Ch. 1231..1240

Chapter 1231 Cannot Marry You

Cooper was displeased. "Did I say that?"

"No. But I think so."

Both Erica and Jane were gentle and caring women. As such, Steven had a preconceived notion that gentle women were Cooper's type.

Cooper leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. "I'm not interested in Ms. Yerton. I courted her earlier because the two children liked her, and she was also their teacher."

He added, "I said that just now because I was afraid that if I were too harsh, she would get upset and give the children a hard time at school."

"Who are you interested in then? Is it Ms. Loake?" Steven asked again.

Cooper sneered when he heard that. "Am I crazy?"

"Well, you do look crazy to me." Steven saw Cooper knitting his brows and exuding a cold aura through the rearview mirror.

"Ever since Sally left, you've changed. You're not a short-tempered person, but you have been in a bad mood recently and tend to lose your temper," he added.

"Because she did not stick to the agreement and was ungrateful," Cooper explained coldly.

"Is that so?" Steven asked. "Before I went to pick you up, someone from the bar called me and said that you smashed Zeno's head after he insulted Sally."

Cooper placed his hand on his forehead and closed his eyes, saying nothing. No, that's not it. I was just upset and frustrated by what Sally did, so I was eager to find her and demand an explanation from her. The pain in his wound and everything that unfolded that night made Cooper restless. He tossed and turned in bed, and when he opened his eyes again, it was already afternoon the next day. Bertilla thought he had something urgent to deal with and did not disturb him.

Since his assistant had made all the work arrangements, Cooper went downstairs for lunch and asked the housekeeper to pick out a few luxury gifts from the storehouse.

Then, he called the Loake residence. Knowing that Gerald was around, he drove over at one in the afternoon.

There wasn't even a single housekeeper in the Loake residence, and Gerald was the only person staying in the huge, empty house.

After leading Cooper to the living room and sitting down, Gerald poured the man some freshly brewed coffee. The fragrance of coffee instantly filled the air.

"Mr. Sutton, can I help you?" Gerald asked.

"Although you have yet to be reinstated, you serve in the military and should have heard about Mayor Taylor's situation. He's sick and needs someone to take his position." Cooper went straight to the point.

"I do know about this." Gerald nodded.

Cooper leaned over slightly and rested his elbows on his knees. Looking at Gerald, who was sitting on the couch beside him, he asked, "Who's the new mayor transferred over by the government?" Gerald averted Cooper's gaze as he replied, "You will know as soon as he takes office."

Cooper was a smart person. Even though Gerald's placid tone and calm expression didn't reveal anything, Cooper could still tell that the new mayor was not from the Gaudette family.

As for why Gerald won't tell me the new mayor's name... I guess people in politics are all arrogant and look down on businessmen.

Gerald blew on the coffee and took a sip before adding, "I know you have put a lot of effort into my case. I owe you one, Mr. Sutton. Except for matters that concern the Gaudette family, I'll try my best to support you if you need help with anything in the future."

"Just get straight to the point." Cooper knew there was an underlying meaning behind the older man's words. He was clearly implying something.

Seeing how smart Cooper was, Gerald stopped beating around the bush. "Sally can marry a major general, a chief, or a minister, but not you."

Cooper's surmise about Gerald disdaining businessmen like him was now confirmed.

The flames of rage within his heart were instantly set ablaze by Gerald's words. If I wasn't wealthy enough to send so many people looking for evidence, he would have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the offense of violating a minor. If that happens, he can kiss his position goodbye, too. Now that he's released, he has the audacity to use his authority to intimidate me, huh?

Chapter 1232 Not Every Man Will Fall For Her

A sneer crept up Cooper's face. In a calm voice, he said, "Don't worry, General Loake. I'm not interested in your daughter. She and I reached an agreement. I bail you and Mr. Zane out, and she'll help me deal with the Gaudette family. That's all there is between us. When Ms. Locke left without a word previously, I was worried that she might renege on her words. Now that you've promised you will help me, I am relieved."

He paused before hissing with disdain, "Although she's the daughter of a commanding officer, it doesn't mean that every man will fall for her."

Initially, Gerald's expression eased up at Cooper's first few sentences, but his face fell instantly when he heard the younger man's harsh and sarcastic remarks that followed.

"Well, I'm done asking everything I want to know. I should go now. You don't need to see me out, General Loake." Cooper stood up after finishing his sentence.

The moment he stepped out of the residence, the gracious smile on his face instantly faded. He opened the car door and got inside.

Then, he stomped on the accelerator and drove off in his Bentley.

Only after he was a distance away from the Loake residence did he lower the car window.

The cold wind blew on his face but failed to distinguish the rage burning in his heart.

He punched the steering wheel forcefully, producing an ear-piercing sound from the car horn. The driver behind his car was startled and wondered what was going on. Upon realizing the noise came from an expensive Bentley, the driver quickly switched lanes to avoid getting into trouble.

Cooper pulled up by the roadside and opened the compartment box.

The sight of the packs of menthol cigarettes inside made him even more annoyed. He lowered the passenger window to throw the cigarettes out and took out a pack of men's cigarettes.

After smoking in the car for an indeterminate amount of time, he finally felt much better.

Subsequently, he fished out his phone and sent a message to Bertilla, telling him to stop looking for Sally.

Since Gerald would help him, he did not feel the need to look for Sally anymore.

As it was already past five o'clock, he sent a message to Steven, telling him he was on the way to pick up the children at school. Unfortunately, the road he took was undergoing construction. Thus, he took a detour and reached six minutes late.

