Chapter 9 There Is Trouble

• “Is this Mr. Finley?” The low voice of a middle-aged man came from the other end of the line.
• Finley smiled and replied lightly, “If I am not mistaken, you must be Ernest. The servant who was expelled from the Cooper family ten years ago.”
• The other party laughed. “So you knew already. Back then, when I committed the mistake and offended one of the family members, I was nearly beaten to death and you were the one who saved my life. I will never forget this favor.”
• The Cooper family had many scions and, if they were ranked according to their age, Finley was the eldest.
• “Sir, since I was already informed that you are in Yannopolis, I will do my best to be a good host. I would like to invite you to a meal. After all, the Cooper family did take me under their wing. And not only do I owe my current position in Yannopolis to them, but I also owe my life to you. I should thank you in person. Please grant me the honor of your presence.” From the other end of the line came Ernest's servile voice.
• Finley shook his head and laughed. “You may invite me to a meal. But before that, let me see your sincerity. And please, refrain from using any formal titles. I am not an accessory of the Cooper family.”
• Ernest stayed silent for a while, and then he replied, “All right then. From today onward, I shall address you as ‘Mr. Cooper’. Mr. Cooper, please do not worry. I will show you my sincerity.”
• “Okay, I shall look forward to that. I hope you will not disappoint me.” Finley smiled lightly and ended the call.
• In a luxurious villa in the city center of Yannopolis, Ernest had also hung up. The look in his eyes was deep and unfathomable. “This young man of the Cooper family. He may be young but he’s quite perceptive. It will take some effort to please him.”
• Ernest’s words caused some confusion in his elderly servant, who was standing nearby. “Mr. Lemmon, this Finley is just some kid who was expelled from the Cooper family. Why do you have to try so hard to please him?”
• “Just some kid who was expelled?” Ernest laughed. “You are short-sighted. Do you know who is running the Cooper family after the head’s retirement?”
• “Is it this Finley's...” The servant’s pupils contracted as realization hit him.
• “Yes, it’s his father. Otherwise, why would I suck up to him? I cleared out Oceanic Inn and offended all those VIPs just so I could give him a proper welcome. Why? Because the man who came to see Finley is the head of the Cooper family. The Cooper family who once struck fear throughout the world.” Ernest sipped his tea and stared out of the window, but he was unable to calm the turmoil in his heart.
• “As far as I know, the family head only has one son. More importantly, Finley is the sole heir of his generation in the Cooper family. His real name is Tristan Cooper!”
• The Cooper family of Clusia. Outsiders did not know the naming convention used by the Cooper family, but Ernest knew. After all, he was a servant of the family.
• It was a terrifying family. Now, the Cooper family was like a coiling dragon hidden in the darkness and few people knew about them. But when the dragon awakes, the world will know its true terror.
• Ernest himself was just a formerly expelled servant of the Cooper family but, within a few years, he had managed to rise to power with the help of someone from the Cooper family. He had always assumed his success was due to the help of the Cooper family but, in truth, his real benefactor was Finley.
• Yes, Ernest was part of Finley’s Operation Spark.
• “What? The sole heir of his generation? Is he that special?” The more the servant heard, the more confused he got.
• Ernest stood by the window with his hands folded behind his back. As he looked at the skyscrapers looming outside, the cars in the streets streamed continuously and a soft humming noise rang in the air. “You don’t understand the Cooper family. You don’t know what that name represents. You only have to know this. As long as I can latch on to that person, power and wealth will keep flowing to the Lemmon family of Yannopolis!”
• After Ernest’s speech, the old servant stood rooted to the spot with a stunned look in his eyes.
• He simply could not imagine, how this Cooper family could have so much power. So much power that they could make Ernest, the king of Yannopolis, say such words.
• Outside, the wind blew, the clouds billowed and the leaves rustled in the trees.
• In Lofbury Residential District of Yannopolis.
• Wait for me at my office. We are going to Grandfather’s house tonight.
• In his room, Finley’s phone vibrated momentarily. It was a text message from Mariette.
• Finley was overjoyed.
• The sun had risen from the west! To think that this woman would take the initiative to look for me.
• Finley left the house right after he had received the message. At the entrance to the residential district, Finley picked up a shared bike and rode towards the direction of Mariette’s office.
• The Quinn family was in the logistics business. Mariette had started working in the family business right after graduation and she had remained there to this very day. At this time, she had already logged out and was waiting for Finley outside the office.
• In so many years, this was the first time Mariette asked Finley to pick her up.
• But as she was waiting for Finley, a yellow-haired young man standing beside a sports car had his eyes on her.
• “Whoa, what a beauty! Ten times prettier than that gold-digger, Yvonne. You have a pretty face and a good figure. If only I could strip you naked and put you on my bed...”
• Lust swelled up within the young man and he stepped forward to accost her.
• “Get lost. If you touch me again, I will call the police!” Mariette growled threateningly.
