Chapter 235: Chapter 235

Conrad Sterling ultimately couldn’t rest easy, so not long after Anna Thornton went out, he followed her.

He called that woman’s phone over a dozen times, but she never answered.

However, when he turned around, he saw Anna Thornton sitting opposite to Finn Grant in a restaurant, with steak and red wine.

In an instant, Conrad Sterling felt a fire ignite in his chest, his mind awash with an inexplicable fury.

But as he sat in the car and looked through the window, he only saw Finn Grant holding Anna Thornton’s hand, without hearing what they were actually saying.

Actually, in the restaurant—

"Young Master Grant, I’m really sorry for swallowing your ring. I think I should go back first; I’ll come find you once the ring comes out!"

Though what must come will eventually arrive, Anna Thornton wanted to delay things for as long as possible.

She intended to sneak away, but was caught by Finn Grant: "Go where? You swallowed a ten-carat sapphire ring, are you not afraid of dying? Come, I’ll take you to the hospital for a stomach pump right away, and get the ring out."

"Ah? Wouldn’t that be unnecessary?" Anna Thornton pulled back her hand in resistance, "Stomach pumping is very painful; I’m terrified of hospitals."

"Give me a reason why not; otherwise, even if I have to tie you up, I’ll get you to the hospital today for a stomach pump."

Knowing Finn Grant wasn’t joking, Anna Thornton could only sigh, taking the sapphire ring out of her own pocket: "Actually, I didn’t swallow the ring."

"Anna Thornton, do you take me for a fool?"

"How could it be... I would’ve never tried to fool someone as sharp as you, or I’d be the fool!"

Anna Thornton handed the ring back to him, but Finn Grant didn’t take it.

"This ring was especially won for you at an auction, where some bastard kept bidding against me. I paid five times the normal price for it and don’t want it back now; I just want to see it on your hand."

"But I truly can’t accept it, I’m sorry, Young Master Grant!"

"This is something I promised someone I wouldn’t say."

She couldn’t possibly say she had already accepted another ring the size of a pigeon egg.

If she added this one too, Anna Thornton feared her delicate fingers would be overburdened, crushed under the weight.

"Anna Thornton, it seems I haven’t finished saying what I meant to before. I can help you with just one word if you run into trouble, but similarly, with just one word, I can make it impossible for you to stay in Aethelgard!"

From Finn Grant’s perspective, a sweet proposal that failed had turned into a threat.

Anna Thornton could only feign ignorance: "Surely it doesn’t have to come to that? Can’t be lovers and now have to become enemies? I usually don’t take on those kinds of scripts in the first place; they’re too cliché. Young Master Grant, you have a broad mind and a successful business, surely you don’t need to fuss over such a small matter."

"You can say I have a narrow mind if you want. Either way, if you don’t marry me, then get out of Aethelgard and never rise again."

Finn Grant had lost his patience, unwilling to let Anna Thornton delay any longer.

Seeing his adamant stance, Anna Thornton could only sigh helplessly.

Whether to marry or not, Finn Grant awaited her word.

In truth, not marrying didn’t necessarily mean having to leave; Finn Grant’s ultimate goal was to force her to compromise.

"It seems if I don’t tell the truth, you won’t let me go tonight, will you?"

"Alright then, since it has come to this, I can only tell you a secret..."

Finn Grant was poised to listen closely, but just then, Anna Thornton stepped back.

Because she saw Conrad Sterling suddenly appear in the restaurant.

President Sterling approached with a stern expression, snatching Anna Thornton from Finn Grant without a word.

"Conrad Sterling, who allowed you to behave so recklessly in front of me?" Finn Grant blocked them, "Regarding that incident with our company’s project in Europe, don’t think I don’t know you were the one pulling strings from behind? I’ve yet to settle the score with you, and now you want to snatch a woman from me?"

"If I want her, do I need to compete with you for it?"

Conrad Sterling, usually disinterested in wasting time exchanging words with Finn Grant, gave him nothing but a meaningful, disdainful look.

Finn Grant felt that the look was ridiculing his overestimation of himself, as if Conrad Sterling was saying: "Do you think you’re qualified for this?"

"Sterling! You bastard, if you want to leave, leave by yourself, but leave Anna Thornton here for me!"

Mary and Quinn Locke were on the second floor of the restaurant, having already devoured three pieces of foie gras, two servings of lobster salad, and a Napoleon cake. Now a roasted lamb rack was served.

Mary was too full to eat another bite, but with the expensive dishes served she couldn’t bear to waste them.

Struggling between stuffing herself and the guilt of wasting food, she suddenly heard the commotion downstairs.

Mary rushed to the balcony to see Conrad Sterling pulling Anna Thornton out of the restaurant.

"Huh, why is President Sterling here?"

Mary found it strange and then saw Finn Grant also coming out of the restaurant in pursuit.

Anna Thornton was forced into the car by Conrad Sterling, with Finn Grant quickly following in his car, both clearly speeding!

