Chapter 991


    Cooper listened as Linus talked about the issue regarding Dragon Eye’s management rights inside the


    study.


    Ian’s guess had been right. From the very beginning, Cooper had already nned to give Sophia the


    Cethosian management rights for Dragon Eye. While Alice called the shots, Cooper was the actual ruler


    of the Michel Family. Despite that, Sophia never asked Cooper for the rights; she chose to fight for them


    herself instead.


    Cooper naturally had an interest in his daughter’s career, especially when it came to Dragon Eye’s


    management rights.


    Linus was equally invested as well. He hadn’t said it himself, but he had been keeping an eye on


    Sophia’s every action. This included the time where she had gotten someone to act as the fake Lucile in


    order to get the two Mitchell siblings to show themselves, as well as convincing Vincent to do her


    bidding. He even knew about how she had gotten Sarah to work with him over a smart furniture deal so


    that the Winstons would be threatened into giving up their im for the managing rights, as well as how


    she held Ian’s nude photos over his head to make him exit thepetition. He had seen all of this, and


    he added a little nudge here and there whenever he could.


    Linua had watched as Sophia smashed all herpetitors into the ground.


    Cooper felt relieved and proud upon hearing this; his daughter was indeed a brave and cunning person.


    Even though she knew that the chance of her winning was slim, she would do her best to fight for


    whatever she wanted. She was someone admirable; if only his son could be like her.


    At the thought of his son, his heart sank. Cooper had no idea where his son actually was…


    Daniel had assured Cooper that his son would appear out of the blue one day and show up on his


    household registry. All Cooper needed to do now was to take out the household records every day and


    wait for his son toe back.


    Cooper didn’t quite believe Daniel’s nonsense, but he didn’t exactly distrust him either. Still, Cooper had


    already done all he could and was unable to find his son. Now, he couldn’t do anything else but wait.


    He still felt a sense offort when he saw Linus, for thetter was more or less his son. He asked


    about his development with Sophia.


    Cooper and Michael had been busy the past few days with Carmen’s auditions. With Michael out of


    Bayside City, it was a great opportunity for Linus.


    However, Cooper watched as Linus shook his head. “I’m sorry, Fass. I don’t think there’s been any


    developments in our rtionship. Sophia treats me like a brother wholeheartedly, or perhaps even an


    uncle…”


    For some time now, Linus had sent Sophia to work and picked her up once the work day was over. Every


    day, he would eat his meals with her as well. He had been doing his best to get her to notice him, but


    Sophia always treated him like an uncle—she never saw him as a man.


    He didn’t dare to make his thoughts known either. Sophia and Michael were so close; how could he


    possibly step right in between them?


    Cooper sighed deeply after hearing Linus’ exnation. He patted him on the shoulder and said, “You’ve


    done your best, Linus…”


    He suddenly recalled his past. At the memory of Annabel, a thought came to him. “If you like someone


    and you are a capable person, you must do your best to win their affection.”


    He had made a terrible mistake because he was too young back then. He knew that he didn’t have the


    capabilities, yet he still fought for her. In the end… he deeply regretted it. He shouldn’t have done that in


    the first ce.


    He should have protected her properly and hid her existence well. Not only that, he should’ve be


    powerful enough that no one would question or oppose him before bringing her back to the Mitchells;


    perhaps his family of four would have been living a happy life now. A truly happy one…


    Cooper’s attitude had seemingly softened. He sort of felt that… Michael was still kind of a reliable son-in-


    law who resembled him somewhat. Furthermore, Michael knew when to exert his power on top of being


    cunning. He was a smart man as well.


    Michael knew that Cooper didn’t agree with his marriage to Sophia, but he still did his best to stay with


    her. He was smarter than the Cooper of the past; he knew his own shorings and his own ce, as


    well as how to use all the advantages at his disposal to win Sophia and Cooper over.


    Cooper was a strong man, so going for the rough and straightforward approach wouldn’t work. Michael


    had been ying dumb in front of Cooper while ying the lustful husband in front of Sophia. He had


    been utilizing Carmen as well, trying to take down the household with the three of them.


