Chapter 128: Chapter 128

Anna, Veridia’s step-mother, after four years of no contact, immediately dug several huge pits for her upon their reunion.

Holly Sutton feigned innocence after revealing those explosive scandals, acting as if she was unaware of what had transpired.

Rumors surged like waves, encircling Anna with layer upon layer of discussion, brutally exposing her most secretive and painful memories to the sunlight.

Anna ignored the surrounding voices, sneering as she approached Holly Sutton, speaking in a volume only audible to the two of them: "Since you’re so eager, let’s settle that debt from four years ago properly."

Her voice was clearly soft, yet it caused Holly Sutton’s pupils to tremble slightly.

Soon, Holly Sutton gathered her composure, thinking that if Anna had any evidence, she would have already presented it instead of waiting until now. Her return to Aethelgard without visiting Veridia already proved she had no way to counterbalance Holly Sutton.

Escaping abroad back then, becoming a star—none of it mattered to Holly Sutton, who thought Anna had made no progress other than becoming prettier.

Thus, Holly Sutton replied indifferently: "I’ll be waiting!"

Anyway, Holly Sutton had preemptively accused Anna of having had a mental illness, with the documents related to this matter forged to perfection. No matter the nonsensical things Anna might say, without evidence, others would think she was crazy.

With her background exposed, Anna truly became the center of this birthday party. The invited media today were thrilled; initially planning to focus on a top-news comparison between Anna and Marilyn Ford’s expensive dresses, they now had headlines like ’Anna was admitted to a mental hospital and gave birth,’ ’Anna’s step-mother reveals that the child’s father remains a mystery’... all prime choices, enough to sustain all of Aethelgard’s media for a week.

Marilyn Ford calmly shifted the spotlight away and quietly left the hall, coincidentally finding Conrad Sterling smoking alone outside.

"Conrad, I’ve been looking all over for you, why are you here alone?"

Marilyn Ford approached happily, yet saw Conrad turn around with a somewhat somber expression.

"How did that woman get here?"

Hearing him question, Marilyn Ford felt a jolt in her heart but asked back cluelessly: "Who are you talking about?"

"Holly Sutton isn’t qualified to discuss business with the Ford Family, much less be invited to your birthday party."

"My dad plans to expand the company’s business to Veridia recently, so he got to know President Sutton." Marilyn Ford explained, "But you! Conrad, you’ve spent time in Veridia before and have had a past with Anna, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you know President Sutton, but it’s rare to see you bring such strong emotions towards someone you don’t seem to have much of a relationship with."

Marilyn Ford had already sensed that Conrad Sterling seemed very displeased with Holly Sutton.

However, based on the information she had gathered, Conrad Sterling hadn’t had much association with the Thornton Family in the past. She hadn’t even figured out how he and Anna ended up sleeping together.

It was precisely because of this uncertainty that made Marilyn Ford uneasy.

Was Conrad Sterling’s discontent with Holly Sutton due to disapproval of her as a person, or was it because Holly Sutton’s presence and words embarrassed Anna?

Conrad Sterling looked down at Marilyn Ford, not probing whether her explanation was convincing, simultaneously ignoring the subtle hint of jealousy in her gaze: "You don’t have any dealings with Anna, there’s no need to let her come to the party today, why bother?"

Conrad Sterling’s ’why bother’ implied why bother to embarrass someone, indicating he was concerned over Anna.

Upon hearing this, the always poised and gentle Marilyn Ford suddenly became a bit angry: "Conrad, don’t you trust me? I honestly didn’t know before that Holly Sutton and Anna had such a relationship; Anna’s invitation was sent to her over a month ago, on account of you."

"But she knew about our relationship yet still unabashedly caused trouble for you multiple times. Today, she even intentionally wore the same dress style as mine to flaunt—she embarrassed me first! Yet you only blame me?"

Marilyn Ford and Conrad Sterling had always maintained a courteous relationship, and having an argument was rare.

Yes, this counted as an argument, albeit not exceedingly hysterical, but Marilyn Ford was genuinely aggrieved from detecting a slight favoritism towards Anna in Conrad Sterling’s words.

Perhaps because she had been pampered both at home growing up and after meeting Conrad Sterling.

If Anna were in such a position, constantly rejected by the man she pursued, even after having a child, without any acknowledgment, Marilyn Ford couldn’t imagine how she would cope with such grievances.

Now, with just a disagreement, Marilyn Ford was infuriated enough to retreat to her room and lock herself up, unwilling to see anyone.

Later, Mom Ford knocked on her bedroom door for a long time; seeing no response, she instructed the servants to fetch the spare key.

Once the bedroom door was opened, Marilyn Ford glanced around, spotting only Amelia Grant outside, and in a huff, smashed a bottle of expensive perfume off the dresser.

"Marilyn, what’s wrong?"

Mom Ford, Amelia Grant, rushed up to console: "Today is your birthday, there are so many guests outside, why shut yourself in?"

"Do you think it still feels like my birthday?" Marilyn Ford sneered, "Those guests probably have forgotten who they gathered here for today."

On this note, Amelia Grant also had complaints: "The guest list for this year, how was it arranged? All of a sudden, there are unfamiliar faces, indeed it’s too noisy."

Nevertheless, a mother knows her daughter best, Amelia Grant realized that Marilyn Ford’s irritation wasn’t solely due to this: "Are you having a tiff with Conrad?"

Marilyn Ford didn’t respond, indicating acquiescence.

"Even if something isn’t pleasing, save it for another day. So many Aethelgard elites have come, don’t let them see a joke. Besides, I noticed Conrad staying by your side continuously today, overseeing arrangements with little resistance. Isn’t he good enough to you?"

"He’s not just kind to me now."

"Are you saying Conrad has shifted his affections?"

"Well... not to that extent! I just dislike that he keeps that woman around me and even speaks for her!"

Though Marilyn Ford always carried herself with pride, ignoring someone like Anna, it didn’t imply she could tolerate her indefinitely.

"Marilyn, are you referring to Anna?" Even Amelia Grant had heard of the rumors about Conrad Sterling and Anna.

She heard the gossip when she went for beauty treatments recently, several old friends brought it up within earshot.

At that time, Amelia Grant didn’t give it much thought, assuming those ladies were envious and spiteful, unable to bear the fact that she had Conrad Sterling as a prospective son-in-law, thus deliberately fabricating some unfounded rumors. The most update n0vels are published on noⅴelfire.net

"I saw Anna today too; she’s not someone Conrad would like, far inferior to you." To a mother, her daughter is always the best, "Marilyn, did you see Conrad interacting with her at all? You needn’t worry."

Yet upon hearing this, Marilyn Ford’s attitude didn’t relax: "Mom, she’s already given Conrad a child."

"What did you say?!!"