Chapter 50 - Here We Go Again!

Laura holds the maid's hands. "Shh...relax. I won't force you to come with me to enter the house. Just get the key for me. I will return it tomorrow morning," she said. "There's a door in the kitchen that will lead to the back of the house, right?" she asked.

"Yes," Neeza answered.​​

"Don't worry, you won't be implicated with my plan. I'll take the blame alone, besides I'm not going to steal anything there," she said in a convincing tone.

Neeza feels better. "Okay, I'll get the key for you, Miss," she said.

"Thanks, Neeza. You make me happy!" Laura said cheerfully. "Can you give me the key this evening?" she said.

"Yes. I'll give it to you this evening before I'll go to sleep," Neeza said.

"Good! You may go out now. I'll go to the mini-park later to have a stroll," Laura said.

"Okay. I'll take your clothes for laundry, Miss," Neeza said.

"Go ahead," said Laura.

Neeza picked up the laundry basket from the corner and exited the room.

~

Evening comes.

During dinner, Laura and Cooper were sitting side by side in the dining room. Cooper was unusually quiet and was not in the mood for jokes.

Half an hour later.

They finished eating dinner in silence. Laura and Cooper proceed to the living room while Nicholas and Simon went to the veranda outside the house to breathe fresh air.

In the living room.

Cooper looked at Laura. "Can we take a stroll in the mini-park?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure," she replied.

Cooper rose to his feet. "Let's go!"

They left the living room through the main door, walking on the cemented path going to the back of the house.

When they arrived at the mini-park. Laura went to the swing, Cooper followed her in silence.

She lowered herself on the metal seat, he did the same.

The mini-park was powered with a lamp post in every corner. It's a nice place to relax during night time.

Laura looked ahead, staring at Graven's house.

Cooper looked at her. "What are you thinking with that pretty head of yours, wife?" he asked.

Laura glanced at him. "You haven't gone to the brothel recently?"

Cooper shook his head. "No. Nowadays, I would rather spend my time hanging out with you than go to those places," he said.

Laura snorted. "Really-?"

Cooper smiled. "Why - you don't believe me? Since you arrived here I wasn't out of the house. You didn't notice-?"

Laura shrugged. "That's good to know..." she said. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes. What is it?" he said.

"Are you and your brother close?" she asked.

Cooper was silent for a moment. "When we were young, yeah, we were close. But when we get older, we kind of drifted apart from each other. He has his circle of friends and got interested in business stuff. While I also have my circle of friends..."

"Were your friends love going to brothels and indulging in vices?" she asked.

"Yes." Cooper nodded his head. "Why did you ask?"

"Now I know why you like going to brothels and loves indulging in gambling and vices because your friends influence you to do so," Laura said.

"Yeah, you are correct. They're the ones who influenced me somehow," Cooper admitted. It's no use denying the obvious.

Laura was shaking her head, disappointed. "I see...but you know that it's bad for you and your father's reputation. Why are you still doing it?"

Cooper rolled his eyes. "Are you scolding me now, wife? I don't like being scolded. If you don't stop criticizing me, I would kiss your lips senseless as punishment!" he warned her, teasing her.

Laura pouted. "Fine. I'll stop," she said and continue looking at Graven's house.

Cooper noticed that she was staring at his brother's house. "Why are you staring at my brother's house? Are you thinking of him? Can't get enough of his handsomeness, eh?" He looked at her coldly. "Are you disappointed that he left on the same day?" he added.

Laura sighed heavily. "Stop accusing me of such a thing. You made up those things just to annoy me-? You are just being insecure - thinking that I'm fantasizing about your brother," she said trying to hit a nerve with her words.

Cooper's mouth twisted in displeasure. "I'm not making up those things! I saw them on your face. You are just denying it. But don't worry, if you had a crush on my brother, I won't hold it against you. I already knew a long time ago that every woman that happens to cross paths with my brother, will fall for him. They will be fascinated and attracted to his good looks and charm. Rest assured that I will still marry you. Once we get married you can no longer fantasize about my brother. Got me?" he said.

Laura ignored him, she knew that Cooper was just trying to trick her if she will confess or not. "If you remained close to your brother Graven up to now, you might already be a successful businessman on your right," she said out of the blue.

Cooper sighed. "Here we go again. For God's sake, stop comparing me to my brother!" he said, his face darkening in irritation.

"Alright, calm down. Let's stop talking about him then," she finally said.

Cooper sighed heavily.

It took a few minutes before Cooper finally calms down.

They continue swinging back and forth in the metal swing in silence.

Cooper was silently studying Laura. His intuition was strong. His future wife is attracted to his brother!

Laura was about to ask Cooper if Graven has a brother or twins that look exactly like him, but she changed her mind at the last minute. If she will ask him, Cooper will accuse her again, and he will get angry. She'd better not push his buttons to the extreme, or he might explode in anger.

"How many hectares is this property?" she asked, wanting to break the ice between them.

"This property is one and a half hectare. We also have a man-made lake near the stable area," Cooper answered.

"Nice!" Laura said.

"We can go there to see the lake if you like..." he offered.

"Not now. How about tomorrow?" she said.

"Okay..." Cooper replied.

Laura wants to go back to her room to finalize her plan tonight. She must plan her actions well so that no one will notice her when she goes out of the mansion at midnight. She faked a yawn and covered her mouth with her hands, pretending that she was sleepy.

"Are you sleepy now?" he asked.

She nodded her head. "Yes!"

"It's too early..." he said.

"What can I do? I'm feeling sleepy," she replied.

"Alright..." Cooper rose to his feet. "Let's get inside the house so that you can take your rest," he said.

Laura left the metal seat as they walked on the cemented pathway going back to the house.