Cooper waited at the school gate and got concerned when he still saw no signs of Amanda and Lucian after almost every student had left campus. A wave of alarm washed over him as he quickly called Steven, yet the call did not go through.

He called one of the housekeepers in Swallow Garden instead. "Is Mandy home?"

"No."

Cooper's heart sank when he heard that. Just as he was about to enter the school and talk to the teachers, he received Steven's call. "We're on our way back to Swallow Garden."

He finally breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Steven had picked up the children. "I'll be back later."

"Are you in a bad mood?" Steven could tell that from Cooper's tone. After a pause, he said with a smile, "You'd better come back quick. Someone wants to talk to you."

Cooper was stunned, immediately assuming that Sally had returned. Without further delay, he hopped into the car and headed straight to Swallow Garden.

"Mr. Sutton." Melissa, who opened the door, greeted Cooper with a smile when he got home.

After passing Melissa his jacket, Cooper strode toward the living room while thinking about how to teach Sally a lesson later.

Yet, there was no sign of Sally in the living room. All he could hear was the pleasant sound of the children laughing.

Amanda leaned on her father's broad back and wrapped her tiny arms around him, asking adorably, "Daddy, do you miss me? Do you miss me or Lucian more?" "You and Lucian are both my darlings. I miss you both the same." Armand fed Amanda some pitted cherries while wearing a faint yet gentle smile.

Upon seeing Cooper, he greeted him, "Hey. It's been a while."

"Yeah, it is." Cooper was relieved when he saw that Armand was doing fine, but he soon realized something was amiss. Where is Genevieve?

Armand patted his daughter's back and said gently, "Come down first. I need to talk to your uncle at the study."

Amanda nuzzled her father's back affectionately before getting down reluctantly.

Chapter 1233 By Her Side

After entering the study, Cooper clenched his fist and lightly punched Armand in the chest, then said through gritted teeth, "You could have sent us a message or something to say that you were alive all this time. Do you have any idea how guilty I felt whenever Mandy asked when you guys were coming home? I couldn't even bring myself to lie to her!"

Armand rubbed his chest. Smiling faintly, he replied, "I know you and Steven would take good care of the kids. Thanks for holding down the fort for us."

"Screw you." Cooper scoffed, then asked grimly, "Didn't Genev come back with you?"

Armand's eyes darkened. "She's still unconscious."

He had not immediately looked for Genevieve and the others after arriving in Dartan. Knowing Genevieve, he knew the only way he could save her and himself would be to plan meticulously ahead. While the rescue mission had been a success, Genevieve ended up losing too much blood after she was shot by Zephyr. By the time she was rushed to the hospital, her breathing had stopped.

The doctors had managed to revive her, but she was in critical condition. Her breathing had been weak, and her heart stopped beating on several occasions.

Armand remained by her side through it all. He dared not sleep a wink, terrified that if he did, he would wake up to see Genevieve dead.

At that point in time, staying with her was his top priority, and nothing else mattered to him.

Fortunately, medical technology was advanced enough to turn things around for Genevieve. The doctors carried out treatment using only the best medical equipment and prescription, and, much to Armand's relief, her condition stabilized after a few months.

Armand narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "I wouldn't have come back here if things weren't getting out of hand."

He hated having to leave Genevieve alone overseas. but he had no choice.

"It was my fault. I thought those guys were as easy to handle as Edward. I underestimated those sly old foxes." Cooper rubbed his temples, and he sounded defeated.

"Don't beat yourself up," Armand consoled him. "You did well enough by finding enough evidence to overturn Gerald and Robert's case. I bet the Gaudette family is pissed off. Besides, you were dealing with formidable opponents."

Cooper felt slightly better after hearing this. "Mayor Taylor is stepping down due to health issues. I met with Gerald this afternoon and found out that the new mayor isn't someone from the Gaudette family." Armand chuckled. "Well, my last name isn't Gaudette, now is it?"

Cooper looked up at that moment and met the other man's gaze. When he realized what Armand meant, his eyes lit up. "So, you've been in contact with Robert and Gerald all along?" He punched Armand in the shoulder. "I'm impressed!"

"I've always known the Gaudettes are an ambitious bunch, but I didn't care." Armand narrowed his eyes slightly as his gaze turned menacing. "But, that was before they hurt somebody they shouldn't have." Cooper frowned. "Speaking of which, how did Zephyr come into the picture? Surely, he can't be so smart as to predict your every move, right?"

Even if Zephyr were that intelligent, Cooper remembered Frank saying that he and Genevieve were the only ones who knew about the plan to take out the mafia.

Moreover, even if Frank did figure out that the meeting with Genevieve on the yacht was a trap, he couldn't possibly have foreseen that Frank would strike the mafia at the same time.

When Zephyr managed to evade death and escaped to Mysonna, it took him little to no time to set up a full-fledged business for himself. This could only mean that he had received intel and made preparations in advance.

"That's because Zephyr had a mole in Lostaria's police headquarters. Apparently, it's someone from the Gaudette family," Armand answered darkly.

Cooper's expression turned grave. He appeared surprised by the Gaudette family's power and influence. "I did hear Frank mention that the mole in the police headquarters is an executive, but he's yet to find out who it is." He paused in thought, then questioned, "So, what did Zephyr give the Gaudette family in exchange for this intel?"

