Chapter 160: Chapter 160

When Marilyn Ford left, she couldn’t help but look back one more time.

Then, she looped her arm through Conrad Sterling’s, casually bringing up, "My parents have already told our friends and family about our engagement and are urging us to quickly go and choose the outfit."

"Conrad, I happen to be free this afternoon. Will you go with me to look at dresses?"

Looks like Marilyn really agreed to Conrad Sterling’s proposal! Dıscover more novels at novel★fire.net

Once their footsteps faded away, Anna Thornton finally emerged from the men’s restroom where she’d been hiding.

As she came out, she bumped into Quinn Locke rushing in.

Seeing Anna, the shy and young director was so startled that he retreated, blushing all the way to the door to double-check the sign.

Indeed, this was the men’s restroom!

Anna was amused by his reaction and patted him on the shoulder as she left, "It’s quite clean inside, don’t worry."

Did the leading lady he hired have some kind of quirk?

When Anna returned to the private room, she noticed that Conrad and his group next door had left.

Anna said to Mary, "Let’s go too. The movie deal is settled, and there’s still a lot to arrange next."

Mary picked up her bag and, seeing Anna at the counter settling the bill, sidled over to sneak a peek at the remaining balance.

"Anna, how much alimony are you planning to ask from President Sterling?"

"How much do you think I should ask for?" Anna countered.

"I think maybe not yet. You might still have a chance to fight for more."

Even Mary knew that any amount of alimony couldn’t compare to the potential that Conrad Sterling represented.

"Just at the bathroom entrance, Marilyn Ford intentionally let me hear that they’re getting engaged."

No matter her antics, Anna had said that once things were confirmed between them, she would gracefully bow out.

After all, that would no longer be pursuing, it would be sabotage!

Conrad went with Marilyn Ford to several renowned dress shops in Aethelgard.

But in the end, none were to her satisfaction.

"Conrad, engagement is a once-in-a-lifetime event and should be even more grand than my last birthday, right? So, I hope the engagement dress could be designed by Nick Walters himself."

"Wasn’t it said that the designer has already retired from the fashion world?"

"Yes, I heard that Nick Walters retired after his beloved wife passed away five years ago, closing the brand he founded and announcing he would no longer design. However, I also heard he made an exception four years ago."

Marilyn’s words made Conrad understand what she meant.

Four years ago, Conrad had also seen the last gown this much-admired designer made an exception to design, worn by the eighteen-year-old Anna Thornton.

And just a while back at Marilyn’s birthday banquet, Anna wore a dress worth millions to outshine her.

As proud as Marilyn Ford was, she still held on to this grudge even now.

Moreover, she didn’t believe for a second that Anna could have bought that dress on her own.

Despite her suspicions, Marilyn had received those photos proving Conrad shared close interactions with Anna during her absence from Aethelgard. Yet, upon rushing back from the south, she said not a word.

A wise woman, even if she harbors doubts and suspicions, won’t lay them bare and make herself seem pitiable, nor aggravate the man.

This included when Marilyn went to the Sterling Residence and found Anna and her mother living there post-hospitalization.

She also didn’t demand Conrad to kick them out.

Marilyn only had her agent call, letting Conrad know she was ill.

Then when he rushed hurriedly to the hospital, she flung herself into his arms, claiming to miss him deeply.

Even though Marilyn’s personality was proud, she knew when to appear weak. Conrad, being a man with great stature, needed a way out.

Marilyn stated her willingness to be engaged, fully extending the olive branch.

Now, it was up to Conrad to respond.

Seeing him silent, Marilyn gently shook his arm, asking, "Since an exception was already made, inviting Nick Walters to design my engagement dress shouldn’t be too hard, right? Conrad, would you please try for me?"

Conrad paused for a moment, "...I’ll do my best."

"Great, I’ll wait for your happy news!" Marilyn, having been in a funk for two days, finally let out a smile. "Shall we have dinner together tonight?"

"I’ve already spent the entire afternoon with you visiting dress shops."

Implying that he didn’t have time that evening.

Marilyn had no choice but to say, "I nearly forgot, I have a dinner with the next film crew tonight. Let’s have dinner together tomorrow then?"

However, in reality——

Though Conrad claimed he was too busy to dine with Marilyn that evening, he invited Henry Willow for drinks at his office.

"Do you know Nick Walters?" Conrad asked him.

"You mean the Chinese designer who drives women crazy? I used to get close to him to chase girls, but he stopped designing clothes, and we haven’t been in touch for some years."

"Help me inquire if he would come out of retirement for a commission to design an engagement dress; money’s not an issue."

Hearing this, Henry Willow looked troubled, "Young Master Sterling, you may not know that high-talent, well-known designers usually have eccentric tempers; having money doesn’t necessarily mean you can hire them."

"If he won’t, then forget it."

"Young Master Sterling, I recall you recently bought all of Nick Walters’ designs. You might have better luck if you approached him directly. Perhaps he would be moved as you’re an avid fan of his?"

Henry thought he gave a good suggestion, but was met with a stern glare from Conrad.

"Okay, okay, I’ll just casually ask around for you."

Henry took a swig of Conrad’s top-tier wine, but it couldn’t stop him from mumbling, "For a mere grudge, you collected all of Nick Walters’ designs to gift Anna. Yet when it comes to Marilyn, the engagement dress is ’if he won’t, forget it.’ Young Master Sterling, isn’t your bias a little too obvious?"

Henry wasn’t really sympathetic to Marilyn; he just couldn’t hold back asking Conrad, "You don’t want to get engaged to Marilyn, do you?"

"Then why are you still meeting up with Anna?"

"Anna once said something true; people only learn to cherish once they’ve lost. Marilyn’s quick agreement to the engagement was thanks to the push from Finn Grant."

Conrad also knew about Finn Grant reporting to Marilyn.

Those photos conveniently aided him, showing them to Marilyn and provoking her to abandon her aloof tactics, hurriedly agreeing to Conrad’s proposal the night she returned to Aethelgard.

Everything was within Conrad’s control; he seemed to be merely using Anna and Finn Grant.

Out of brotherly concern, seeing Young Master Sterling acting seriously as a scheming player, Henry decided not to expose him.

"If that’s the case, maybe you should give Anna more alimony. Look at how things were at a snail’s pace with Marilyn before; since Anna returned and pursued you passionately, Marilyn instantly couldn’t hold back and desperately wanted to marry you. Don’t you think Anna did you a big favor?"

"By the way, when will Anna and Sweetheart move out of the Sterling Residence? I’ll drive her."

"Do you have a lot of free time?"

Receiving a warning glare from Young Master Sterling, Henry immediately backtracked, "Forget it, just kidding. Even if you don’t want Anna, I definitely won’t dare to approach her, rest assured."