Chapter 15: The Cooper Family's Crisis

"Ahem, don't joke around. You're taking a bath. What video call? Don't mess around," Joseph choked badly. Although he knew Heidi was just teasing him, he still felt a bit embarrassed.

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm soaking in the bathtub. You won't see anything. Even if you do see something, so what? Brother-in-law is not an outsider," Heidi directly sent a voice message, sounding completely nonchalant.

"Ahem, that's still not okay. Men and women are different," upon hearing Heidi's bold words, Joseph instantly felt awkward. This girl's way of thinking was too bizarre.

Does this matter even differentiate between insiders and outsiders? Even if she's not an outsider, he can't just look casually. Joseph is a person with very traditional values.

However, just as Joseph was at a loss for words, Heidi directly made a video call. Joseph was in a dilemma. Should he hang up or not? In the end, after an inner struggle and under strong moral constraints, he chose to hang up.

"Don't mess around," Joseph sent a message.

"Tsk, coward. You don't even dare to look at a beauty who's offering herself to you. In the future, even if you want to look, you won't have the chance!" Heidi sent a message with a disdainful emoticon at the end.

"I'll take care of some things first. By the way, thanks for the money. I'll pay you back when I earn money," Joseph didn't refuse Heidi's kindness.

"Pfft, I won't tease you anymore. Go and take care of your stuff!" Heidi sent a voice message. Joseph didn't continue replying to Heidi. Instead, he looked at his room and started tidying up.

Today was the first day he moved in, and many things were not yet organized.

At this moment, it was already 10 p.m.

In the Cooper family's old mansion in Nova City, which was a classical garden-style building, it was originally a bit dilapidated. Later, a large sum of money was spent to hire professional designers to renovate it.

After the renovation, the entire garden's level and environment had been greatly improved, not inferior to those high-end villas.

At this moment, Fiona's car stopped in front of the old mansion's gate. Seeing this, the gatekeeper hurried over to help open the car door.

"Miss Fiona," the servant bowed.

"Where's Grandma?" Fiona strode in, asking as she walked.

"The old madam is already waiting in the main hall. The uncles, young masters, and young misses of the family have all arrived," the servant replied.

After answering Fiona's question, the servant didn't continue following Fiona inside because not just anyone could enter this mansion.

At this time, in the main hall of the old mansion, an old man leaning on a cane was sitting in the main seat. Below the main seat sat two men in their forties or fifties who bore some resemblance to Stephen Cooper.

In addition, there were the younger generations of the Cooper family.

"Grandma, what's going on with this Fiona Cooper? It's almost 10 o'clock, and she's still not here. What does she mean by this? Doesn't she know to arrive ten minutes early?" a woman with heavy makeup said, looking displeased.

This woman was Delilah Cooper, the daughter of the Cooper family's third son, Bernard Cooper. She and Fiona had never had a good relationship, and Fiona was far superior to her in both appearance and ability.

The jealousy and hatred between women goes without saying.

"Grandma, I also think that although Fiona has been presiding over the family's affairs, this is a bit too arrogant. She doesn't take you seriously," the speaker was Ryan Cooper, the son of Hugh Cooper, the second son of the Cooper family's head.

Theoretically, he had the best chance of inheriting the position of the Cooper family's head. However, in recent years, Fiona had performed too outstandingly. Basically, all the money-making projects of the Cooper family were in Fiona's hands. Even the grandmother, the head of the family, had to give her some face.

"Mom, this Fiona is indeed outrageous," Hugh Cooper also spoke up.

"Isn't it not ten o'clock yet? How is she outrageous?" The old lady looked serious. She glanced at the large pendulum clock on the wall and spoke in a cold tone.

"Mom, although the meeting time is ten o'clock, didn't we all come early? You came early too."

"This Fiona Cooper is really not taking you seriously, making you wait for her. She's just a junior," Bernard Cooper's third son laughed coldly and spoke up too.

Whether it was the second or third branch of the Cooper family, they had long coveted the projects and benefits in Fiona's hands. Whenever there was an opportunity, they naturally spared no effort to disparage Fiona.

"If you can also bring such profitable projects to our Cooper family, no matter what time you come to the meeting, I won't think you're disrespecting me."

"Also, flattering me is useless. This family is still decided by the old master. The old master is now paralyzed in bed, in a coma, but he said he would definitely wake up."

"When he wakes up, he will still be the one in charge of this family! I'm just temporarily helping to look after this family. You can fight privately as much as you want, just don't cause any loss to the family."

The old lady's tone was unhurried, but her words carried a serious air.

Hearing this, everyone could only lower their heads slightly, not daring to speak.

Undoubtedly, the old lady's words had pierced through their inner thoughts. For a moment, the scene became silent.

Also at this moment, footsteps were heard from outside. Everyone saw the person coming and consciously made way.

This person was none other than Fiona Cooper.

"Grandma," Fiona came to the old lady and called out.

"It's good that you're here. Sit down!" The old lady pointed to a chair not far away. Upon hearing this, Fiona sat down.

"Grandma, I'm not sure about the specifics either. I just found out about these things. When I learned about them, it was already after work. Even if I wanted to inquire, I had no way to do so," Fiona sat down, frowned slightly, and spoke in an indifferent tone.

"Fiona, I'm not blaming you, but is this how you treat our Cooper Group's business? The whole world knows what happened, but you don't. And you're the person in charge of these projects," Hugh Cooper spoke up, looking at Fiona with a reproachful expression.

"If blaming is useful, I can let you blame me. You said the whole world knows what happened. Then let me ask you, why did the Morgan Group suddenly withdraw most of the projects? Why did they take back all the profits?" Fiona looked at Hugh Cooper with sharp eyes.

Being questioned like this by Fiona, Hugh was momentarily at a loss for words. He just wanted to reproach Fiona. As for the reason, how could he possibly know?

"You're the project leader. If you don't know, how could I know?" After a long while, Hugh Cooper finally squeezed out a sentence.

"Didn't you say the whole world knows? Doesn't the whole world include you?" Fiona's expression remained unchanged, but her aura was overwhelming.