"Zephyr started a business here in Chanaea, didn't he?" Armand leaned against the table. "He's got plenty of connections and a large business portfolio. There are some places that need GDP, and politicians are always looking to polish up their track record and climb the ladder in order to better help the Gaudette family."

At the mention of this, Cooper suddenly recalled something else. "I heard Eurydice's cousin is about to become the minister of the Department of Public Information. Wouldn't you be at a disadvantage if the Gaudette family were to gain control of the media?"

"No," Armand replied with a cryptic smile.

Chapter 1234 Anything She Wants

A few days later, the city council announced that Taylor, whose term was almost up anyway, would be stepping down from his position as the mayor due to health issues. Following this, Armand was declared the new mayor.

Prior to his return to the country, Armand had contacted Nigel, who was in Xedells, and also had his men spread the news of Nigel's wife being his biological mother.

To think, he had been working an entry-level job just a few months ago, and now, he was being relocated here for another job.

With his newfound status as "Nigel's stepson" and his promising political track record in the past, Armand's election as mayor was met with approval. It helped that Robert and the others were supporting him behind the scenes, too.

After stepping into his role as mayor, Armand hunkered down on the paperwork and affairs that came with the job. He had only just tied up all the loose ends when he got a call from Jadeborough Chamber of Commerce inviting him to a banquet.

At eight o'clock in the evening, Armand showed up at the banquet with his secretary.

The banquet was being held at Lovely Heart Hotel, and there was already a crowd when Armand arrived.

As soon as he stepped into the hall, a group of people swarmed around him.

"Congratulations, Mr. Faulkner!"

Armand was dressed in a black suit that accentuated his well-built, towering frame. There was fortitude behind his placid demeanor, and he outshone the others in the room with his elegance. Everyone who came forward to clink glasses with Armand all looked upon him with admiration.

Truly, there was no figure more legendary than Armand.

The man was born to the Faulkner family in Xedells, but he came to Jadeborough at a young age and made a name for himself as a businessman. He eventually gave up commerce to pursue politics and became a minister after that, and it was all the more impressive how he got elected as mayor within such a short time.

Granted, he had his fair share of support to get to where he was today, but there was no denying his caliber.

Armand maintained a faint and polite smile as he exchanged pleasantries and clinked glasses with the guests who had come up to congratulate him. It was not until an hour later that he finally got some breathing space.

Just then, a figure approached him. "Mr. Faulkner."

Armand glanced up to see Eurydice, who was wearing a long-sleeved dress, making her way over and coming to a stop in front of him. Then, with an easy grace, she clinked glasses with him. "Mind if we find a more private place to talk?" she asked.

Armand raised his hand and waved to dismiss his secretary.

When his secretary had stepped away, he gave Eurydice an inscrutable smile and said, "We're alone now. Feel free to speak your mind."

Eurydice let slide the fact that he had no intention to go somewhere more private to talk.

She raised her head and assessed him. He might appear gentle and amicable, but the look in his tapered eyes was frosty.

It was as if he was only pretending to be personable when in truth, he was just as aloof and distant as always.

A few days ago, Eurydice had people look into Taylor's so-called "health issues" and who the new mayor candidate was, only to be completely caught off guard by Armand's election. She thought he had died in that explosion.

And yet, here he was, looking well and alive. As expected of the man I fell in love with at first sight. She loved how he could turn the odds in his favor, but at the same time, she was wary of his intelligence. When Armand noticed she was staring at him without saying anything, his smile faded, and he pointed out sullenly, "Ms. Gaudette, please cut to the chase. I only have five minutes to spare."

Eurydice's brows furrowed at once. "Mr. Faulkner, you're far too intelligent and capable to settle for being a mayor." Her gaze on him was smoldering and confident as she added, "I can help you. I admire you enough to want to see you climb higher."

She actually meant what she said.

Eurydice had seen plenty of men, each with different qualities. These men were undoubtedly talented, but they were flawed, too. Armand was different; his intelligence and foresight were incomparable. She had always admired men like him who were strong and powerful, but gentle to those around him.

"I have no interest in climbing higher," Armand countered evenly, not at all tempted by her offer. Seconds later, his gaze softened slightly. "The only reason I became mayor was to fulfill my wife's dream of being a mayor's wife."

Eurydice could not hide her bewilderment. "Seriously? That's the only reason you're doing this?"

So, Genevieve is alive, too.

"Of course," Armand answered matter-of-factly. The mention of Genevieve brought some warmth to his tone as he said, "I would give her anything, even the moon if she asked for it."

He paused after that, then looked at Eurydice impassively. "On that note, I am perfectly capable of giving my wife whatever she wants, so I don't need your help to make her happy."

Eurydice was so stunned by Armand's response that she was at a loss for words. She did not fully grasp the implication of his words until a few seconds later.

If he could have anything he wanted at the snap of his fingers, then he could just as easily prevent anyone from getting what they wanted.

Chapter 1235 Only Attracted To My Wife

In an instant, Eurydice's expression turned grim.

"Looks like you're pretty smart, Ms. Gaudette. You managed to figure out what I meant," Armand said as he slowly stepped forward.

Eurydice felt a chill running down her spine as an overwhelming pressure loomed over her. She was so frightened that her legs turned to jelly.

"You Gaudettes are free to oppress anyone or drag anyone down in order to advance, but you shouldn't touch the Zeigler family."

Herbert had already been badly injured, and Genevieve, his precious granddaughter, was his only pillar of support. Unfortunately, one letter from Eurydice destroyed him completely and made him fall terribly ill As of right now, Herbert was still in a coma in the hospital.

