Chapter 121: Chapter 121

Anna Thornton held up her champagne, ready to wander around the Ford Residence.

Anyway, since she was already there, Marilyn Ford’s birthday party had gathered many big-name celebrities and well-known directors in the circle.

Since the company was withholding resources from her, Anna Thornton planned to find an opportunity to self-promote; that was her main purpose for attending the Ford family’s birthday party.

As for the message Conrad Sterling sent through Ethan, Anna admitted she was a bit tempted.

But then, on second thought, the company began by not giving her normal artist resources, and now Conrad was offering resources in exchange for her compromise. Isn’t that equivalent to withholding an employee’s salary and then using it as a bonus as a perk? If Anna really believed him and acted obediently, wouldn’t that make her look like a big fool being played for a sap?

Therefore, she resolutely rejected the shortcut.

Even Ethan supported her decision. This outfit Anna was wearing was borrowed from a brand thanks to Ethan’s connections with the Sterling Group.

The young assistant mainly felt that if Miss Thornton actually agreed to compromise, it would be like a melodrama where the pitiful heroine is cruelly separated from her lover by a heartless family and bribed to leave their son.

However, the role of the ’heartless parent’ was also played by President Sterling himself.

According to Ethan’s careful observation and understanding after following President Sterling for so long, there was no way Conrad Sterling had no feelings for Anna Thornton.

As for why he clearly had feelings but still sabotaged his own path to romance with Miss Thornton...

I don’t know that either, and I wouldn’t dare ask!

Anyway, Anna had made a pact with Ethan before coming over; these supports were part of their private friendly agreement. After attending the party, Anna would return the dress to the brand and would never give away the young assistant.

But just at that moment, someone suddenly bumped into her, forcing Anna’s champagne-holding hand to jolt. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on NoveI(F)ire.net

Although she quickly reacted by stepping back, the highly fluid liquid was already inertia-driven, splashing onto her dress.

"Oh my, who is this? I didn’t even see!" The person opposite feigned surprise upon seeing Anna, covering her mouth with her hand and softly exclaiming.

Anna looked down at her dress, the chest and hem were already stained.

From how they bumped into each other face to face, and the way the other party quickly turned away after getting close, claiming not to have seen, Anna wondered if they were blind?

Plus, the two glasses worth of champagne spilled on her included one deliberately poured by the other party, clearly aimed at dirtying her dress.

Anna lifted her gaze and saw a young woman in a green dress standing before her.

She recognized the woman; she was one of Marilyn Ford’s best friends, the one who previously said Anna should be kicked out.

At the same time, the other two members of the best friends group also approached from a distance, wearing light yellow and bright red dresses, respectively.

The ’Traffic Light Sisters’ gathered before Anna, collectively raising their chins to look down upon her with disdain.

"Jean, who did you bump into?" The woman in the light yellow dress spoke first, looking at Anna with a puzzled expression.

"I don’t know, never seen her before."

"Didn’t Marilyn invite big names in the circle or noble young masters for her birthday party? How can an unknown person walk in so freely?"

"Exactly! Does anyone know her? What’s her family background? Could she be a random intruder sneaking in?"

What’s wrong with these three?

They dissed Anna before, even knowing about her rumored affair with Conrad Sterling, yet now pretend amnesia and didn’t recognize her.

Anna just watched the three actresses perform coldly, waiting to see if they had anything else to say.

If not, then don’t blame her for bringing it up: "This dress of mine is quite expensive."

As soon as she said this, the trio across from her visibly froze.

Clearly, this was the typical malevolent female supporting character’s line designed to make things difficult, which Anna snatched away, leaving them at a loss of words.

Jean, who bumped into her, snorted coldly, "It’s just a dress, isn’t it? I’ll compensate you!"

But her friend beside her pulled her back, "Compensate for what? We didn’t see you bump into her, who saw? Isn’t the champagne on her just spilled by herself? Why should you foot the bill?"

"Exactly!" Another chimed in, "Besides, who is she to wear the same color dress as Marilyn? I’ve seen these scheming hussies before, just here to cause trouble, don’t give her any face! And doesn’t she realize what the Ford Residence is? Simply overestimating herself. Spilling a glass of champagne on her is just right to wake her up and see her true self!"

The commotion attracted the surrounding guests, just in time during the boredom before the luncheon began, they all glanced at Anna with curious, strange, and theatrical eyes.

This theatrical trio could become Marilyn Ford’s friends, hinting that their own family backgrounds were not insignificant.

Probably accustomed to bullying others with impunity, they openly targeted Anna in front of everyone, clearly having pre-planned their actions.

Only Anna didn’t quite understand, what’s the point of babbling so much? Are they trying to embarrass her?

They’re likely in for a disappointment!

Back when the Thornton family was plotted against and collapsed, and Anna was imprisoned by Holly Sutton in a psychiatric hospital, to escape for revenge, she even would exchange her body in front of Conrad Sterling.

Later, after giving birth to a child, wandering abroad, she endured all sorts of hardships to survive.

If she stubbornly held onto her pride like Miss Ford, how could she possibly climb out of hell?

So no matter how much they talked, Anna just stood there unaffected; she had no intention of covering her face in humiliation and fleeing.

But those mocking and sarcastic comments were too insulting and reached Conrad Sterling’s ears.

The man stood in front of his business partner, who was arrogantly flattering, but Conrad’s expression visibly tightened more and more.

"Tsk, your dress isn’t designed by Nick Walters, is it? He is the most famous Chinese-American designer internationally, and only true heiresses have the privilege to wear his creations. Plus he announced his retirement five years ago. Now his made dresses are priceless, the one Marilyn is wearing cost a fortune. How can a C-list actress like you afford it?"

"Nick Walters’ design tag is quite distinctive, located on the inside back of the dress. I think she should take the dress off to verify its authenticity!"

These people seemed determined to believe Anna couldn’t afford the genuine article and wore a fake, inciting her to take off the dress for inspection.

Conrad Sterling couldn’t listen any longer and was about to speak up against this.

But as soon as he turned around, he was pulled by Marilyn Ford who came from somewhere: "Conrad, Daddy says the party can start, let’s go inside the hall to take charge."