Chapter 1249


    While they were eating, Cooper helped Sophia to the food and filled her te as usual. He even


    resembled the way Sophia coaxed Carmen and cooed, “Have more, darling.”


    Knowing that all the others at the dining table were looking at them, Sophia blushed.


    “Pfft…” Amused, Stanley turned away as he couldn’t helpughing and Cooper immediately gave him a


    fierce stare.


    With that, Stanley quickly lowered his head and pretended to be eating in a serious manner, but he was


    in fact chuckling.


    Cooper continued to fill Sophia’s te as he said, “Come on; have this. It’s your favorite!”


    In contrast, Linus only had an empty te and was not treated the same way as Sophia. Indeed, a


    daughter was more precious than a son.


    It was a splendid dinner that consisted of harvests from their own farm together with Daniel’s delicacies


    and Harry’s seafood. Besides, the Yards brought some food too while Michael opened a few bottles of


    premium wine that he had been collecting. Anna had never experienced such a festive new year before,


    and she too ate quite a lot.


    Worried that his darling would not have enough food, Cooper was busy filling Sophia’s te with


    delicacies. Following that, he took another spoonful of food and was about to serve Anna. However, he


    hesitated for a moment, thinking that they were not that close after all and that she might not like being


    served, so he ended up putting the food onto his own te.


    Little did Cooper know that Anna had noticed his movements as she sat next to him. She saw Cooper


    scoop the food and move toward her, and she had even subconsciously held her te out, ready to


    receive the food. Well, it seems like I’ve got it wrong. Nevertheless, with the lively surroundings, it did not


    affect Anna’s mood.


    Meanwhile, Sophia took out some wine that she brewed. Seeing that, Stanley instantly held up his ss


    and said, “Quickly, Aunt Sophia—I can’t wait to try the ancestral wine of the Edwards!”


    At the same time, Anna caught a whiff of the aroma as Sophia poured a ss for Stanley. “What wine is


    that? Can I try some?” she asked.


    And so, Sophia served some for Anna too. Looking downward, she did noty eyes on Anna and only


    dared to stare at the wine ss as the clear and aromatic wine flowed out from the bottle. “This is plum


    wine,” Sophia exined.


    Anna thanked her and thereafter took a sip of it. Instantly, Anna’s mouth was filled with the aroma of the


    wine. What a wonderful taste! As the fruity liquor enveloped her tongue, it felt as if she was standing


    amidst a forest full of plum trees in blossom, the scent lingering on her pte even after she swallowed


    the wine.


    After tasting the wine, Anna eximed in admiration, “Did you brew this? It’s amazing!”


    Still not daring to look at Anna, Sophia answered, “Yes, I did.”


    It was an ancestral recipe that her grandmother had passed down to her, which she had jotted down in


    her notebook. Following her abduction by the Phantom Wolf, Michael had conserved her belongings,


    including the recipes. Upon her return, Sophia had tried to pick up the recipes again. Nevertheless, she


    would probably be able to brew even more refined wine if Annabel was still around.


    After finishing the ss, Anna intended to drink more and so she stretched her hand toward the wine


    bottle. However, just as she reached the wine bottle, another palmnded on her hand.


    It was Cooper, who was facing the other side while talking to Linus. He was distracted from the


    conversation and wanted to reach out for the bottle of wine but to his surprise, he touched a warm, soft


    hand. Stunned, Cooper was instantly at a loss while his hand remained on Anna’s. On the other side,


    Callum was a bundle of nerves at once when he saw this.


    All the while, Anna had a sore point—she abhorred having close contact with any men. Once she came


    into contact with them, she would involuntarily experience a mental breakdown. For that, she was forced


    to lead a simple life and forgo her career while she devoted all her energy to grooming her two sons so


    that they could take over the business.


    Both Callum and Cade nearly stood up. However, they were surprised to see Anna behaving absolutely


    normal and she had remained calm until Cooper took off his hand.


    “I’m sorry,” Cooper apologized in a low tone.


    Smiling, Anna took her hand off the wine bottle too. She could feel the warmth on the back of her hand


    where Cooper touched. Her heart was racing as she was shocked and surprised. Nevertheless, she


    didn’t feel the slightest tinge of fear. That feeling was amazing.


    Back then when Anna’s anxiety was at its peak, she would panic and feel disgusted, subconsciously


    getting goosebumps when a man was a few meters away from her. Even after she slowly practiced to


    control herself and prevent herself from overreacting, she still couldn’t ept any man approaching her.


    By forcing herself, she could at most remain a calm countenance while approaching men, but the horror


    and aversion had be an automatic reaction; only her two sons were the exceptions. And now,


    Cooper was the third exception. What is going on?


    Even the Yards brothers thought it was unbelievable. Could it be fate that has brought them together?


    Nheless, the little episode between Cooper and Anna passed just like this, and no one seemed to


    notice it. Meanwhile, Michael took the wine bottle and poured some for Sophia and thereafter poured for


    everyone else. The reunion dinner ended on a harmonious note.


    ording to the traditions, they had to stay up all night on New Year’s Eve. Everyone was caught up in


    their respective activities—some were ying mahjong and poker, while the others apanied the


    children.


    Meanwhile, Anna followed Cooper to his study room on the third floor as she had some matters to


    discuss with him.


    Over the mahjong table, Callum shuffled the tiles and asked Sophia, “Your father is Fass Michel? How


    does it feel like being Fass’ daughter?”


    Frowning, Sophia could not focus as she was thinking of Cooper and Anna.


    In the study room, Cooper was seated in front of the tea table. “So, what deal do you want to propose to


    me?” he asked as he brewed a pot of tea. Some tea would be good for digestion after a heavy meal.


    After all, both of them had more or less taken some wine and the tea would sober them up, making it


    easier to discuss business.


    Anna did not beat around the bush and cut straight to the point. “I would like to work with you to tackle


    Jordan.”


    Upon hearing her proposal, Cooper paused as doubt and surprise arose in him. Despite that, he


    remained alert and continued brewing tea as he looked downward. Concealing his feelings, he did not


    even look at Anna as he asked, “Jordan is your husband. Why do you want to fight against him?”


    Husband? This word was extremely disgusting to Anna.


    “Mr. Mitchell—oh wait, perhaps I should address you as Fass. To prove my sincerity, I’ve brought with me


    a list of spies that Jordan has ced in the Michel Group and the family. Please take a look at it.” With


    that, she took out a tiny memory card from her handbag which contained information that she had


    gathered.


    “Jordan is not my husband. Twenty years ago, he helped me return to the Yards Family merely because


    he was eyeing the Ronney Group for a very long time. He wanted to take advantage of my identity to


    enter the group. I’m just his puppet and have been carefully seeking to survive within the tense


    rtionship between Jordan and the Yards. Even up to today, I’m living under the control of Jordan and


    have not had much actual power in the Ronney Group. I intended to go after Ryan and Henry because


    they are not my offspring. The two are twins and are one of Jordan’s many illegitimate children. Since


    Jordan has started guarding against me and my two sons, he intends to let the twins join Ronney Group


    so they can undermine our power.”


    She then added, “Jordan has many other undercovers in the Ronney Group. Besides, he has numerous


    mistresses around the world, including politicians, celebrities and businesswomen. The power that this


    man and his mistresses possess is beyond our imagination.”


    As she was talking about Jordan, Anna did not notice that Cooper’s hands were mildly trembling. He


    assumed she was leading a happy life, hence did not want to interrupt her. He thought she had a


    complete family and a sessful career, and it was impossible for them to be connected once more.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Never once did he think…