• But the young man laughed coldly and said, “Go ahead. Call the police. We shall see if the police will arrest me. You ungrateful b*tch. I asked you nicely to have a drink with me but, not only did you not express your gratitude, you dared to reject me. Let me tell you. Whether you want to or not, you will have a drink with me. I am an experienced player, you know. I haven’t been rejected by a woman before!”
• The yellow-haired young man laughed sinisterly and stretched out a hand to caress her face.
• Mariette was about to scream for help when, suddenly, a gust of wind swept toward her.
• Immediately after, Finley’s fist landed on the young man’s face. The punch was swiftly followed by a kick and the yellow-haired young man was sent flying back.
• “Screw you! How dare you touch my woman? I am going to beat the cr*p out of you!”
• When he had just arrived at the office, he saw his wife getting harassed so, naturally, he flew into a rage and proceeded to give the molester a beating.
• “Sh*t! How dare you hit me? Do you know who I am? I am Phil…”
• Bang!
• Before the young man could finish speaking, Finley gave him another kick and the young man rolled about on the ground like a dog.
• “Mr. Phillip! Sh*t, Finley. What the h*ll are you doing? Are you crazy? How dare you hit him?” At this time, Yvonne was just walking out of the office in her high heels and heavy make-up. When she saw the fight unfolding in the street, her heavily made-up face twisted in terror, and her high heels clip-clopped on the ground as she ran toward the yellow-haired youth to help him up.
• “Sh*t. Finley, you piece of trash. What are you standing around for? Get down on your knees and apologize right away. You useless piece of trash! You keep causing trouble for our family!” Yvonne screamed in rage. She was truly frightened by what had just happened.
• Phillip Shurmer was her friend and she had called him over to the office for a meeting. But he was unexpectedly beaten up by Finley. This made her furious.
• Surprisingly, Finley did not abide by her wish this time. He replied coldly, “Apologize? He should be the one doing the apologizing! He dared to harass my wife in broad daylight. Doesn’t he deserve a beating?”
• “Shut your trap. He’s my friend. You are just a lowly live-in son-in-law. Who gave you the right to criticize him? Moreover, he is a distinguished person. It’s an honor to be able to talk to him. But instead of showing gratitude, you hit him instead? Apologize to him right now!” Yvonne commanded.
• “Yvonne, it’s fine if you criticize me, but Mariette is your cousin. How could you say that about her?” Finley clenched his hands in anger.
• “You b*stard. So you are just a live-in son-in-law of the Quinn family. You are just a piece of trash. How dare you hit me? Wait, I...”
• Bang!
• Phillip had just gotten up but, before he could finish speaking, the enraged Finley kicked him again.
• “You b*stard. You are finished. I hereby declare that you are finished! Not just you but also that ungrateful b*tch of a wife of yours as well. And the Quinn family. You are all finished. This is what happens when you offend me. I will make you all suffer a fate worse than death.” Phillip howled as he clutched his stomach in pain.
• “Please, listen to me. It has nothing to do with me. It has nothing to do with the Quinn family. It’s all Finley’s and his wife’s fault,” Yvonne pleaded.
• “Get lost!” Of course, Phillip was unwilling to listen to Yvonne’s explanation. He pushed her away, staggered into his car, and drove away.
• Back at the scene, a pale-faced Yvonne was left behind with the husband-and-wife duo.
• “Mariette, look at what that useless husband of yours has done! Just wait. When Phillip goes after your family, the Quinn family will do nothing to help,” Yvonne said viciously before leaving in her car.
• After Yvonne’s departure, Finley looked at his wife and asked, “Did I cause trouble for you?”
• Mariette did not answer his question, but said quietly, “Let’s go to my grandfather’s place. And these are the clothes I’ve bought for you. Find some place to change into them.” As she said this, she handed over the box with the brand-new suit to Finley.
• Summer Logistics was the company founded by Jeremiah, the head of the family. It could be said that the Quinn family owed their current success entirely to him. That was why Jeremiah had unshakeable authority within the family.
• That was also why Mariette had married Finley so readily when Jeremiah gave her the order.
• Right then, at the villa, several of his children had already gathered.
• According to family tradition, after a wedding celebration, Jeremiah would throw a feast for the new son-in-law. Of course, this tradition only started when Scarlet got married to Patrick. Finley, the useless live-in son-in-law, had been left out of this tradition.
• “Okay, everyone is already here. Is everyone seated?”
• It was already dinner time so Jeremiah asked everyone to take their seats.
• “Dad, Mariette is not here yet,” Mariette’s father, Joseph, reminded softly.
• But Jeremiah pretended not to hear and continued, “Start serving the food.”
• “Grandfather, sorry we are late. We were held up earlier.”
• At this moment, hurried footsteps could be heard coming from the entrance. Mariette and the now well-dressed Finley had arrived late to the feast.
• “Oh, you are wearing a suit now?”
• “A dog dressed up in human clothes is still going to act like a dog. And a useless son-in-law in a suit is still a useless son-in-law.” When the Quinn family members saw Finley in a suit, they greeted him with jeers.