Chapter 223: Chapter 223

After breakfast, Anna Thornton dialed her family’s company phone number.

It’s been four years; she knew things must have changed, but the company phone number probably wouldn’t.

After three rings, the line connected: "Hello, this is The Thornton-Sutton Group!"

"Thornton-Sutton?" Anna smirked sarcastically, "Put me through to Holly Sutton’s office."

"Who are you? Do you have an appointment with President Sutton?"

"No appointment, but my name is Anna Thornton. Tell Holly it’s me calling—she’ll definitely take it!"

It had only been four years since Anna left Veridia. She thought she shouldn’t be so easily forgotten.

Even if this receptionist was new, any long-term employee at the company would know about her relationship with Holly.

After waiting two minutes, the call indeed went through to Holly’s office.

"I heard you were looking for me?"

"Yes, I’m coming to the company in a bit, just calling ahead to give you a heads-up."

That was all she said, and after that Anna promptly hung up the phone.

She knew, if Holly didn’t want trouble, she’d make sure she was well received.

After all, what Anna admired most about Holly was how she always called her a brat behind her back, yet had to put on a kind facade in public, given they were meeting at the company with many eyes around.

She had no choice but to graciously invite Anna into the VIP room, putting on a motherly act.

"Anna, why did you suddenly come back to Veridia? You didn’t even give me a heads-up; I could have sent a driver to bring you home."

"If I had given you notice, I wouldn’t be afraid you’d take me straight to a mental hospital as hospitality?"

"What are you saying? Back then, because you were ill, I sent you to the hospital. But you didn’t understand my good intentions, running away all these years without contacting the family. Do you know how worried I’ve been?"

"President Sutton’s ability to lie through her teeth, I saw it when you first schemed to get close to my dad. But today I’m not here to argue about the past."

"Then what are you here for?"

"To take back what’s rightfully mine!"

Holly was about to sarcastically mock Anna’s overestimation of herself, when Anna cut her off: "No need to reply in a rush; maybe you want to listen to this first."

Anna handed her a recorder pen.

Holly took it cautiously, pressed play, and heard the conversation she had with Dylan White last night—

"You know about the transaction four years ago, right? Kenneth Thornton treated you well, but how did you repay him? You even dared to return to Veridia with his daughter for the memorial. Aren’t you afraid the old ghost comes after you at night?"

"I was wondering, when you helped me alter that old man’s will four years ago, did you keep a copy?"

Hearing this far, Holly’s hand trembled, the recorder slipped and fell into the water cup on the table, abruptly silencing.

Seeing this, Anna wasn’t worried: "Four years ago, I had evidence of you poisoning my dad, but you destroyed it. This time I learned to be smart; I kept backup recordings, and I have a video of your meeting with Dylan White last night."

Hearing this, Holly’s expression changed: "You and that White fellow colluded to trap me? Do you think a video and recording can snatch the company from me?"

"I don’t plan to. Today I’m here just to make a small request."

"I want to return to the company to work. Just give me any position."

Knowing four years ago her dad’s will was altered, Anna unexpectedly didn’t seize the chance to oust Holly.

She only asked for a job position?

This request made Holly bewildered.

"Aren’t you staying in Aethelgard as a minor celebrity? Why the sudden desire to return to work at the company?"

"Yes, my main career is still acting. So, don’t give me a nine-to-five position that requires clocking in, that would be difficult for me. It would be best if the job only requires giving orders remotely, without being under your control. We never get along, and I don’t want to make things difficult for either of us. But after all, the company still bears the Thornton name, and now that I’m back, as the Thornton heiress, you should at least show some goodwill. Otherwise, the outside people and media would start speculating wildly. In case I can’t hold my tongue and spill the videos and some events from four years ago, that wouldn’t be good."

Anna was clearly threatening Holly!

"Were you and Dylan White colluding?" Holly asked her.

Holly was assessing how many cards Anna held to determine whether she should comply with her request. Updates are released by novel✶fire.net

"Then take a guess. I’m not telling you, anyway."

Holly: "... That Dylan White guy also got played by you!"

Last night, Dylan White clearly stated he and Anna were just fooling around.

If the matter from four years ago were exposed, it wouldn’t benefit him either.

Holly knew how proud and ambitious Anna was back then, even if now no longer the cherished only child of Kenneth Thornton, she still looked down on someone who climbed up by betraying his boss. Dylan White only felt good about himself, thinking Anna, in her downfall, would use him as a support.

"Keep guessing, see if I got a copy of the will from Dylan White." Anna laughed.

Four years later, Holly indeed felt uncertain about her. Without enough leverage, why would this girl smile so confidently, as if certain her request would be fulfilled?

If Anna really went all out for her inheritance, it would be troublesome for Holly.

It might be better to agree to her conditions, keeping her under watch would be easier to control.

"Fine, I can arrange for you to join the company. There’s a board meeting in five minutes, I’ll take you there, and introduce you to the board members then."

It wasn’t Anna’s first time at the Thornton Family company, but it was her first at a board meeting.

She used to frequent Dad Thornton’s office, but back then it was all in fun.

Dad wanted her to learn about company management, but Anna always thought she was too young. She found office affairs tedious and boring, not wanting to deal with corporate relatives she deemed were putting on fake flattering faces.

Back then, Dad laughed at her as immature, saying she would learn as she grew up that these were unavoidable, inescapable realities.

But Anna never imagined her dad would leave this world before she fully grew up.

Now, sitting at the boardroom table, Anna wasn’t as uneasy as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

Even though what filled her ears now were unpleasant words.

"Anna, weren’t you suffering from mental illness?"

"Right, after your dad died, you disappeared without a trace for four years, how have you been?"

"I think I saw news about you online, saying you were abroad for years and had a child of unknown origin?"

"Hmph! If your dad knew you had a child with some random man, he’d have died of anger all over again!"

The company board members were mostly Anna’s relatives and uncles.

After four years apart, they greeted their younger relative with a round of cold sarcasm.

Anna took it all in stride, not angry, not ashamed, only mildly surprised.

Was her reputation in Veridia worse than in Aethelgard?