Chapter 772: Chapter 775

Sophia’s eyes were shining brightly at that point. I already have some personal savings to begin with;

coupled with different streams of investments and the stock dividends collected, it is a handsome sum of money! If I were to sum up my assets, I’m already a billionaire!

There are so many zeros that I don’t even know where to look.

Cooper was caught by surprise, and so he just had to ask, “What money in Kuwait? I left that money?

Why don’t I know about it?”

At the mention of the money in Kuwait, Michael couldn’t help but smile with an evil expression while explaining to Cooper, “Well, about that money… All those years ago, we found out by chance that you had left a sum of money in Kuwait, which could only be retrieved by a keepsake and a thousand-digit password. Hence, I brought Sophia along to unlock the safety deposit box, and we got the money. Didn’t you know that?”

Cooper still looked confused. After all, he had a lot of money, and he had it scattered all over the world.

With some over here, and some over there, how could he possibly remember all their locations?

Michael continued, “At that time, Sophia thought that she would be able to locate you once she retrieved the money, yet you had remained hidden throughout the time. Sophia was heartbroken for a long while back then.”

Cooper’s expression turned steely, and he shot daggers at Michael.

The two of them exchanged menacing glares.

On the other hand, Sophia seemed oblivious to that because she was distracted by money.

Since money played a role now, she approved of Michael more than before, and so she uttered, “Thank you.”

Michael answered while flashing her a smile, “Don’t worry about it; that’s the least I could do.” He paused. “By the way, this is the list of the expenditures for certain projects for the past few years. Apart from the usual expenditures in the companies, you have a periodic donation for the orphanage, and there’s also some monthly expenses for the pandas you adopted. Besides, you have been providing financial aid to a few poor students, including Derek Oak, your junior. You founded Hope Educational Charity in my name; you also provided the follow-up expenses for repairing the roads in the mountain village in my name. Furthermore, you had a great debt of gratitude toward the principal from Riverdale High School, and so I’ve been paying him a visit every month. Last year, I donated a block of infrastructure in Riverdale High School under your name…”

Michael was well-versed with every detail in Sophia’s life. In fact, he was much more informed about her matters than his own.

Sophia had no idea that she had accomplished so many things in the past. What threw her off was that after she left, Michael continued everything on her behalf.

At that moment, Cooper could only glare at Michael in silence.

When she was at the lowest point in her life, he was the one who took her in and gave her the warmth of a family. He gave her the chance to further her studies while enabling her to put her intelligence and wit to good use. Michael was also the one who protected her.

Throughout the five years, from when she entered university right until she graduated, he was the one taking care of her meticulously, whereas I had been busy mining in Africa. I didn’t know that I had a daughter, nor did I care about her fate.

Cooper was aware that he was in the wrong in that sense, but that did not mean that he would have a soft spot for Michael over his gratitude for him. He just couldn’t willingly betroth his daughter to Michael.

“That’s enough. You can go over the numbers later. Just place your signature here,” Cooper interjected Sophia and Michael while they were chatting happily away.

With that, Sophia placed her signature on the document handed over by the lawyer.

Michael added, “This lawyer is Mr. Fields. He used to be the lawyer you retained in the past. If you require any assistance legally in the future, feel free to consult him. He is the best in Bayside City’s legal profession. He’d won countless legal battles on your behalf once upon a time.”

Therefore, Sophia and Calvin exchanged pleasantries.

Soon, Michael sounded like an old and long-winded mother who was nagging his daughter that was about to embark on a long journey. “Previously, you always jotted down notes whenever you achieved a milestone. I already handed the notes to you, and you should have a look at them to familiarize yourself with the businesses. Besides, I’ve shifted all your work files from your company offices back here. You should familiarize yourself with those, and once the time is right, you should head back to work.”

Sophia nodded while thanking him. “Thank you.”

The exchange of Sophia’s assets and work folders took up the entire morning, and it was noon soon.

