In the following days, Yolanda spent her dayti with Ella and Jaxon, while dedicating her nights to designing the "Island" thed jewelry collection.
But it seed she was lacking inspiration, as she still couldn’t co up with any satisfying ideas.
The date of the divorce hearing was approaching fast.
That evening, Cooper was still at work when he received a call from Little May.
"Uncle Coldson, are you busy?" The little girl’s voice was incredibly sweet. "You haven’t co to see May in so long. Are you spending ti with my little brother instead?"
Cooper paused for a mont. It was true—ever since bringing Gabriel back, he hadn’t visited Little May.
He felt a pang of guilt. "That’s Uncle’s fault. How about I visit you tonight?"
"Uncle Coldson, co over now and take Mom and out for so delicious food," Little May giggled, "but don’t tell Mom. Let it be a surprise for her."
"Alright." Cooper agreed without hesitation.
After quickly wrapping up his work, he went straight to the Greenwood Family’s house, only to find Little May already waiting at the door.
"May..."
"Shh!" Little May pressed a finger to her lips, signaling Cooper to stay quiet. "Mom’s upstairs. Go give her a surprise, Uncle Coldson."
Cooper frowned slightly, reluctant. "There’s no need for that. Go upstairs and call her so we can leave together."
"Go on, go on!" Little May tugged at his sleeve, pleading, "Mom’s been in a bad mood lately. Uncle Coldson, just cheer her up for , please? I’m begging you!"
"Fine!" Looking at Little May, Cooper couldn’t help but think of Little Ella, making it even harder for him to refuse.
He climbed the stairs quietly and found that lissa’s bedroom door was unlocked. Without hesitation, he pushed it open.
As the door swung open, Cooper was hit by an indescribable, acrid odor. He didn’t see lissa at first glance and was puzzled, but then he spotted her sitting on the floor.
Apparently, lissa hadn’t noticed his presence. Her eyes were closed, as if she were savoring sothing.
The most striking thing was that lissa wasn’t wearing makeup or dressed up. She looked disheveled, a version of her that Cooper had never seen before.
Since lissa had left the old Greenwood estate without saying goodbye that day, she hadn’t been in touch for a few days, which Cooper honestly didn’t mind. But he hadn’t expected her to look like this now.
He furrowed his brows, finding it hard to accept, and tentatively called out, "lissa?"
In an instant, lissa’s eyes snapped open. Seeing Cooper, she let out a piercing scream. "Ahhhh!"
Before Cooper could react, she jumped up and shoved him out of the room.
What was Cooper doing here?
lissa’s heart was pounding. When had he arrived? Had he seen what she had just been doing?
lissa started pacing nervously. Her usage of that stuff had been escalating. Luckily, she had barely left the house these past few days. By all logic, Cooper shouldn’t have shown up without calling first. What was going on?
She recalled the private investigator ntioning that soone was looking into her. Could it be that Cooper had discovered sothing?
"lissa! Open the door!" Cooper’s voice ca from outside.
"Cooper, you...you go downstairs and wait for . I’ll change my clothes," lissa quickly replied.
Cooper thought for a mont and then went downstairs, noticing Little May sneaking glances at him.
He walked over to her in a few strides and spoke in a low voice. "You called on purpose, didn’t you?"
It was the first ti Little May had seen Cooper speaking so sternly. She beca frightened and murmured in a tiny voice, "Mom is so pitiful."
"What’s wrong with your mom?" Cooper crouched down, softening his tone a bit.
Little May shook her head and repeated, "Mom is very pitiful."
Cooper didn’t press further and patted her head gently. "Okay, maybe your mom’s just feeling a bit down. Uncle will cheer her up."
"Thank you, Uncle." Little May sighed and went off to play again.
Cooper sat on the couch to wait, his mind repeatedly replaying the scene of lissa earlier. She had looked almost like soone who was drunk, but there hadn’t been any sll of alcohol in the room. Instead, there was that peculiar, acrid odor...
It was a sll Cooper had never encountered before—sharp and indescribably foul.
After waiting a while, lissa finally ca downstairs. She had changed her clothes and done her hair, looking nearly radiant—almost unrecognizable from the person he had just seen. This made Cooper question whether he had imagined the whole scene.
"Cooper, what brings you here?" lissa tried her best to appear normal while subtly observing his expression. "Why didn’t you call before coming?"
Cooper glanced at Little May, hesitated for a mont, then replied, "I was supposed to et a client nearby, but they had a last-minute cancellation, so I decided to stop by."
"Oh, I see." lissa forced a smile.
"Are you...feeling down?" Cooper hesitated, unsure how to approach the question.
lissa imdiately lowered her head, looking utterly heartbroken. "No, Cooper, don’t worry. I’m fine. I’ll be better in a few days."
"Is it because of Gabriel?"
"No." lissa quickly shook her head. "Cooper, I’m happier than anyone else that you have your own child. It’s just..."
She looked extrely aggrieved. "It’s just that if we’re married, isn’t your child my child too? But your mom’s attitude that day..."
"I know I shouldn’t have left without saying anything that day, but if I had stayed..." She let out a bitter laugh. "I don’t think anyone wanted there, anyway."
"Alright, that day was my fault for not taking better care of you. Don’t take it to heart."
Cooper spoke calmly, "Let’s do this—get ready. I’ll take you and May out for dinner. It’s been a few days since we ate together."
"Alright. I’ll take May upstairs to change." lissa led Little May upstairs. Once the door closed, she grabbed Little May by the ear. "You little brat! Why didn’t you call Mom when Uncle Coldson ca?"
Little May’s eyes teared up from the pain. "Uncle Coldson said he wanted to surprise you!"
lissa let go, looking skeptical but said harshly, "Hurry up and get changed, you little pest!"
Downstairs, Cooper gave it so thought and stepped outside to call Richard Reyes.
"How’s the investigation I asked you to conduct?" Sothing about lissa had felt off to him earlier.
"President Coldson, I’ve found so things, but I need three more days. I’ll report back to you at the office!" Richard’s tone sounded excited.
"Alright, got it!" Cooper ended the call, his mind filled with even more questions.
He could sense that Richard had uncovered sothing significant. He glanced back at the stairs, where lissa and Little May were coming down.
Could this woman really be hiding sothing?
Reviews
All reviews (0)