Too Late, Mr. Cooper: Your Bride Ran with Your Baby novel Chapter 5

The next day was Old Mr. Cooper's seventieth birthday.

As the future daughter-in-law of the Cooper family, Liliana was naturally expected to arrive early to help greet the guests.

In previous years, she would have been up at four in the morning to start preparing.

She’d be on her feet from dawn till dusk, a whirlwind of activity, barely stopping for a bite to eat.

By the end of the day, she'd be exhausted and starving, worked to the bone.

Many people mocked her for it, saying she was deluding herself.

Liliana had always just smiled, never taking it to heart.

She was simply trying to win Linton's affection, hoping he would love her a little more.

But this year was different.

Liliana slept soundly until noon.

Over a dozen frantic calls from the Cooper family had gone unanswered. Unsurprisingly, they were all from Linton's mother, Eleanor Cooper.

When Liliana woke up and saw the missed calls, she let out a cynical laugh. She didn't need to guess why Mrs. Cooper was blowing up her phone. It wasn't because she genuinely wanted her there.

No, Mrs. Cooper just wanted to dump the hassle of hosting the birthday banquet on her so she could wash her hands of the whole affair.

Liliana couldn't be bothered. She climbed out of bed and carefully selected her favorite red dress.

Linton preferred more understated styles, so she rarely dared to wear it.

But today, Liliana did her makeup beautifully.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror—the bold, alluring woman in the red dress, her vibrant lips curved into a meaningful smile—she felt a surge of confidence.

At twelve noon, at the Cooper estate.

Faced with the guests' flattery, Isabella merely smiled humbly without a word.

Watching her poised, noble elegance, Mrs. Cooper felt a fresh wave of indignation on her son's behalf.

She was just about to call Liliana again when a commotion erupted in the living room.

"Mom, it's Liliana," Isabella said, frowning as if wanting to say more.

Mrs. Cooper turned and saw the flamboyant silhouette of red at the entrance. Her vision went black, and she nearly fainted.

"Liliana!"

Mrs. Cooper shrieked, shooting to her feet and glaring at her. "Look at what you're wearing!" she snarled through gritted teeth.

"In broad daylight, dressed so revealingly! Who are you trying to seduce? Does the Cooper family have no sense of shame?"

Liliana had barely stepped through the door before being hit with a torrent of abuse.