Recomposing herself, Eurydice refuted, "I know General Zeigler is Genevieve's granddad. Even though the Zeigler family has rejected my father countless times, I have never made a move against the Zeigler family."

She then added, "Perhaps someone else took the matter into their own hands. I'll teach them a lesson when I get back."

Armand chuckled. "You call the shots in the Gaudette family now, and you are also your father's trusted aide. It was you who contacted the mole at the Lostaria police station, agreed to work with Zephyr, and set up Robert and Gerald in order to drag them down. You were also the one who made a move on my child."

Eurydice could feel goosebumps all over her body. Subconsciously, she took a few steps backward to distance herself from the man.

It was impossible for her to deceive an intelligent man like Armand. All her lies were completely exposed by him.

He fixed his cold gaze on her and said, "Considering how smart you think you are and how you assume that everything is within your control, you should pay the price for your actions." Looking into his eyes, Eurydice was reminded of the first time the two of them met.

In fact, they had a rather unpleasant first encounter.

That fateful day, she was supposed to head to the city council to settle some matters. However, the road suddenly caved in, causing her car to fall into the pit. It was fortunate that the pit wasn't deep, so she was unharmed.

As her door wouldn't open, someone from another car that had fallen in front of her came over to her, smashed the windowpane, and helped her out.

Eurydice felt a rumble from above just as she climbed halfway out of the car. Shortly after, many large pieces of rubble fell upon them. The man's shoulder was hit by several pieces of rubble while he attempted to protect her.

After helping her out of the pit, the man asked in a gentle voice, "Are you all right, Ms. Gaudette?"

Eurydice's heart began racing the second she lifted her head and laid eyes on the man.

It had been a long time ago, but the events that day were still fresh in her mind. The man's kindness would still make her heart flutter.

"Armand."

Before he turned to leave, Eurydice called out to him and said bitterly, "Genevieve is far more inferior compared to me in terms of family background, appearance, and talent. Why do you like her so much?" Men are supposed to be attracted to intelligent women who come from prominent families. Shouldn't Armand be the same as well?

Armand turned to look at Eurydice. There was an amused look on his face as if he was mocking her for saying something so absurd and ridiculous. “In terms of family background, my wife's granddad is among the top ten most outstanding generals, and not even your grandfather can compare to that. On the other hand, your appearance is practically incomparable to my wife's beauty. In terms of talent..." Scoffing, he added, "Even you, the powerful Ms. Gaudette, are outsmarted by my wife. Do you still think you're smarter than her? You're just embarrassing yourself by trying to compare yourself to her." Eurydice was used to people licking her boots and fawning over her. Moreover, she was a prideful woman. In fact, she was so condescending that she even looked down on the heiresses of political families. I can't believe I'm inferior to Genevieve in his eyes!

Feeling utterly humiliated, Eurydice tightened her grip on the wine glass in her hands. She maintained an arrogant demeanor as she spoke. "Why did you save me that day if you weren't attracted to me?" Armand frowned slightly, quickly recalling what she was referring to.

"Did you assume that I was deliberately trying to get in your good books because of your identity? That I couldn't wait to run over and rescue you?" He was overwhelmed by the urge to laugh out loud.

"Back then, I was the Deputy Minister of the Department of Public Information. Road collapses are serious accidents. I just didn't want you to be injured and have onlookers notice your injuries, film and upload the entire incident online, causing widespread attention and discussion. This could put the government in a difficult position. I'd do the same for anyone. Aren't you proud of your intelligence and your meticulous planning, Ms. Gaudette? Why weren't you able to figure this out?"

Eurydice felt as though she had been slapped repeatedly in the face upon hearing Armand's words.

It turns out he's just concerned about the government's image...

Before he left, Armand rubbed salt into her wound again. "The only woman I've ever been attracted to in this life is my wife. You shouldn't be so full of yourself, Ms. Gaudette.”

When he approached the trash can, he discarded the untouched glass of champagne he had just clinked with Eurydice's glass.

Eurydice was thoroughly humiliated by his actions. Her entire body trembled in anger.

Chapter 1236 Left Unanswered

After the meeting, Armand eliminated all those who took the Gaudette family's side. He did all that so swiftly and ruthlessly, getting everything done before October arrived.

While most people who dabbled in politics did nothing wrong, they were intimidated by the Gaudette family to take sides.

After witnessing how stealthily and lethally Armand dealt with those who supported the Gaudette family, the remaining forces that weren't yet wiped-out severed relations with the family and declared their stance to Armand.

Meanwhile, some officials were bribed by the Gaudette family to assist them in certain aspects.

However, the Gaudette family made sure their actions were discreet, and they transferred the bribes through multiple channels until they reached the intended officials. Because of this, the transactions could not be traced back to the Gaudette family.

Even so, most of the people who were on the Gaudette family's side turned their backs on them, while a minority of them maintained a neutral stance. The remaining parties were subject to corruption allegations at the time, and the Gaudette family was under investigation.

When the votes were tallied by the end of September, the Gaudette family was defeated, while another candidate was elected.

Less than six days after the handover, a major traffic accident took place in the early hours of the morning on a road in Jadeborough. It was reported that a Lamborghini had plowed through three cars in a row. Two people died in the accident while two others suffered serious injuries.

It was in the middle of the night when the accident occurred. As soon as the police got to the scene after receiving the call, the man in the Lamborghini was still unconscious, reeking of alcohol.