After Michael sorted matters regarding her finances and her work folders, he chatted about Dragon Mountain Meditation Health Club Project and its developments; he also chatted about the conditions of the orphanage. He spent so much time chatting that he was already having hunger pangs, but Sophia didn’t hint at anything at all.

Sophia was too immersed in the discovery of her status as a billionaire, and she was too overwhelmed by the situation. On the other side of the room, Cooper wore a sour expression, and he wanted nothing more than to chase Michael out of the house, whereas Linus was shaking his head helplessly.

While chatting with Sophia about work, Michael kept signaling inconspicuously at Carmen, who was focusing on playing with the dog. Carmen, it’s time for you to repay me!

Carmen got Michael’s hint, and so she waddled in front of him while asking sweetly, “Daddy, it’s almost noontime. Why don’t we stay for lunch before heading home?”

Sophia snapped back to her senses when she heard that, and she said hastily, “You should have lunch before leaving.”

Michael pretended to reject her. “It’s alright; I shouldn’t. I have other matters to attend to.”

With that, he stood up to leave.

Sophia stood up abruptly to stop him. “Have lunch before you leave. The kitchen has prepared lunch anyway.”

Michael rejected her adamantly. “No, that’s not right. Mr. Cooper doesn’t seem pleased with my presence; it’s best that I head home for lunch.”Sophia grabbed Michael hastily. “Of course not! My dad is a very nice person! I’m sure he’d welcome you to have a meal with us! Lunch wouldn’t take long at all, and I’m sure we wouldn’t delay your time.”

Michael responded, “Forget it. It’s fine. I don’t want to trouble you. It’s best if I head home for lunch.”

Cooper was about to lose his cool.

Leave! Why don’t you leave?! You claim that you’re leaving, but why do I not see you taking a step forward?! How are you different from those b*tches claiming that they weren’t interested in bribes, but were yanking their pockets open to collect all the bribes coming their way!?

After declining a few times to no avail, Michael appeared as if he had no choice but to stay.

Sophia let out a sigh of relief since he agreed to have lunch with them. After that, she turned to the kitchen to check on the dishes for today.

Michael winked at Carmen the moment Sophia turned away.

Soon, Linus started putting away the folders in the living room, whereas Cooper and Michael glared at each other venomously.

Cooper: Who do you think you are to marry my daughter? Dream on!

Michael: Haha.

Carmen sat between the two of them. After looking at Michael, she glanced at Cooper. Then, she pouted while asking Cooper in an unhappy tone, “Grandpa, do you dislike my daddy?”

Cooper’s face immediately smoothed over while he reassured her, “Why would I? You must be mistaken.” Suddenly, Cooper came up with a plan, and he asked Carmen an extremely tricky question.

“Carmen, imagine that your daddy and I fell into the water one day, and you could only save one of us.

Who would it be?”

Carmen didn’t seem perturbed by the question at all; instead, she answered sweetly, “Oh! Daddy knows how to swim. I will get daddy to rescue you, grandpa!”

Michael chuckled while caressing Carmen’s head. He praised her while smiling, “You are so obedient, Carmen. You are my understanding and considerate baby.”

Cooper, however, looked extremely gloomy.

Hence, he announced loudly and deliberately in front of Michael, “My wonderful granddaughter! I’ll pick a new daddy for you in two days’ time! I promise that you’ll like him!”

Carmen jumped with joy. “That’s great! That’s wonderful!”

Cooper looked especially pleased with himself, and he glared menacingly at Michael while thinking, It’s useless to use Carmen against me!

However, Carmen’s unexpected responses almost knocked Cooper off in anger.

“I’ll have two daddies on rotation in the future!”

Cooper explained hastily, “You can’t be greedy; you can only have one daddy! The new daddy can’t come if the old one stays. I promise you that your new daddy will definitely be better than your old daddy!”

Carmen blinked her eyes a few times at Cooper. Her large, black eyes reflected her concerns. In the end, she turned around to hug Michael tightly. “In that case, I think I prefer old daddy! Old daddy feels familiar!”

Cooper was rendered speechless by her response.