Cassidy's disappearance hit Easton hard. For days, he drowned himself in alcohol, seemingly forgetting he had a family to manage.
When Declan heard about Cassidy's death, he couldn't believe it either. But the medical examiners all confirmed the deceased was Cassidy.
Declan didn't know about Cassidy and Easton's relationship. He thought Easton's despair was due to his failure to take over the family leadership from Cassidy, so he tried to counsel Easton several times.
But Easton knew the body examined wasn't Cassidy's. The medical examiners had been coerced into telling the truth.
Easton couldn't believe Cassidy was actually dead. He was convinced she had faked her death and escaped somewhere. He was determined to find her.
He had searched Cassidy's room thoroughly but found nothing useful. His subordinates sent to find Cassidy had also come up empty-handed.
Easton's daily routine seemed to revolve around alcohol. The first thing he did every morning was open the wine cellar.
"Easton, Cassidy's death has been confirmed. You need to pull yourself together instead of numbing yourself with alcohol!" Declan said, pressing down on Easton's bottle.
"Shut up!" Easton snapped, yanking the bottle away. His cold eyes fixed on Declan, as if he might attack him at any moment.
"Cassidy isn't dead! She can't be dead!"
She just faked her death to hide!
He would find her again!
Once he tracked her down, she wouldn't escape again!
Once he found Cassidy, he would do whatever it took to keep her by his side!
She wasn't part of the Cooper family anymore. Once he found her, he had countless ways to keep her with him!
Declan also found Cassidy's death suspicious, but with all the medical examiners confirming it, he had to believe she was dead.
"Easton, I know Cassidy's death hit you hard, but hiding and drinking isn't the answer!" Declan said, frowning at Easton. If Easton continued like this, the consequences wouldn't be good.
"Declan, if he wants to drink, let him drink!" Ryder said, appearing from nowhere. He looked at Easton, who was lost in his drink, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
If Easton stayed in this state, it was great news for Ryder!
He didn't care if Cassidy was dead or alive. What mattered to Ryder was who would inherit the Cooper family leadership after Cassidy's death.
Declan was disabled and would never stand again.
Owen was too young and had no chance.
Ryder's biggest and only competitor was Easton.
If Easton couldn't accept Cassidy's death, Ryder would eventually be the winner!
Thinking about his chances of becoming the family leader, Ryder couldn't hide his smile.
"Easton, I also feel sorry about Cassidy's death. If she knew how much you missed her, she'd be happy."
Easton slammed the bottle on the table, causing everything to shake.
His messy hair partially obscured his vision, but Ryder could still see Easton's eyes, filled with rage, ready to kill him.
The angrier Easton got, the more pleased Ryder felt.
"Easton, you should look in the mirror!" Ryder taunted, unfazed by Easton's glare. "Look at yourself. Anyone would think you had some secret relationship with Cassidy!"
He casually picked up a bottle, opened it, and poured himself a drink, raising his glass to clink with Easton's bottle. "She's just a woman, a widow. Dead is dead." He took a sip, savoring it before saying, "Why do you care so much?"
Easton's obsession with Cassidy's death, his refusal to accept it, made Ryder suspect there was a secret between them.
Maybe someone seduced their father's son after his death? Or someone took their father's wife after he died? Whatever the truth, Ryder had reason to believe there was a secret between Cassidy and Easton.
But regardless of their past, Ryder's goal was to strike Easton while he was down. The more Easton suffered, the happier Ryder was!
His gaze was repulsive, especially when he mentioned Cassidy. Easton couldn't control his emotions and hurled the bottle at Ryder!
The distance was too close, and Easton's move was sudden, but Ryder was prepared and easily dodged.
Ryder was about to celebrate angering Easton when Easton kicked the table aside and lunged at him!
Ryder couldn't just stand there. Though he took a punch, he quickly fought back, grappling with Easton.
"You must have had something going on with Cassidy!" Ryder taunted while dodging and countering.
But his fighting skills were no match for Easton's. Easton's punches came faster, clean and fierce, as if he wanted to kill Ryder.
Ryder couldn't keep taunting. Just defending against Easton's attacks was exhausting. Furniture crashed around them, filling the room with noise.
Ryder hadn't expected Easton to be so furious. Despite all the alcohol, Easton's accuracy was unaffected, each strike aimed at Ryder's weakest spots!
Though Ryder tried to block and counter, Easton's relentless attacks soon overwhelmed him, forcing him into defense.
Even so, Easton beat him to the point of wanting to vomit blood.
"Easton, stop!" Declan shouted, scared by Easton's rage. If he didn't separate them, Ryder might be killed! "Easton! Do you want to kill Ryder here? Have you thought about the consequences?"
If Easton killed Ryder in the living room, he'd never become the family leader. While internal conflicts were normal, they were usually disguised as accidents.
If fratricide was discovered, the elders wouldn't allow such a successor.
Easton finally stopped at Declan's shout. He clenched his fists, glaring at Ryder. His hands were bloody from hitting the furniture, blood dripping onto the floor.