Even after being woken up by the police, taken out of the car, and handcuffed, the man still yelled arrogantly, "Do you know who I am? My father is a commanding officer! How dare you handcuff me? Do you have a death wish?"

"You drove under the influence and killed someone. You're coming with us to the police station!"

"So what if I killed someone? My family is loaded! I won't be charged even if I did something more horrible! I need to call my dad..."

The crowd of onlookers immediately uploaded the video of the incident to the internet, immediately creating a huge uproar among the netizens.

Soon after the man was brought to the police station, someone revealed that the man was actually Zeno Cicero, the son of the deputy commanding officer, Zeke Cicero, who had just been transferred back to Jadeborough a few months ago.

Meanwhile, someone else analyzed the video footage and concluded that Zeno had not only consumed alcohol but also drugs on that night.

Since it was a severe accident, Armand called the police station to instruct them to investigate Zeno, release the urine test results, and deal with it in whatever way they deemed appropriate.

In the absence of any interference in the investigation, Zeno was charged with deliberate murder. Since he displayed no remorse for his actions, he was sentenced to death, set to be executed next spring.

As for his father, Zeke, the higher-ups had harshly reprimanded him for not disciplining his son well. Zeke was eventually demoted and a punishment of not being allowed to be promoted within twenty years was meted out to him. There was no chance for him to be promoted to commanding officer in this lifetime.

Following Zeke's scandal, the Gaudette family lost their last ally as well.

Cooper knew Sally was behind the incident ever since Zeno's drunk driving scandal made the news. The result of the police's investigation only served to further confirm his surmise. He knew Sally approached Zeno for an opportunity to plot his downfall.

Now that Zeno had been sentenced to death and Zeke's future was ruined, her mission was completed. Thus, Cooper wondered why Sally hadn't returned to meet him. Cooper decided to give Sally a call.

Despite the dozens of times he called, she never answered his calls.

Cooper asked Armand to inquire Gerald about Sally but was told that Sally never returned home and would only contact her father occasionally.

After yet another sleepless night, Cooper freshened up and went downstairs with frustration.

Amanda, who looked exceptionally adorable with her chubby cheeks and ponytails, shook her head and sighed when she spotted Cooper coming downstairs. "Oh, no. Mr. White is going to have a hard time today," she lamented.

Cooper walked over and pinched Amanda's cheek. "What am I to you? A horrible boss who tortures his employees every day?"

Amanda nodded. "At least I'm sure you'll do so today. You're obviously in a bad mood, Uncle Cooper."

The girl looked at Cooper sternly and chided, "I don't mean to chastise you, Uncle Cooper, but how can a man hold a grudge against his own wife? I told you to apologize to Aunt Sally, but you refused to do so."

Chapter 1237 Another Day Of Loving You

Cooper retracted his hand expressionlessly. "My foul mood has nothing to do with her. It's about work."

"Do you think I'll believe that?" Amanda asked while tilting her head.

The girl quickly slipped down from the chair when Cooper was about to flick her forehead in feigned anger. "I'm done eating. I'll be going to school now!"

Armand stood up and walked to the door, handed Amanda her bag, and squatted down.

Amanda stood on tiptoes and planted a kiss on Armand's face. "Goodbye, Daddy! Today is another day of loving you. Don't miss me too much!"

She even flashed a finger heart at Armand.

Armand gazed at the girl's adorable features that resembled Genevieve's. She was so similar to her mother that even their tiny gestures and the way they blinked were the same.

His heart melted. "I'll make dessert for you tonight."

He then helped Lucian put on his school bag. Noticing that Lucian was staring at him, Armand raised his hand to touch the boy's face.

Armand asked, "What's wrong?"

Lucian, who was usually aloof and distant, gave his father a peck on the cheek. It was a rare occasion, for the boy never liked intimate gestures as such. "Daddy, you are awesome. I want to be like you when I grow up."

Although Lucian still couldn't understand how his dead father came back alive, he found that the latter was truly amazing.

Armand watched both of the children get into the car. When Amanda waved at him, he was reminded of Genevieve and began to miss her badly. Soon after, he made a call to the private hospital abroad. After a few minutes, Armand received a video from the hospital.

In the spacious and brightly lit ward, Genevieve was lying motionlessly on the hospital bed as if she was asleep. Her skin was pale as she had been staying indoors for a prolonged period of time. Armand watched the video without even blinking once to make sure that Genevieve was breathing steadily.

He could vaguely see beads of sweat on Genevieve's forehead. However, he could not zoom in on the video, so he called the attending doctor. "She seems to be sweating. Go to the ward and check on her." Armand still couldn't relax after talking to the attending doctor, so he stayed connected with the doctor via video call. Through the video call, he saw the doctor enter the ward to check on Genevieve's condition. The doctor then reported, "Ms. Rachford is all right. The nurse accidentally splashed some water on her face while wiping her body."

Armand frowned upon hearing that. "Get another nurse to take care of her. You guys are so careless in your work. She can't even sleep peacefully."

The doctor hastily assented.

After Armand ended his call with the hospital, Cooper, who was sitting across from him at the dining table, looked at the former and said, "How about I go and visit Genev? I can help transfer her to another private hospital with better service."

Armand rejected Cooper's suggestion. "You have your fair share of work to attend to at the company. I'll go and keep her company after dealing with the Gaudette family's issues."

He then drank all the leftover oat milk that the children didn't finish so as to avoid wasting food.

