The first glimrs of fish-belly white appeared on the eastern horizon, rousing the city once more.
Sanitation workers began their cleaning, buses beca more frequent on the roads, and those who needed to leave early for work or school had already stepped out of their hos...
The servants in the old Cooper family mansion had also risen, erging from the staff quarters to prepare breakfast in the kitchen.
Just as one of them was walking near the porch, she heard a knock on the door and jumped. It took her a mont to compose herself before she went to the door.
"Who is it?"
Who could be knocking so early in the morning? The servant’s voice held a hint of worry.
She approached the peephole and cautiously looked out.
A man stood in the morning light, clad in a crumpled shirt, his face slightly pale.
"Young Master?!" The servant was shocked and hurriedly opened the door. "Why... why are you here so early?"
Kris Cooper did not speak. He simply walked past her, through the living room, and headed for the second floor.
Erging from his bedroom, Henry Cooper saw his eldest grandson and looked surprised.
"Kris?"
"Grandpa."
Kris Cooper paused, greeted the old man, and continued up the stairs.
Standing in the hallway, Henry Cooper furrowed his brows in confusion. He approached the stairs and glanced upward, then thought for a mont and decided against following him.
Instead, he went back to his room, picked up the telephone receiver, and dialed his son’s number.
Having watched Kris Cooper grow up, Henry Cooper understood the boy well. One look at his grandson’s expression and he knew sothing was amiss.
That boy has always been so stubborn. It’s useless trying to get information from him if he doesn’t want to share.
But as his grandfather, not knowing the truth worried him, so he decided to call his son.
Inside their bedroom, Christopher Cooper and Bailey Hansen were still asleep.
Hearing the phone ring, Christopher reached out and imdiately hung up.
On the other end of the line, Henry Cooper’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
That brat! How dare he hang up on ?
So, he dialed again.
This ti, the call was answered.
"Hello?!"
Christopher’s voice was still thick with sleep.
Henry Cooper imdiately started yelling, "Still sleeping? Get up right now and see what’s going on with Kris!"
"Kris?" Christopher yawned. "What’s wrong with him?"
"He just went upstairs. Looks like he didn’t sleep all night."
Christopher paused for a mont. "I’ll get up right away."
"Who is it?" Bailey Hansen asked from his arms, her eyes still closed.
"Dad!"
Hearing this, Bailey Hansen quickly sat up, grabbed a shirt, and scrambled out of bed. A sudden call from his father so early in the morning must an there’s an ergency.
"Don’t worry, Dad’s fine," Christopher said. "It’s Kris—sothing’s happened to him."
"Kris?!" Bailey beca even more anxious upon hearing this. "Where is he?!"
"I told you not to worry. He’s right here at ho!" Christopher pulled on a robe, then bent down to fetch her slippers and place them at her feet. "My dear, put your shoes on first, or you’ll catch a cold."
Bailey slipped her feet into the slippers, already fumbling with her shirt buttons as she started for the door.
"Bailey!" Christopher stepped forward and grabbed her arm. "Your clothes... you’re exposed!"
"Oh, honestly, you’re so fussy!" Bailey shook off his hand, quickly fastened a few more buttons, then turned and dashed to the door. She pulled it open, then stopped abruptly.
Outside the door, leaning against the opposite wall.
Kris Cooper stood there with his arms crossed, apparently waiting for them to wake up.
"Kris!" Bailey rushed over, grasping his arm and looking him up and down. "What happened?"
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