Chapter 118: Chapter 118

"The Thornton- Sutton Group in Veridia came to discuss business with me two years ago. I thought their company didn’t have a promising future, and the main decision-maker seemed petty and narrow-minded, so I rejected them. However, when I went to Veridia for a field trip, I did pick up some insider gossip about this company." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ Nove1Fire.net

"It’s said that the former chairman of this company was quite fortunate in love; at nearly sixty, he married a young woman over thirty years his junior as his second wife. Who would have expected that he died before enjoying even two years of marriage? What’s stranger is that his only daughter lost her mind suddenly after his death and has been in a foreign institution ever since. As it stands, all his wealth and company inheritance rights fell into the hands of the young wife. Such an old-fashioned power grab is easy to spot for anyone familiar with the circles in Aethelgard. But at the time, it had nothing to do with me, so I just heard it and moved on."

"Only recently did I find out that you’re the daughter of the former chairman, the one rumored to be living in a mental institution. Since we’re fellow patients, if you become my wife, there’s no way I could just stand by!... As long as you say the word, whether you want the company back or wish to seek justice, it’s a piece of cake for me."

Anna was later picked up from the Grant Family by Conrad Sterling, with Finn Grant’s last words to her echoing in her mind.

Initially, Anna only wanted to prove she truly had a child and get rid of Finn’s pestering, so she let him investigate.

Unexpectedly, he really did it and uncovered all this information.

It seems now that this eldest son of the Grant Family isn’t dumb at all; on the contrary, he’s quite smart.

The reason why he didn’t stop Conrad Sterling from taking Anna away tonight is that he’s certain Anna will come looking for him again.

He knows how much weight his last words carry for Anna.

Conrad Sterling called her name twice, evidently running out of patience. He divided his attention from driving and forcibly turned her head back to focus on him.

He made her look at him and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Anna shook her head. "I just want to be quiet for a while, alright?"

Conrad seemed determined to uphold his role as the domineering CEO today, more unreasonable than Finn Grant.

"Are you thinking about Finn’s last words?"

"Conrad, do you know? Our family’s company is called The Thornton-Sinclair Group. It’s a combination of my parents’ last names, and it also implies ’united in heart, their profits unbreakable.’ The company was built through my parents’ hard work; it holds all their youthful efforts and our family’s shared memories. As the company grew better and better, my mother passed away at a young age due to illness. She didn’t even have the chance to enjoy the good days she worked so hard for..."

Conrad had spent time in Veridia, but when he had business dealings with the Thornton Family, he only saw Anna’s stepmother.

He heard that her biological mother died when Anna was very young, so he expected their bonds wouldn’t be deep. But at this moment, the woman who usually hid her emotions behind laughter showed a sadness that evoked sympathy at first glance.

"But Holly Sutton, that woman, she seduced my dad, plotted to poison him, and took everything my parents worked so hard to build. She even shamelessly replaced my mom’s name in the company with her own..."

As Anna spoke, she couldn’t control her hands resting on her knees. Anger made her hands clench into fists, but she still couldn’t stop them from trembling!

"You know how important it is for me to reclaim the Thornton family’s assets. Finn said he can help me..."

"Enough!" Conrad interrupted Anna before she could finish. "You believe his words?"

This topic fired up President Sterling. Knowing full well that Finn was spouting deceptive nonsense, hearing what he said last noticeably made Anna pause.

Finn’s threat to tell Marilyn Ford about today didn’t make Conrad hesitate.

But she actually hesitated?

Over a flight of fancy with no guarantees thrown out by that lunatic, Anna even hesitated in her steps. In the end, it was Conrad who just picked her up and took her away.

Then, Conrad lost his temper!

Anna could feel the waves of discontent within him, the speed of the car was obviously exceeding limits.

Thinking he probably wouldn’t listen even if she reminded him to slow down, Anna simply suggested, "Why don’t you let me off? I’d like to walk and catch a ride back later."

"At this hour, do you think there’s a car for you to take? Or do you want to get off now and immediately run back to find that madman? Do you really believe he’s interested in helping you deal with your stepmother? He’s just tricking you!"

"At least he still bothers to deceive me, doesn’t he? As long as he wants me, I have a way to make him help me accomplish this. I dream of Holly’s death to avenge my father. You say Finn is a madman? Exactly, a madman doesn’t hesitate, won’t tell me he’s just a businessman who only believes in equivalent exchange, only to abandon me afterward."

Anna wasn’t subtle in pointing out who she was implying as a ’businessman.’

Conrad’s past indiscretions from four years ago weren’t so kind, and he deserved to be called out, often left speechless.

"Don’t forget, he was so mad at you he even wanted to kill!"

"Not really. Perhaps at first, he was indeed enraged by me, unable to control his emotions momentarily. But later, I could distinctly feel him loosening his grip on my neck. If you hadn’t arrived, I probably would’ve escaped, as he was already reaching for his meds in his pocket."

Hearing her defending Finn, Conrad stepped hard on the brakes. "So, you think it was unnecessary for me to come find you today?"

"Of course not. I’m really grateful you took time out of your busy schedule to save me today. Truly!"

Anna suddenly changed her tone, easing the chilly atmosphere inside the car, and stopped mentioning Finn altogether.

But Conrad knew the real reason she chose silence was because they were now in his car, aware that continuing to argue would solve nothing.

Label her as unaware, yet she read moods very well.

But call her timid? Inside, she had her own plans.

Without a word, her mind was likely made up, putting Finn into her so-called ’second-best choice.’

Conrad believed if he were to propose to Marilyn right now, Anna would consent to Finn the very next moment.

She might even spite him by intentionally rushing to schedule her wedding before theirs.

Imagining this possibility, President Sterling smacked the steering wheel in frustration.

The shrill horn honked at midnight startled the cars around them and the person sitting beside him.

Anna shrank back, glancing sideways at Conrad’s expression, and softly asked, "Conrad, do you want to take some of those pills Finn takes?"