No sooner had he put the glass down than his phone rang.

He answered the call, and upon listening to what the caller said, his face fell.

Seeing the look on Armand's face, Cooper's heart sank. "Did something happen to Genev?"

"No. It's from Rebecca." The notification about a piece of entertainment news happened to pop up on his phone screen, so he clicked on it.

Soon after, he passed the phone to Cooper.

Cooper lowered his head to look at the screen. Someone had caught Yuvan and Eurydice on camera last night as they went into a hotel room together. Their faces were captured clearly in the photo. The two spent a night in the hotel, and they came out of the hotel one after the other the next morning.

Cooper was stunned momentarily before he raised his head and looked at Armand in shock. "Don't tell me Yuvan likes Eurydice."

"He's not that stupid," Armand replied.

The Zeigler family wanted to take down the news right away. However, the Gaudette family was one step ahead of them. The news was published and spread like wildfire on the internet. Cooper sneered. "Eurydice is indeed a vicious woman. I can't believe she pulled such a ruthless trick in order to protect the Gaudettes."

Chapter 1238 Fallen For Her

The public knew that the Zeigler family was strict with their rules. Moreover, Yuvan was the son of Phineus, the commanding officer in Baykeep.

If Yuvan were to tell the media that he and Eurydice were just friends, he would surely affect Phineus' reputation and delay the time for his promotion.

For the sake of the Zeigler family, Yuvan would have no choice but to announce to the public that he and Eurydice had been engaged long before. That way, he and Eurydice entering a hotel room together would seem logical and natural.

However, if he were to announce that, the Gaudette family and the Zeigler family would be bound together.

The news didn't bring much shock to Armand. Despite his solemn expression, his tone still sounded calm and composed as he spoke. "I shall see what other tricks they have up their sleeves." Cooper wasn't worried when he saw that Armand seemed to have his own plans.

As Armand grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth after finishing breakfast, he said to Cooper, "Since you're so concerned about Sally, then go find her yourself. Don't vent your anger on your employees." He then added jokingly, "There's nothing much I can do if the employees in the company request a new CEO."

Cooper grew agitated as if someone had stepped on his toes. "Why would I be concerned about her? I just think that she's not a woman of her word by leaving without informing "

"Three hundred and second," Armand interrupted.

"What?"

Armand placed the napkin on the table and heaved a sigh. "You have called Sally 'not a woman of her word' for three hundred and two times in total from the moment I returned until now. You're repeating yourself."

Upon hearing that, Cooper held his forehead in frustration. "I'm just too hung up over this matter."

"You are not hung up over this matter. You are bothered by the fact that she ran away," Armand corrected Cooper.

Armand paused for a moment before continuing, "Even though Sally left without informing you, her father had exerted much effort dealing with the Gaudette family. After that, she single-handedly took down Zeke and his son, resulting in the end of Zeke's career. Since you and Sally are merely accomplices, she has done her part and did not go back on her words."

Cooper wanted to refute Armand but everything the latter said was right.

He could not find the words to rebut.

Armand stood up from the chair as he said, "You have obviously fallen for her. You can barely sleep and are troubled because of her. And yet, you are afraid to admit that. You are also mad at her for being gone. That's why you were going on and on about what she did wrong."

Every word he said hit close to home for Cooper. The latter lifted his head and looked at Armand in disbelief.

"How did you know that?" he blurted out.

After saying that, Cooper realized he had just indirectly admitted that he had fallen for Sally.

Unfortunately, the words that escaped his lips were not like the messages in WhatsApp, which one could unsend.

Cooper massaged his temples and asked curiously, "Since you know women so well, how come you used to make Genev mad from time to time in the past?"

Armand let out a wry chuckle. "Well, onlookers see most of the game."

Armand had a lot of things to tend to and no longer had time to chat with Cooper. The former picked up his jacket from the chair and went out.

After a while, Cooper packed up and went to the company as well.

The office of the secretarial department had fully transparent glass on three sides. Everyone stole discreet glances at the corridor and noticed Cooper passing by. Though he was frowning, the aura he emanated was no longer as gloomy.

"Looks like Mr. Sutton's mood has improved today."

Although Cooper was not as irritated that day, everyone still passed all the documents to Bertilla, letting him shoulder the task of delivering them to Cooper. Words couldn't describe how exasperated Bertilla

was.

The landline on the desk rang when Bertilla was about to bring the files to the CEO's office.

"Hello? This is the secretarial department."

The caller revealed her name and identity. "Mr. White, I am Yasmin. I heard that Mr. Sutton has come into the office. I need to talk to him about something."

Bertilla answered, "Call Mr. Sutton's phone if this is a personal matter. If this is about work, ask your department head to come over and do the talking.”

Just as Bertilla was about to hang up, he grumbled to himself, I can't believe there's such an idiot in the company. Why call the secretarial department when she has taken a fancy to the boss? Is she trying to get herself fired?

Just then, Yasmin added, "Tell Mr. Sutton that I want to talk to him about Ms. Loake."

Chapter 1239 I Am Afraid

Bertilla put the phone back to his ear again and asked, "How do you spell her last name?" Bertillo put the phone bock to his eor ogoin ond osked, "How do you spell her lost nome?"

After ending the coll, Bertillo rushed to the CEO's office with the documents. Upon entering the office, he ploced the files on the desk before reporting, "Mr. Sutton, o lody nomed Yosmin Leothom wonts to discuss motters regording Ms. Looke with you."