Even from a distance, Mary could almost smell the gunpowder in the air.

"Oh no, it looks like Anna’s in trouble. I have to go and check on her."

Mary was about to head downstairs but was stopped by the waiter: "I’m sorry, you can’t leave yet."

"We’re really full, we can’t eat anymore. Thanks to Young Master Grant for his hospitality!"

"President Grant has instructed that you cannot go downstairs without his permission."

"Then what do you all want to do? Young Master Grant himself has already left. Are you detaining us illegally? Aren’t you afraid of me calling the police?"

The waitress, unfazed by Mary’s threats, simply smiled: "We don’t necessarily want to restrict your freedom. You can leave, but before you go, you need to settle the bill for your dinner. Otherwise, you’ll be the one calling the police."

No wonder it’s a restaurant owned by Finn Grant. Even the staff have learned to act so domineeringly and unreasonably from him.

He clearly said he would treat, first luring them into spending and then leaving them to pay.

Mary glanced at the bill and almost fainted. Right now, Anna hasn’t even landed a single ad deal; where would she get the money for a feast?

"I don’t have that much money on me. Can I leave something as collateral and settle the bill later?"

"Do you have anything valuable for collateral?" The waitress looked her up and down skeptically.

"Of course!" Mary pat Quinn Locke, who was still focused on his lamb chops, "I’ll leave him as collateral here."

Anna Thornton was in Conrad Sterling’s car while Finn Grant’s car relentlessly chased after them.

Conrad appeared in the restaurant suddenly, only saying one sentence to Finn Grant.

Anna was clueless as to why these two men would suddenly escalate things to a high-speed chase.

She could only grip the seat belt tight across her chest: "Conrad Sterling, could you stop for a moment? I’m getting carsick!"

The man heard her but seemed to be in some kind of petty duel, not only not stopping but accelerating even more.

To shake off Finn Grant who stuck to them like glue, Conrad made a sharp turn. A sudden swerve and Anna felt she might be thrown right out of the car.

Who would’ve thought the usually composed President Sterling would drive so fiercely?

Seems like Finn Grant wasn’t wrong; he’s quite the show-off.

Anna’s phone was ringing; she nervously watched the road while fumbling to get her phone from her bag.

Just as she got her phone, Conrad snatched it away and hung up directly.

"Conrad Sterling, what are you doing? That was Mary calling, give me my phone back."

"I called you so many times before and you didn’t answer, but you take Mary’s call right away?"

"I didn’t hear it before!"

"Ha, what a convenient excuse!"

President Grant snorted coldly, making another sharp turn that flung both Anna and her phone far.

Now Anna couldn’t be bothered to pick up her phone, only worried if they would crash.

"Driving , are you trying to get someone killed?" Thɪs chapter is updated by n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

"Are you deliberately targeting me?"

"I can’t take it! I’m really carsick! Conrad, please stop! I’m going to throw up!"

She was right; the man was doing it on purpose!

"Anna Thornton, do you think I have a great temper? That after marriage, I not only tolerate you lying to me but also tolerate you cheating?"

"Who’s cheating in the marriage? I swear Finn Grant and I are innocent!"

"Two innocent people having a candlelit dinner this late?"

"It wasn’t just the two of us. Mary and Quinn Locke were upstairs, but you didn’t see them!"

No matter how much Anna explained, Conrad had been holding onto this grudge since they returned from Veridia.

Today it all erupted, not likely to calm down easily.

Anna’s face turned pale, genuinely uncomfortable.

Conrad finally shook off Finn Grant and stopped the car.

Anna couldn’t hold it in anymore, grabbing Conrad’s shirt and vomiting right onto him.

You can imagine how nauseating this scene was for the fastidious President Sterling.

This woman was definitely taking revenge on purpose!

But before Conrad could react, Anna let go of him, opened the car door, and dashed to the roadside to continue throwing up.

In reality, having eaten nothing, only alcohol came out as she vomited.

Conrad took off his jacket and tossed it aside before returning to the car for a quick cleanup.

Anna had nothing left to throw up, still squatting roadside retching, visibly miserable.

Conrad didn’t step up to comfort or console her in the slightest.

Today’s lesson was meant to remind Anna of the truth, that she married a man who wouldn’t simply cater to her whims without limits.

To prevent her continuing her antics, Conrad didn’t show the slightest bit of pity.

Anna was retching on the side while he leaned against the car and leisurely lit a cigarette, waiting online for her to finish and come apologize on her own. Otherwise, tonight’s mess wouldn’t end so easily.

Just at this moment, Ethan, sent to Veridia, finally reported back.

"President Sterling, you asked me to investigate what happened to Miss Thornton three years ago, and I’ve finally gathered the information."

Conrad received Ethan’s call, glanced at Anna by the roadside, and intentionally circled to the other side before speaking: "Go ahead!"

"Turns out, three years ago she gave birth to two children for you! They are twins—a boy and a girl!"