Entangled with My Cousin's Fiancé
Chapter 323: Richard Reyes Didn’t Show Up and the Phone Is Unreachable

Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Richard Reyes Didn’t Show Up and the Phone Is Unreachable

On the agreed day, Cooper Coldson received a call from Richard Reyes in the morning.

"President Coldson, I’m in M Country now, about to board a flight back. The investigation is almost complete."

"Alright." Cooper was slightly surprised, not expecting that Richard had gone to M Country specifically. He added, "Be safe. I’ll be waiting for you."

"President Coldson," Richard glanced at the document bag in his hand, "I’ll come to the villa as soon as I land. Be mentally prepared."

"Okay." Cooper hung up the phone, feeling a faint unease in his chest.

He looked at the date: the divorce case was in court in two days, yet he inexplicably felt there was still time.

The day’s time seemed unusually lengthy to Cooper. He canceled all his work, spent a part of the day playing with Isabella Ross and Little Gabriel at the old house, and then prepared to return to the villa to wait.

Isabella asked curiously, "Don’t you have no work today? Why rush back? Why not spend more time with the child?"

Since having Little Gabriel, Isabella, once a formidable career woman, seemed to have undergone some significant changes, focusing more on family and constantly complaining that Cooper only remembered work and spent too little time with his son.

"There’s something important," Cooper draped his coat over his arm, waved to Little Gabriel, and left in large strides.

He had a premonition that what Richard was bringing back would surely astonish him.

After returning to the villa, Cooper felt inexplicably restless. This had been his and Yolanda Greenwood’s home. Since Yolanda moved out, his visits here were few and far between.

"Sir, you’re back." Jasmine King had become the villa’s sole resident most of the time.

"Yes." Cooper handed his coat to Jasmine casually, "I’ll be staying here tonight. You can tidy up and head home."

"Oh, alright." Jasmine quickly packed her things and left.

Cooper changed into comfortable home wear and sat in the living room. He checked the M Country flight schedule — the earliest would arrive at 8:00 p.m., which was still four or five hours away.

It seemed he had indeed returned early. What exactly was he eagerly anticipating?

Cooper felt as though he already knew the answer. He got up and took a stroll in the garden. In between, Melissa Greenwood called to ask if he wanted to have dinner together.

"No, I have something today. Maybe another day."

"Alright."

Recently, Melissa seemed less attached to him, as if everyone was waiting for the day when he and Yolanda were officially divorced.

As night fell, it quickly became 8:00 p.m.

Cooper returned to the living room. From the airport, it would take at most forty minutes to reach here. He would soon see Richard.

However, by 9:00, Richard still hadn’t shown up. This wasn’t like Richard. Even if delayed by traffic, he would certainly notify ahead of time.

Cooper had a bad feeling. He dialed Richard’s phone, but couldn’t reach him.

He checked the flights again — there was another one at 10:00. He thought perhaps Richard had taken the next flight.

Yet, by midnight, Richard still had not appeared, and his phone couldn’t be reached. Cooper knew something had happened.

Indeed, early the next morning, after a sleepless night, Cooper finally received a call. It was from Richard’s father.

"Are you President Coldson? I’m Richard’s father, Roddy Reyes," the old man’s voice choked with sobs amidst a commotion beside him, "Richard had a car accident."

Cooper instantly gripped his phone tightly, "Where are you?"

"We’re at the funeral home," Roddy spoke through tears, "Mr. Coldson, don’t misunderstand. Richard had been working with you for so long, and you’ve been kind to him and our family. I’m calling because..."

The old man could hardly speak for his sadness, "He said before going abroad he was going to handle something important for you. I was afraid you’d be worried if you couldn’t find him."

"I’ll be over right away!" Cooper hung up and immediately drove to the funeral home.

There were police present, and they asked Roddy Reyes and others a few questions. Seeing Cooper arrive, they also approached him for inquiry.

The accident happened after Richard left the airport. It was a severe car crash, with the entire car burnt to a frame. Richard’s body was almost unrecognizable. The police identified the owner of the car through its license plate as Richard Reyes before contacting his father, Roddy Reyes.

"As for the specific identity of the car’s occupant being Mr. Richard Reyes," the officer’s voice was heavy, "we’re unable to confirm at this point. As soon as the DNA test results are out, I’ll notify you immediately."

"Alright, thank you, officer." Both elderly parents were engulfed in grief over losing their son, because they knew it was likely Richard in that car.

Before returning, Richard had called both Cooper and his parents.

The officer then looked at Cooper, "As for what Mr. Coldson mentioned, we will make every effort to investigate and get to the truth for the deceased and the family."

Roddy and his wife looked at Cooper in confusion, "President Coldson, is there something hidden behind our son’s death?"

"Uncle, Auntie, please don’t worry. Let the police handle these matters. They will surely get to the bottom of it," Cooper didn’t say much, "I will transfer a sum of money into Richard’s account, as a gesture from both the company and myself. You can come to me if you face any difficulties in the future, alright?"

"President Coldson, we can’t accept your money," Roddy shook his head in refusal, "Richard often mentioned you at home, saying how highly you regarded him and that you were his role model. You’ve already been so good to him and our family, and this incident is unrelated to you and the company..."

"No." Cooper couldn’t suppress his sadness, "He went to M Country for me, for a personal matter, not work-related. Now with this incident..."

Roddy continued, "We understand that. Richard was your personal assistant, and it was his job to handle some personal matters. You already paid him well."

Richard’s mother nodded repeatedly, "This incident wasn’t something you could have anticipated. We’re not unreasonable or greedy. We really can’t accept this money."

"Okay, but if there’s anything you need or any troubles, remember to reach out to me." Cooper still decided to transfer the money to Richard’s account; it was something he had to do.

As they were about to part, Cooper instructed the elderly couple, "Please inform me of Richard’s funeral."

"Thank you, President Coldson. You’re truly a good person." The two elderly parents were deeply grateful.

Cooper had rarely heard Richard talk about his family. He only knew that Richard was from a rural area and got into the best university in Gray City by his own efforts. Later, he entered the Coldson Group, gradually earning the position of Assistant Reyes through his capability.

Such a person met such an end.

At the funeral home entrance, Cooper called Melissa Greenwood, "I’m at the city funeral home entrance. Come find me now."

"What location?" Melissa’s voice was evidently puzzled.

"City funeral home entrance. Come immediately!" Cooper hung up after speaking.