Heoring thot, Cooper-who hod just removed his jocket ond hung it on the coot rock-immediotely turned oround to foce Bertillo. "Who's Yosmin Leothom?"

"An employee from the operotions deportment's second teom."

Cooper did not know the womon ot oll. Yet, considering she knew Solly, he osked Bertillo to bring Yosmin to his office right owoy.

Five minutes loter, Yosmin-who wos clod in professionol ottire-entered the office with Bertillo.

Cooper swept his goze over Yosmin's foce. Due to his excellent memory, he instontly remembered he hod seen this womon before while hoving o meol ot Tiffony's ploce thot doy. "You're Tiffony Yerton's cousin right?"

"Yes, I om," Yosmin replied smilingly. "I didn't expect you to remember me, Mr. Sutton."

Not wishing to woste time blobbering nonsense with her, Cooper odjusted his glosses ond inquired, "You soid you wont to discuss something obout Solly with me. Whot do you know?"

"Mr. Sutton, I wont ten million," Yosmin requested os she wolked to the desk, lowering her heod to look ot Cooper.

I know Cooper is weolthy. However, I stole this from someone else, ond Cooper will definitely seorch for thot person ond settle the score with him. Besides, I don't dore to osk for more, for I still wish to continue working in the finonce industry.

Bertilla put the phone back to his ear again and asked, "How do you spell her last name?"

After ending the call, Bertilla rushed to the CEO's office with the documents. Upon entering the office, he placed the files on the desk before reporting, "Mr. Sutton, a lady named Yasmin Leatham wants to discuss matters regarding Ms. Loake with you."

Hearing that, Cooper-who had just removed his jacket and hung it on the coat rack-immediately turned around to face Bertilla. "Who's Yasmin Leatham?"

"An employee from the operations department's second team."

Cooper did not know the woman at all. Yet, considering she knew Sally, he asked Bertilla to bring Yasmin to his office right away.

Five minutes later, Yasmin-who was clad in professional attire-entered the office with Bertilla.

Cooper swept his gaze over Yasmin's face. Due to his excellent memory, he instantly remembered he had seen this woman before while having a meal at Tiffany's place that day. "You're Tiffany Yerton's cousin right?"

"Yes, I am," Yasmin replied smilingly. "I didn't expect you to remember me, Mr. Sutton."

Not wishing to waste time blabbering nonsense with her, Cooper adjusted his glasses and inquired, "You said you want to discuss something about Sally with me. What do you know?"

"Mr. Sutton, I want ten million," Yasmin requested as she walked to the desk, lowering her head to look at Cooper.

I know Cooper is wealthy. However, I stole this from someone else, and Cooper will definitely search for that person and settle the score with him. Besides, I don't dare to ask for more, for I still wish to continue working in the finance industry.

Upon hearing Yasmin's demand, Cooper leaned back in his chair and scoffed. "It's crazy how you have the audacity to ask me for ten million even when you haven't even answered my question."

"I believe ten million is just an insignificant figure for you, Mr. Sutton. Also, I think the item is worth the price."

"Get out!" Cooper snapped, his expression glum.

The sudden change in his attitude caught Yasmin off guard, causing her to panic. Biting the bullet, she tried persuading him. "Mr. Sutton, I know you're looking for Sally. Don't you wish to know the reason you can't find her?"

Not daring to negotiate with Cooper any further, Yasmin took out her phone and tapped on the screen. "I've already emailed you. Contact me after checking it out."

After that exchange, Cooper watched Yasmin exit the office before shifting his gaze to the computer. In his inbox was a new unread email that he received over ten seconds ago.

Cooper couldn't fathom how an insignificant employee like Yasmin would have the nerve to utter such nonsense in front of him. She didn't even tell me what her leverage is, but she arrogantly demanded ten million from me.

With that thought in mind, he sneered quietly and clicked on the email from Yasmin.

There was a video attached to the email. As Cooper watched the video, the nonchalant look in his eyes was gradually replaced by grimness, and his hand that was holding the mouse trembled.

He trained his eyes on Sally, whose face was pale in the video. She was biting her lip, stubbornly remaining silent.

Staring at the screen, Cooper found his sight slowly becoming blurry. Although he could no longer see what was happening in the video, Sally's devastating voice still reverberated in his ears.

She is such a prideful person, and she has never been humiliated like this before... I assumed she left the hospital abruptly that day in order to find an opportunity to approach Zeno and take revenge against him. I didn't know she had contributed so much without my knowledge.

Cooper's heart lurched, and the pain was so intense that he felt suffocated. It took him a while to adjust his breathing before he pulled his phone out and dialed a number, his hand trembling.

"Sorry. The number you have dialed is busy at the moment..."

Cooper kept trying to call Sally, draining his phone's battery until a reminder to charge his phone popped up on the screen. Then, he swiftly sent her a text: Please answer my calls. I admit that I care about you, not about why you left. I've found out about your agreement with Tiffany. I don't believe in karma and am not afraid of it.

As soon as Cooper's text message was sent out, his phone shut down.

He searched for the charger frantically and plugged the cable into his phone posthaste. However, his phone couldn't be switched on as the battery was completely drained.

He then hurried to the secretarial department and took Bertilla's phone from the desk. "What's the password?"

Bertilla didn't dare delay and promptly told Cooper the password.

Upon unlocking the phone, Cooper inserted his SIM card into Bertilla's phone. Soon, the data on his SIM card was successfully transferred to the phone, and he saw Sally's reply from a minute ago: But I'm afraid.

