"Anna, how much has Aunt Murray told you about ?"
"She didn’t say anything." Of course, Anna Thornton couldn’t rat out Aunt Murray, as this situation was different from that with Rainie Hawthorne.
In reality, Jade Sterling hadn’t told her much anyway.
Anna Thornton still didn’t know what Conrad Sterling’s true identity was.
"Actually, my identity isn’t as mysterious as you think. My hotown is a remote fishing village. I escaped with Aunt Murray from the south to the north to find dical treatnt for her, and that’s when I started doing business, later founding a company until I reached Veridia... I was supposed to reach Aethelgard a year earlier, but I was delayed in Veridia that year."
Conrad Sterling’s version wasn’t quite like Aunt Murray’s.
Aunt Murray could casually gift Anna a box of priceless rare gems as a wedding present, describing their island as affluent and mysterious, like a utopia.
How did it turn into a remote fishing village and instantly beco a country love story with so inspirational young struggling businessman in Conrad Sterling’s words?
Anna Thornton sneered, "How could you say you were delayed in Veridia? Wasn’t it during that ti you took your revenge and outsmarted our Thornton Family?"
"It was because of you! Otherwise, with my capabilities, it wouldn’t have taken a month to take over the Thornton Family!"
Earlier, Anna Thornton thought Conrad Sterling was holding back in his talk, but now it sounded as if he was so honest it was frustrating.
Taking over the Thornton Family in less than a month?
Alright, what Conrad said was true.
Look at the Hawthorne Family, didn’t they fall to hopelessness within a month?
Compared to the four major families, the Thornton Family was far behind.
If it hadn’t been for eting Anna Thornton, Conrad wouldn’t have needed to linger in Veridia.
He had already set traps, and the cooperation with the Thornton Family was just waiting for them to fall for it.
Yet because he saw Anna Thornton at the birthday banquet, Conrad didn’t act but chose to cease cooperation with the Thornton Family.
Later, when Kenneth Thornton was poisoned by Holly Sutton, though Conrad knew, he neither intervened nor offered help.
Conrad knew his actions had greatly hard Anna.
He now felt regretful: "A different person took charge of the Thornton Family, and there were so setbacks in between, but you eventually took it back. As for the company being hard, you can na your conditions, and I’ll try my best to make ands."
"What, are you trying to buy with money?" Anna gave him a sideways glance, "There’s no need! Our company is doing quite well now!"
The ’Zodiac Series’ children’s clothing under the Thornton brand beca a nationwide craze in kindergartens in the first half of the year, and their designer even won a major award last month.
Anna often acted like a penny pincher, but in truth, she wasn’t short on money.
While her wealth couldn’t compare to the Sterling Group, she was still well-off enough to support so young, handso man.
She was no longer the broke single mom in a slum who could be easily swayed by Conrad’s promises of compensation.
So this ti, she wasn’t going to let this man change the subject so easily.
"Conrad Sterling, I’m going to ask you a few questions. You have to answer honestly; lie once, and it’s divorce!"
"Okay, ask away. I’ll answer truthfully."
"Did you go to the hospital to see my dad before he passed away?"
"Yes."
"Did you hit him?"
"No!"
Having decided to have an open conversation with Anna, Conrad’s words at this point held so credence.
After all, Anna had threatened prior to questioning—just one lie, and it’d be divorce.
This forced President Sterling to actively retort, "How could I have laid hands on him?"
"I previously obtained a video left by my father. It showed you visiting the hospital the night before he died. You even hit him. In the video, my dad told to stay away from you, saying you were a devil!"
"Do you believe it?"
"If I did, I wouldn’t have brought it up now."
Pretending not to know, secretly looking for an opportunity to stab Conrad from behind would be far more satisfying as revenge for her father, wouldn’t it?
Telling Conrad now, him being such a smart man, if he beca cautious in advance, who would be his opponent?
Yet Anna chose to disclose the video, indicating she had her doubts.
"I do rember my dad’s body had so bruises. I used to think it was because Holly Sutton abused him, but then I thought Sutton didn’t seem to have that much strength."
"If your father’s death has hidden truths, I’ll investigate for you. But I swear this has nothing to do with , I never hit him!"
Anna looked into Conrad’s eyes and decided to temporarily believe him.
After all, the video wasn’t complete; it only showed the assailant’s shadow and couldn’t confirm if it was Conrad.
It wouldn’t even stand as evidence in court to convict anyone.
Moreover, Anna felt that in the video, her father’s mind seed a bit confused, and his speech was incoherent.
He would fluctuate between telling her to stay away from Conrad and seeking revenge... suggesting the video might have been edited.
Having been in the entertainnt circle, Anna had experienced being misquoted and maliciously misrepresented by the dia.
"Fine, you go investigate, and I’ll do the sa. Once the truth is out, we can discuss this. But can you now tell why you went to see my father? Did you talk about anything?"
The usual threat remained: a single lie and it’s divorce.
"He... he apologized to !"
"You’re saying my dad apologized to you? Why?"
"For so things in the past."
"Are you going to say that the Thornton Family wronged you again? That you ca for revenge, so you think you did nothing wrong by doing nothing to help?" Anna asked him.
"No, I’ve never thought I was blaless! I just think that mistakes made are difficult to make up for. My biggest regret is not recognizing my feelings for you sooner. If I’d known, five years ago I would’ve kept you by my side at any cost; even if you hated after learning the truth, at least I could’ve prevented you and the children from suffering so much later. Anna, I know I’m unqualified as a husband and a father. But can you give a chance to correct my past neglects and try to be good to you?"
Conrad, who always had a sharp tongue, suddenly had a strong desire to survive.
This confession, acknowledging mistakes and openly analyzing his feelings, made Anna suspicious he might have lost his mind.
"You want to make it up to us? With what?"
"With all of my remaining life!"
Gosh, when Conrad said that, Anna felt a bit moved.
Her heart started to race uncontrollably.
Ugh, so disappointing!
But a fairy would never easily admit defeat: "Tch, who wants that!"
"Well, think about it from another perspective: considering your past hardships, not letting make ands is a bargain for . Besides, Pop and Lola both have their own thoughts now; whether they admit it or not, they surely have a place for as their father in their hearts. If you take care of the children alone and bear all the hardships by yourself, wouldn’t you be suffering a loss?"
"What you said... makes so sense."
Conrad Sterling, truly a business genius, by changing perspective, managed to sell himself off just like that.
Moreover, he gave Anna the feeling that buying would ensure no loss, while not buying surely would.
"So when does this promised compensation begin?" Anna later asked him in the car on their way back.
"It takes effect imdiately, though I might be a little occupied in the next two months."
"Are you planning to resolve all your entanglents with the four major families in two months?"
"Yes."
Resolving the matters with Howard Ford and Grant Willow in two months? How boastful!
Anna was curious about how Conrad planned to achieve this.
If he didn’t have real skills, he wouldn’t match up to her as the fairy she is!
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