Chapter 4

Tears. Depression. Everyone present at Riverside Cemetery today showed the same expression. This noon, the funeral of the late Dianna Cooper was being held and all the relatives had gathered.

Albert Cooper observed the surroundings. Almost the entire Cooper family had gathered around the cemetery. That was a good sign. However, Walter's entire family was actually present as well. All of them. And that was a bad sign--well, his wife's family had never brought good things to Albert, especially if they were present at this funeral.

Albert returned his gaze to the front while clearing his throat softly. He again listened intently to the prayers of the priest who led the final blessing for the late Dianna Cooper.

Inside the coffin, Dianna Cooper's pale body lay with her eyes closed. There was a small smile painted on the corners of her lips. It made her face look very peaceful in the coffin. People might have thought that Dianna Cooper had gone to God with a peaceful heart. No one knew that her death was actually caused by the bloody tragedy a few nights ago.

While closing his eyes and saying a prayer, Albert grinned secretly. His heart was satisfied that all his plans had gone smoothly.

There were no suspicions so far. He managed to silence the people in his mansion and bribed the people who took care of Dianna's corpse. No one would dare to speak about the incident or the gruesome wound on Dianna's stomach. And, yeah, all was according to Albert's plan.

The funeral process had also gone very smoothly so far. The coffin had been lowered. Before the grave was closed, people sprinkled flowers into it as a form of grief and their last respects.

Albert watched the whole process with a calm expression. He stood at the edge of the grave with the priest on his right and John on his left--on a slightly backward position.

"What about the situation, John?" Albert then whispered very quietly to John while people were still busy sowing flowers.

John approached his master and answered quickly, "It's going well, sir. Everything is going well. There is only one step left. After that, we will succeed."

Albert smiled and nodded in satisfaction. "Make it right!"

"Yes, sir!"

Then, the short conversation ended just like that. No one knew the exact content of their conversation. Well, that was because everyone was too busy accompanying Mrs. Cooper's departure with tears, that was in stark contrast to Albert who was smiling contentedly at that moment. His face was even too bright for a husband who had just lost his wife.

"I don't see Henry, Albert."

Unfortunately, that bright face only lasted for a few moments. The sentence he had just heard made Albert immediately harden his face.

Albert rolled his eyes.

It's Smith Walter, Dianna's half-brother and the person Albert has been most hostile to over the years.

"Be honest with us, Mr. Cooper. How could a son miss his own mother's funeral? If Henry didn't come, that means... he 'never existed', right?" Smith sprang into action. He did like to annoy Albert with his various suspicions about Cooper's main family.

Well, it was no wonder that Smith and the rest of the Walter family were suspicious, especially about the whereabouts of Henry Alexander Cooper. During this time, they had never seen Henry except when he was a child. That's because Henry was born abroad and continued to grow up there. But, no one even knew which 'abroad' he was in. Albert had kept Henry's existence a secret from anyone, even from his own extended family.

Albert smiled calmly again. If Smith Walter was still asking about the whereabouts of Henry who wasn't even present today, it meant that there was still no one who knew where and how Henry was. And that was more than enough. Because if they found out that Henry had a 'crazy' mentality, Albert and the entire Cooper family would lose everything.

That's why Albert refused to answer Smith's questions and just smiled calmly as usual. Smith, of course, was annoyed at being ignored. Not giving up, he then created his poisonous words again.

"I just realized that the Cooper family had so many secrets over the years, Albert. Or maybe... do you also keep secrets about my father?"

Albert reacted. Smith's words made his smile disappear as quickly as his glance at that mustachioed man.

"What did you say, Smith?" Albert said as his jaw tightened. He tried hard to keep his voice quiet.

It was Smith who was now smiling. "Are you panic? Am I right? Well, come to think of it, why would my father give 90% of his inheritance to you? He even gave Axco Corporation to your family? That doesn't even make sense! You must be hiding something, right? Or...," Smith brought his mouth to Albert's ear, "is it possible that my father's death was also your doing?"

Albert's hands clenched into tight fists. His gaze sharpened.

So, yeah, that was the problem that started their feud all along.

Smith Walter was the 'alliance leader' of the Walter family who felt unfair about the decision of their late father, Mr. Walter, eight years ago.

Mr. Robert Walter is a real conglomerate in the Denver city. He owns a vast fortune and the largest manufacturing company there. Before passing away eight years ago, Mr. Walter left 90% of his wealth to Dianna Cooper--the legitimate daughter of his first wife. This of course made his other children unhappy. They are not legitimate children, but they feel they are still entitled to that much property.

When she received the inheritance from her father, Dianna was already married to Albert. That's what made her siblings and relatives even more unacceptable, because Albert and the entire Cooper family were sharing 90% of the wealth.

But, as if all that wasn't enough, Mr. Walter also handed over Axco Corporation to the Cooper family. And here's the big problem! Walter's family members had held high positions in the company for a long time, but their 'activities' had been disrupted since the transfer of ownership.

Smith as finance director could no longer even freely move company money to his personal account. Albert Cooper, as the board of commissioners, kept a close eye on everything the Walter family did in the company, especially Smith Walter's rottenness. So don't be surprised if Smith hates Albert as much as Albert does.

But Albert didn't have much time to deal with all of Smith's ramblings. At least, for now, he had to focus on executing his plan.

"Today, John! You must bring Alvin to me today!"

After the funeral, Albert immediately bombarded John with one absolute order.

John was shocked. "Today? But the DNA test results will be out in two days, sir."

"I DON'T CARE!" Albert rudely took off his tie while shouting. "Or, drag Alvin to me right now! MAKE HIM OBEY YOU!!!"

His breathing was ragged. He stood in front of his bedroom mirror with emotions running high. But before getting too lost in his emotions, Albert quickly regained his breath.

"The board of directors only knows that I only have one son, John. And that is Henry Alexander Cooper," he said calmly. "They won't know and shouldn't know that twenty-two years ago, Alvin Alexander Cooper was dumped by his own mother." Albert grinned widely. "His mother who disliked twins and deformed children had Alvin, Henry's deformed twin brother, thrown away."

John looked down when Albert stared at him through the reflection of the mirror.

"We cannot fail, John," Albert continued. "I must convince the board of directors to make Henry Alexander Cooper the CEO of Axco Corporation when the time comes. I must make my successor the full owner of what I've worked so hard to earn!"

Albert then turned and strode over to John. He pulled the chin of his loyal subordinate so that John would look at him.

With his dark blue irises glaring, Albert said, "Listen, John! Bring Alvin here and I'll make him into the 'perfect Henry Alexander Cooper'! I'll defeat those who have been doubting Henry's existence!!"

The grin on Albert's lips widened. He jerked his grip from John's chin before walking towards the large window of his room.

John was no longer silent. He immediately retreated, lowered his head, and left there to carry out his master's orders.

Meanwhile, Albert now stood in front of the window of his room alone. His eyes wandered far out there, towards the orange color in the afternoon sky.

"When the time comes, people will see my 'new Henry Alexander Cooper'. I will do it at all costs and nothing will stop me!"

The silence of the room bore witness to his determination. That, soon, Alvin Alexander Cooper--his hidden son--would become the 'new Henry Alexander Cooper' to rule everything.

Everything!

To be continued....