    Cooper did admire Michael’s shameless tenacity somewhat, but on the inside, he still preferred Linus.


    After all, he watched as Linus grew up before his eyes!


    “Grandpa! Where have you gone, Grandpa?!”


    Cooper felt a headacheing on when he heard Carmen’s childish little voice calling him. He patted


    Linus’ shoulder. “Try your best, Linus.”


    Cooper knew that Carmen was onto him; she didn’t allow him to pester her parents, doing everything in


    her power to stall him.


    Now that Carmen had stuck herself to Cooper like glue, Linus sat in his study andpsed into thought.


    He wanted to be together with her forever. He really did.


    Meanwhile, inside Sophia’s bedroom, the wooden bed that had a leg bitten into by Judge the dog


    creaked whenever its upants shifted their weight.


    After creaking for half the night, the bed stopped making those sounds. Having had her fill of food and


    wine prior, Sophia got up and showered before returning to snuggle into Michael’s arms.


    Michael was exhausted, having had a long flight as well as taking on a long love-making session. He had


    fallen asleep.


    Sophia curled up in his arms, but she didn’t fall asleep for a long time. Her eyes were wide open as she


    took in Michael’s handsome features, looking at the night sky.


    Is Michael willing to marry me and take on my family name?


    While Cooper hoped that Sophia would stay in Cethos, the Michels definitely wouldn’t allow it. She


    couldn’t possibly throw away the Michel Family’s power and name.


    Sophia understood the lesson behind the story back then; Cooper had been powerless and failed to


    protect his beloved. She wanted to make herself so strong and powerful that no one would be able to


    hurt her and her loved ones.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    However, if she really did manage to stand on that mountain peak in the future and inherited her ce in


    the Michel Family, would Michael be willing to change his family name?


    Would the Fletchers allow Carmen to change her family name too?


    At the thought of Ian’s earlier words today, Sophia felt even less confident in herself. To a Cethosian


    man, taking on their wife’s family name and marrying into her family was a humiliating thing!


    She really wanted to ask him about it, but Michael was already fast asleep. She wanted to ask him the


    next day, but she didn’t know how to phrase it well.


    He probably won’t be able to take it…


    After Michael returned, he began his endless work schedule once again. Other than his career in show


    business, he had many other things to do.


    Sophia had her own te full as well. Her current influence was still too weak;pared to the powerful


    Michel Family, she was still at the stage where she needed to rely on her father. She had to be


    powerful as soon as possible. If she could obtain the managing rights for the Dragon Eye phones, that


    would be her ticket into the Michels when she returned to them—it would be a proof of honor as well.


    If she wanted to protect everything, she had to have power!


    The next day, Celine and the others held a meeting to report their progress regarding their various


    matters. Other than the original four, Vincent and Derek joined in as well.


    Vincent was a neer here, while Derek was already a higher-up in thepany. Stanley viewed him


    as an important person and would call for him whenever there were major projects.


    “The Winstons have already declined Dana’s project. I’m done on my end,” said Sarah.


    “Ian has backed out too. Stan, Sean, Derek—what about you guys?” Sophia asked.


    Stanley was confident as he spoke. “We’ve got the resources sorted out already. I believe that we’re the


    best of the bunch when ites topeting for those managing rights!”


    Celine was already the cream of the crop when it came to her efficiency. With the newly-arrived Vincent,


    she was not to be underestimated after they hadbined their families’ resources.


    Having kicked two groups out of the running and swallowed one, they were even morepetitive now.


    “There’s still Lucy. We can’t underestimate her,” Derek said anxiously.


    At the mention of Lucy, Sophia sighed and said, “All we can do now is to let fate take its course.”


    There really weren’t any chinks in Lucy’s armor that they could poke at. Sophia thought of making an


    example of the capable Bill, but even if she managed to pull it off, it wouldn’t cause much of an impact to


    Lucy.


    Lucy was a woman among women. She had no weaknesses and was a highly capable woman. If Sophia


    allowed her to be herpetitor, it would be difficult to win against her to say the least.


    A few dayster at the Michel Group, dozens of teamspeting for the management rights showed up.


    Everyone inside the building was tense, knowing that Alice would announce the final decisionter today.