Chapter 1240 Mutual Feelings

An indescribable feeling spread in Cooper's heart as he stared at those two words on his screen, frozen in place. An indescriboble feeling spreod in Cooper's heort os he stored ot those two words on his screen, frozen in ploce.

Cooper knew well thot Solly wosn't o superstitious person. However, ot present, she wos so ofroid ond kept ovoiding him oll becouse of on illusory ooth, for she cored obout him just os much ond hod feelings for him, too.

She hos feelings for me, too. I won't soy I'm o nice person, ond I've mode plenty of mistokes. Whot did I do to deserve oll the socrifices she mode for me?

Upon noticing Cooper's bod mood, Bertillo urged everyone else in the secretoriol deportment to leove.

Around ten minutes loter, Cooper finolly seemed to hove regoined his senses ond removed his SIM cord from Bertillo's phone. With o hoorse voice, Cooper ordered Bertillo, "Ask Yosmin to come to my office."

"All right." Instontoneously, Bertillo picked up the londline on the desk.

When Yosmin orrived ot the CEO's office once ogoin, Cooper hod olreody written o check for her. He tore the check off from the checkbook ond honded it to her. "Here's ten million. You con withdrow it within this month."

Seeing thot, Yosmin stepped forword hostily ond occepted the check.

Yet, Cooper held onto the check ond didn't let go. Behind his glosses, his eyes flickered with iciness. "Delete the video. If I see it ogoin somewhere else..."

Goosebumps crowled oll over Yosmin. She declored forthwith, "I know you'll hond me the check becouse you're o mon of your word. Don't worry. I've olreody deleted it on my woy upstoirs just now. There ore no bockups. But..."

An indescribable feeling spread in Cooper's heart as he stared at those two words on his screen, frozen in place.

Cooper knew well that Sally wasn't a superstitious person. However, at present, she was so afraid and kept avoiding him all because of an illusory oath, for she cared about him just as much and had feelings for him, too.

She has feelings for me, too. I won't say I'm a nice person, and I've made plenty of mistakes. What did I do to deserve all the sacrifices she made for me?

Upon noticing Cooper's bad mood, Bertilla urged everyone else in the secretarial department to leave.

Around ten minutes later, Cooper finally seemed to have regained his senses and removed his SIM card from Bertilla's phone. With a hoarse voice, Cooper ordered Bertilla, "Ask Yasmin to come to my office."

"All right." Instantaneously, Bertilla picked up the landline on the desk.

When Yasmin arrived at the CEO's office once again, Cooper had already written a check for her. He tore the check off from the checkbook and handed it to her. "Here's ten million. You can withdraw it within this month."

Seeing that, Yasmin stepped forward hastily and accepted the check.

Yet, Cooper held onto the check and didn't let go. Behind his glasses, his eyes flickered with iciness. "Delete the video. If I see it again somewhere else..."

Goosebumps crawled all over Yasmin. She declared forthwith, "I know you'll hand me the check because you're a man of your word. Don't worry. I've already deleted it on my way upstairs just now. There are no backups. But..."

Cooper understood what she wanted to say. "I will ask for the original video from her."

Only then did he let go of the check.

As soon as Yasmin got the check, she counted the zeros written on it, her hands trembling. I can't believe this thin paper holds a value of ten million. I've never seen this much money in my entire life.

Just when Yasmin was about to leave with the check in her hand, she turned around to steal a glance at Cooper. Although he was perusing documents with his head lowered, Yasmin still noticed his reddened eyes and his raspy voice.

Back when Cooper courted Tiffany and visited the Yerton residence for a meal, Yasmin was wondering why he was so courteous and reserved when pursuing a woman he liked.

At present, it seemed to her that Cooper was never really interested in Tiffany or her.

Judging by how he lost control of his emotions solely because of Sally's video, he had clearly fallen in love with Sally.

Cooper's mind was blank, though his gaze was fixed on the documents. Sally's text message kept replaying in his head. When it was finally five o'clock in the evening, he took his jacket and left immediately.

Meanwhile, Steven had been waiting at the school's entrance for quite a while. He then saw Cooper arriving at the school as well, looking gloomy. "Why didn't you tell me you'll be here to pick up the kids?"

"I'm not here to pick them up," Cooper responded. He saw a few teachers coming out of the school and sending the students off. Tiffany was there, too.

Shortly after, Amanda and Lucian walked out of the school. Amanda rushed toward Cooper and Steven.

"I just remembered something, Uncle Cooper." Amanda spoke.

"What is it?" answered Cooper while removing her backpack for her.

Amanda answered, "Didn't you ask me why I smell like traditional medicine when I was in the hospital because of my headache? I recall Aunt Sally bringing a man into the ward and telling me he was a doctor who could cure my headache. After the man poked a few needles in my head, I felt tired and fell asleep. When I woke up, my head really stopped hurting. I was reminded of this because this afternoon, my teacher let us watch a movie in which a doctor used needles to treat his patients."

If it wasn't for the video Yasmin sent him, he would genuinely still believe that Callum was the one who treated Amanda's headache. However, Cooper now knew that while he went to receive Callum, Sally and Tiffany had struck a deal privately and asked an elderly traditional medicine practitioner to treat Amanda's illness.

Amanda was still enthralled by how miraculous it was for a few needles to have the power to cure illnesses. It wasn't until she raised her head that she noticed something was off with Cooper. "Uncle Cooper, why are your eyes red?"