After Sophia finished her meal, she brought a torchlight with her to pick up seashells. The night sky and the sea were completely dark, and as she walked on the seashore barefooted, she felt really relaxed.
The breeze blew so strongly, her maxi dress flew like a fluttering butterfly. Michael watched the little girl running around in a distance and it warmed his heart.
All of a sudden, Daniel asked, âIs she really Cooperâs daughter?â
Michael continued to look at Sophia and didnât say anything in reply, as if he tacitly agreed.
A look of awe instantly appeared in Danielâs gaze but he quickly started to look worried. If Cooper found out that his daughter was bought for 10 million and sold for 80,000, his reputation in Bayside City would completely be ruined.
Harry clicked his tongue and frowned as he said, âOld man, you have a big appetite. Knowing that sheâs Cooperâs daughter, you still⦠Arenât you afraid that your father-in-law might resurrect from the dead and choke you to death?â
Harry used to admire Bear Grylls because after all, the guy had fought a bear before. However, at that moment, the person he admired the most was Michael. He couldnât believe that Michael would dare to sleep with Cooperâs daughter. Isnât he afraid that Cooper would suddenly appear from nowhere and kill him?
However, Michael was extremely calm. âItâs too late now. What can he do?â After hearing this, the other two were rendered speechless.
These two were also from the generation when Cooper poisoned peopleâs minds so they hated Cooper ever since they were young. He had tried to ruin his peers! The three of them fell into a moment of silence. If Michael continued his investigation and really found Cooper one day, the lives of the people in Bayside City would definitely change. The existing power would be redistributed and there might even be a change in politics.
At that time, Bayside City was still under the rule of the Four Great Families. The Edwards family was the wealthiest family in the city, the Mitchell familyâs electronics business was on a global scale, the Fletcher family held military power, and the Winston family was powerful in military, politics and business.
However, among the four, the Mitchell family was the weakest.
Ever since Cooper passed away, the Mitchell family business had been gradually going downhill, because having a genius like Cooper in their family was already a miracle. Without Cooper, the Mitchell familyâs decline was inevitable.
Furthermore, there were a few new families that were rising in power so the Mitchell familyâs position as one of the Four Great Families was in danger. Therefore, the Mitchell family urgently needed the two billion. In fact, they didnât just need two billion, but ten times more than that!
During their moment of silence, the seafood on the grill crackled and Hale grilled the seafood conscientiously. Although he had no right to interrupt in the conversation of his boss, at that instant, he couldnât help but speak up.
âBoss, I think you should tell the lady boss about Cooper. After all, sheâs his daughter. With her help, it might be easier to find him.â
The three of them immediately turned to look at Hale. Even though Hale was nervous, he continued, âI noticed that the lady boss is acting more and more like her father. Maybe we can have a breakthrough from her.â
Haleâs words reminded Michael that their search for Cooper was like a chicken with its head cut off. They hadnât got a clue even after searching for so long. If they started their search from Sophia, they could probably find something, but Michael had his own concerns.
The greater expectation, the greater the disappointment. If he let Sophia know that she might have an awesome father right now but found out that he was dead in the end, how would she feel? At that moment, Sophia had found many seashells, fish and small shrimps, and she was running back into the house happily to keep them in a safe place.
She had been living in Woodyâs house for the past two days. Although she was a little embarrassed, Woody was very welcoming and insisted on letting her stay so she had no choice but to stay.
Unexpectedly, she saw Woody, who was wearing pajamas, sitting in the living room watching television as soon as she entered the house.
âMr⦠Dad, why havenât you gone to bed?â Sophia asked as she walked up to him and wiped her dirty hands clean.
After Woody saw her coming over, he mysteriously beckoned her over. âCome here, Sophia. I have something to give you.â
Seeing that there was nobody else around, Sophia tactfully refused him. âDad, itâs getting late. You should go to bed early. Weâll watch television together tomorrow, okay?â
Woody looked around vigilantly before he said, âHush! Iâm only showing this to you. You must not let anyone else know about this.â
Hearing this, Sophia felt like she was about to get in trouble. What if Woody gives me something more valuable than the amulet and the two billion? I canât take anything else!
Woody grabbed her arm with one hand and crutches with the other. Then, he staggered as he walked up the stairs, as if he was about to show her something really valuable. Sophie was so afraid, she hurriedly sent a text message to Michael and asked him to save her. Later, Woody brought Sophia into the piano room that they entered that noon.
Woody pointed at the piano that Sophia played and said, âCoop, this is your favorite piano that youâve played on for over twenty years. â At that moment, Michael finally rushed back. As soon as he entered the piano room, he saw Woody open the piano stool, where a lot of music scores were hidden. Woody then pushed aside the music scores and found a big, thick book that was covered in dust.
Woody handed it to Sophia and said, âCoop, this is your favorite book. You must not lose it, understand?â
Sophia looked up at Michael, who was standing at the doorway. After she saw Michael nod in response, she bent over and took the heavy book from Woody.
As she bent over, the amulet on her neck fell out and Woody hurriedly caught it. He could still feel Sophiaâs body temperature on it. He stared at the amulet and his expression looked complicated. Then, he said to Sophia earnestly, âCoop, this amulet comes in a pair. You had a younger sister but she died at birth, and the other half belonged to her. No matter when, the amulet has to be paired together to be useful.â
Sophia was confused but she nodded in reply. âYes, father.â
It was late at night. After Sophia finished washing up, she lay on the bed and flipped through the book that Woody gave her. She didnât know what the book was about because it was written in languages that she couldnât recognize and there wasnât even a single picture.
She put the book aside and glanced at Nathan, who was sleeping soundly next to her. Then, she rolled over and saw that Michael was scanning Cooperâs bookshelves with a strange device, as if he was checking whether there was a secret compartment in the bookshelves. Sophia watched him and after giving it some thought, she asked, âHubby, why are you investigating Cooper Mitchell? Is he really still alive?â
Abel already told Michael about the events in the afternoon so he wasnât surprised at Sophiaâs question and he replied, âIâm not sure whether heâs dead or alive right now. However, Iâm positive that he didnât die in the car accident more than ten years ago. He faked his death and escaped.â
Sophia was in a daze and she suddenly remembered Woodyâs silver hair and his complete loss of sanity.
She had heard rumors that Woody became like this after he heard about Cooperâs death.
After all, Cooper is Woodyâs only son! What happened back then that Cooper had to fake his death and escape? He even abandoned his old father. Back when Cooper died, Woody was already in his seventies. Cooper was a son that he got at an old age. How could he be able to withstand such a huge blow?