Entangled with My Cousin's Fiancé
Chapter 355 Where are You Hiding Exactly?

Chapter 355: Chapter 355 Where are You Hiding Exactly?

Cooper listened to Noah’s words, remaining silent.

"Laugh at me if you want." Noah chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I’ve run away again."

"There’s nothing funny about it," Cooper said coolly, "Everyone has their own choices and must pay the price for them. If there’s anyone to laugh at, it should be me. If I hadn’t been so short-sighted, we wouldn’t be here today."

"Cooper, you shouldn’t blame yourself like this. Yolanda told me your relationship broke down, and it’s both your responsibility and hers. She didn’t blame you." Noah patted Cooper on the shoulder, trying once more to persuade him, "Let it go, and let yourself go too."

"Brother, you don’t need to say any more. This is the only thing I can do for her now, and I won’t give up." Cooper remained resolute.

"Alright then, let me wish you good luck and that things go smoothly!" Noah smirked and went up to give Cooper a hug.

Cooper whispered, "All the best!"

Later, Cooper heard that Lola Gold had also left. It seemed Yolanda Greenwood’s disappearance had truly turned this city into a place of heartbreak for many.

But he wasn’t willing to give up. He spent all day on the boat, convinced that with determination and effort, heaven would one day bring Yolanda back to him.

...

A year later, at the cemetery, Cooper, holding Little Gabriel, arrived at Yolanda’s grave for the first time.

Yolanda’s cenotaph was right next to Gemma Morgan’s. The photo on the gravestone was in color, the woman’s face beaming with a youthful smile, as if still as vibrant as ever.

Cooper placed the flowers he had brought in front of the grave, "Yolanda, I’ve brought Gabriel to see you."

He started to introduce the little one in his arms, "See, the beautiful woman in the photo is your mom."

"Ah, ah." The little guy rarely made a sound, as if responding to Cooper.

Cooper pulled a slight smile, "Yolanda, your son is really biased. Grandma coaxes him for ages and he doesn’t utter a word, but now, just looking at your picture makes him so happy. Can you really bear to be without him?"

He paused for a moment, then continued, "You’ve been missing for a year now. A year, three hundred and sixty-five days, fourteen hours. Where are you hiding?"

"I don’t believe you’re dead, really, I never will. I bet you’re hiding somewhere, laughing at me. If you think the punishment is enough, come out and see me."

At this point, Cooper’s voice started to choke up.

He had lost a lot of weight these days, his complexion had darkened, and he seemed like a warrior of the night, more silent and intimidating.

"The rescue team was officially disbanded today." He spoke again, "I won’t go to sea anymore. I’ve moved the office back home, not the old house, but our shared home. From now on, I’ll be home, waiting for you to return while raising Gabriel well."

"Oh, right!" He suddenly remembered something, taking a jewelry box out of his pocket, he opened it to reveal a ring inside.

He held the ring up to the photo, "Remember? The unfinished design you created, isn’t it beautiful? Well, I really like it. When we reunite, I’ll use this to propose to you once again, okay? But please don’t agree too easily. Give me a little more of a hard time."

Cooper stood up straight. The cemetery was silent, with only the occasional sound of the wind, as if greeting every lonely soul.

"Well then, I’ll take Gabriel home first." He stood there for about half an hour before finally deciding to leave.

"Gabriel, say goodbye to mom, tell her we’re going home to wait for her."

"Ah ah ah." The little guy cooperatively shouted three times.

"Good boy." Cooper gently kissed the little guy’s cheek and left holding him.

Upon returning home, they found Isabella Ross had arrived.

"Gabriel, grandma’s little darling," she rushed forward to take Little Gabriel as soon as she saw them return, "Did Gabriel miss grandma?"

Little Gabriel looked at Isabella with big eyes, quietly observing her.

"Ah, this child is perfect in every way, except too quiet." Isabella shook her head. She always remembered when Yolanda had brought Ella over, and how happy Gabriel had been, but afterwards... she couldn’t bear to recall.

"Alright, he needs to nap now." Cooper handed the child to the postpartum doula.

Isabella looked at him cautiously probing, "You... went to the cemetery today?"

Cooper looked over, his gaze somewhat intimidating.

"Don’t misunderstand, I didn’t have anyone follow you."

Now Cooper seemed more like the Family Head of the Coldson Family. With just one look, Isabella, even as a mother, had a hard time handling it.

She sighed again, "I guessed as much. As soon as you returned, you’d definitely go to see her first."

Cooper remained silent, not speaking.

"Since you went, it means you’ve accepted... that she’s gone," Isabella looked at Cooper again, "Gabriel is still young, and in his current situation... he needs someone to care for him."

"Two postpartum doulas plus me can take good care of him." Cooper said calmly.

"You silly child, you know that’s not what I mean." Isabella gritted her teeth, "Gabriel needs a mother. Cooper, if you’re not thinking for yourself, you should think for the child’s sake. Find someone to care for him, like a mother would..."

"Gabriel has a mother!" Cooper’s face didn’t look good.

Isabella was somewhat angry, "He has a mother, where is she? Cooper, you tell me. If you don’t accept that Yolanda is gone, then tell me, where is she? When Gabriel needs a mom, where is she when he needs to be held?"

Unable to listen any longer, Cooper stood up to see her out, "If there’s nothing else, you should go now. Gabriel and I will manage our own lives, you don’t need to worry."

"You!" Isabella was rendered speechless by anger, "I’m doing this for your own good! For Gabriel’s good! How can you..."

"If you want to stay any longer, then I’ll just go upstairs and rest for a bit." Cooper turned and walked upstairs.

Isabella shook her head, finally sighing, leaving in frustration.

Cooper went to the nursery. Little Gabriel hadn’t fallen asleep yet. He asked the postpartum doula to leave, lying down beside the little one.

"Gabriel, do you think dad is right? That mom will surely come back?"

Little Gabriel blinked and waved his hand hard twice.

Cooper gently held the little one’s small fist, smiled, and said, "Dad always knew, Gabriel would definitely support daddy and surely believe that mom will come back."

He gently patted Little Gabriel’s body, lulling the little one to sleep, while he silently prayed over and over in his heart, "Yolanda, come back soon! Your son needs you, I..."

"I need you even more!"

After Little Gabriel fell asleep, he gently buried his face in Gabriel’s body, letting himself cry freely for the first time in a year.

"Yolanda, please come back. I miss you so much, I really miss you!"