"I...I'm fine." Yolanda Greenwood's heart ached for a moment, and she shook her head in panic.
Yes, Melissa Greenwood is back, she must have met Cooper Coldson first, or perhaps Cooper even went to the airport to pick her up.
After all, her return must have made Cooper the happiest.
Not just Cooper, Eliana Reed, the Coldson Family... everyone was looking forward to her return.
"It's good that you're fine." Melissa Greenwood affectionately reached out to hold Yolanda's hand.
Yolanda instinctively avoided her touch, then guiltily glanced up, only to see no trace of blame on Melissa's face.
Melissa gave a faint smile, "If something had happened to you, Cooper and I would have blamed ourselves to death."
Yolanda felt a tightness in her chest; she was nearly unable to breathe.
"Yolanda, I know I shouldn't have come back, and even less so should have sent you that message..." Melissa's tone was filled with guilt.
"No." Yolanda quickly interjected.
Tears welled up in Melissa's eyes, "I thought I would never return, nor did I ever want to see Cooper again, but..."
She cried emotionally, "But I've realized, every day away from him is spent missing him, I really can't stand it, Yolanda, can you forgive me?"
"Cousin, I don't blame you!" Yolanda vigorously shook her head.
"Then you will agree to divorce Cooper?" Melissa grasped Yolanda's hand, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at her.
Yolanda hesitated for a moment, "Yes, I will. The divorce papers are already prepared, just waiting for Cooper to sign, then we will go to the Civil Affairs Office."
"That's good." Melissa wiped away her tears, "Cooper has been quite busy lately, I will remind him."
She stood up to leave.
"Cousin," Yolanda called her back, "About the incident a year ago..."
"Let bygones be bygones." Melissa interrupted her, "Yolanda, I'm going back now, I'll come see you when I have time."
"Cousin!" Yolanda tried to explain something, "Back then, someone meddled with Cooper and me."
Melissa stopped in her tracks, turned slightly and looked at Yolanda, waiting for her to continue.
Yolanda actually didn't know what else she could say.
Would Melissa believe her words? After all, even her own mother didn't.
After some thought, she spoke again, "But I know, no matter what, you are the biggest victim here, I'm... sorry."
Melissa didn't respond, and soon left.
She went straight to the Coldson Group.
...
The towering Coldson Group building pierced the sky, a landmark of the city representing money, status, power, honor... everything that drives people crazy.
Melissa Greenwood's gaze turned to the top floor of the building, her only ever target.
Cooper Coldson, the current Family Head of the Coldson Family, had at the age of 27 created his own legends at Coldson Group.
Who wouldn't want such a man?
Thinking back to before her return to the country yesterday, Melissa had immediately called Cooper.
But Cooper said he had injured Yolanda and needed to stay at the hospital, so he couldn't pick her up from the airport.
Hence, Melissa had gone straight to the hospital upon landing, thankfully Cooper wasn't there.
Right, why would he linger around that scheming woman?
Melissa curved her lips slightly, soon arriving at the president's office on the top floor of Coldson Group.
"I went to the hospital immediately after landing, worried sick that Yolanda was seriously injured, thankfully she's okay."
Melissa sat on the sofa, looking at Cooper from a distance.
A year apart, the man had become more mature and charming, his impeccable facial features still maintaining their usual calm, showing no strong emotions.
"How did the doctor say?" he asked.
"Hmm?"
Melissa hesitated for a moment before realizing Cooper was asking about Yolanda's condition.
"Oh, the doctor said it's nothing serious, she can be discharged any time and rest at home."
She gave a soft laugh, "But you know, Yolanda is delicate, probably needs to stay a few more days in the hospital."
Cooper didn't speak again, his eyes never leaving the documents on the table.
After a silence, Melissa stood up and approached him, "Cooper? Do the words you said before still hold?"
Cooper's finger paused while flipping through the documents.
Melissa continued, "If I'm willing, will you still marry me?"
"Yes." Cooper finally closed the file and looked up at Melissa, "However, the divorce will take some time to process."
"Alright, I'm not in a hurry." Melissa cried tears of joy, "But there's one more thing I'd like to ask you."
She began hesitantly, "Can you give Yolanda a bit more money in the divorce?"
Cooper's face darkened slightly, "Did she bring this up to you herself?"
Melissa seemed to struggle a bit before quickly denying, "No. But you know, Cooper, Yolanda can't take care of herself."
"That's because she's useless!" Cooper flipped through the documents forcefully, silently swearing that as soon as Yolanda's leg healed, he would immediately proceed with the divorce.
"Cooper, don't say that. Yolanda is pitiful, and you know about her parents..."
"She used to follow me around when we were kids, watching and learning as I painted, although regrettably she had no talent, which is why her career was delayed."
"I've come back to the country and signed with Baruy Design Company; they really value the awards I received abroad and offered me a director position. If Yolanda still wants to paint, I can help her find a painter's job."
Cooper snorted, but didn't stop her.
"Since I'm her cousin, I'll help where I can." Melissa pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "By the way, does auntie know about my return? Maybe I can go home with you today..."
"Let's talk about it later." Clearly, Cooper was losing his patience.
Melissa had no choice but to take her leave, anyway, once they were divorced, she could have anything she wanted.
...
A week later, Yolanda was finally discharged from the hospital.
She hadn't forgotten her agreement with Melissa, and the first thing she did was send a WeChat message to Cooper.
[Is the divorce agreement signed? Let's schedule a time to process the paperwork.]
Knowing Cooper was busy, she didn't keep waiting for a reply and went back to look at her already packed luggage. After thinking for a while, she went to see Lola Gold.
Lola Gold was Yolanda's best friend, a small internet celebrity who wore a mask online and brazenly confronted everyone.
When she heard Yolanda was divorcing Cooper, her jaw dropped, "Yolanda, aren't you madly in love with Cooper?"
"Melissa came back." Yolanda said listlessly.
"What?" Lola also knew about the past incident, "So what if she's back? You're a victim too, why should you step aside just because she returned!"
"I'm a victim too?" Yolanda gave a bitter smile, "I'm afraid only you believe that."
"Have you decided?" Lola hugged Yolanda, "Then how will you tell your mom? Isn't she going to skin you alive?"
Yolanda laughed and cried at the same time, "You might not believe it, but my mom wholeheartedly agrees with me stepping aside for Melissa."
"Why?" Lola felt it inconceivable, "Unless... Melissa is your mom's illegitimate daughter, otherwise, what benefit would your mom get from Cooper divorcing you and marrying Melissa?"
Yolanda was stumped by the question when her phone rang.
It was Cooper's call.