.
Tony looked at Pepper seriously. "I really don't want to go home."
"Cancel my birthday party. We're in Europe, so let's go stay at the Cipriani Hotel in Venice... Do you remember?"
Pepper seemed to recall