Chapter 278: Chapter 278

After the first trial, Anna Thornton witnessed the prowess of Conrad Sterling’s incredible team of lawyers.

Holly Sutton’s case involved a victim connected to the upper echelons of Aethelgard’s financial world, and any lawyer with ambition and insight would hesitate to take it on.

Although Holly had previously stabilized her footing in Veridia, leveraging the Thornton Family’s company to gain some reputation and connections,

compared to Conrad Sterling, it was insignificant.

Even though Holly spent a fortune on a lawyer who wouldn’t need to work for the rest of his life after being paid, she ended up being overwhelmingly defeated by the plaintiff’s side.

Moreover, Holly faced the highest sentence for attempted arson and murder—death with reprieve!

Holly was driven to despair, incoherently cursing Anna in court during the later stages and shouting that she was innocent.

That afternoon, news came from the detention center saying she wanted to see Anna.

Anna was not interested in seeing Holly! Just a shrew!

"She’s definitely going to prison, and there are only two reasons for wanting to see me. First, she’s not reconciled and is scheming to escape, inviting me into her trap. Second, knowing she’s doomed, she still can’t accept it, and wants to use the most sinister expression and vile words to curse me. Generally, venomous women struggling at death’s door employ these two tactics."

Seeing Anna analyze it so thoroughly, Conrad Sterling nibbled on the apple she fed him and asked, "Are you still going?"

"Of course I’ll go! She sent word saying she had an important secret to tell me; if I don’t go listen, I’ll regret it for life."

"Do you believe her?"

"Whether I believe her or not, I’m idle anyway. I also want to see if she has any new tricks. If I play the role of a malicious supporting character, I could use it for reference."

So that afternoon, Anna promptly appeared at the detention center.

She always felt Holly wasn’t much older, at least within ten years, they were peers.

However, seeing Holly through the glass today, the latter seemed to have aged twenty years.

Seems like without makeup and expensive beauty equipment, she’s just this ordinary.

"Have you altered your age?" Anna suddenly recalled Holly was best friends with Henry Willow’s stepmother, so they should be peers, at least forty years old.

At this, Holly brushed her hair back and sneered, "What of it?"

"From the beginning, you approached our family for money, deliberately pretending to get close to my father, deceiving him about your age and affection."

"Don’t men always say age isn’t a problem? They like younger ones, so I meet their needs. Do you think your father’s respectable? At his age, he believes in true love? It’s just mutual needs!"

"Even if it’s mutual needs, since marrying into our family, my father hasn’t treated you badly, right? You enjoyed a luxurious life, so why did you poison him?"

"I don’t understand what you’re talking about! Anna, I didn’t poison your father!"

At this point, Holly remained tight-lipped.

She was convinced evidence for the murder four years ago couldn’t be found, so she wouldn’t admit it.

This case was tricky enough; Holly wasn’t foolish to confess and worsen her predicament.

"Anna, our hatred isn’t that deep, more misunderstandings. That President Sterling is against me because of you. Speaking of using men, my skills aren’t as good as yours."

"Stop talking nonsense; four years ago, I was locked in a psychiatric hospital by you. Illegal detention, causing me to have a difficult delivery, do you think this can be settled?"

"You’re a star, do you really want to bring that disgraceful experience out?"

"Do you think I’d be afraid?"

Anna was indeed fearless; in the entertainment industry, no young actress dared to admit having a child like her.

She had already ruined her future once, what else was there to worry about?

Holly saw there was genuinely no room for compromise with Anna.

Moreover, with Conrad Sterling backing her, Holly knew she couldn’t confront her head-on.

"Given the circumstances, Anna, I should tell you an important secret about you."

"Go ahead, I’m here to see what tricks you’ve got left." Anna put on a ’show me what you’ve got’ expression.

"Remember your difficult childbirth three years ago? Actually, your child is still alive."

"Do you think I’ll believe you?"

"I’m telling the truth!" Holly said sternly, "Your son didn’t die; I hid him away. If you don’t believe, you can find the nurse who delivered him; she can confirm he was born alive. I fooled you into believing you delivered a stillborn."

"I just wanted leverage for future use."

"So you should thank me; I’ve kept your child safe, and he’s now three years old."

Before coming, Anna had decided to silently chant ’I won’t listen’ in her mind. Dıscover more novels at noⅴelfire.net

Yet she couldn’t help but be shaken by Holly’s words.

Perhaps deep down, she deeply hoped the child was still alive.

Even if there was a ninety-nine percent chance of being deceived, Anna wanted to cling to that one percent hope.

"Where is the child?"

"I can’t tell you now. Get me out first, once I’m free, I’ll naturally tell you the child’s whereabouts." Holly presented her conditions confidently.

Judging from her expression, Anna couldn’t tell if Holly’s words were true or false.

"You’re charged with murder; I can’t get you out! Isn’t this too unreasonable?"

"Anna, don’t be modest. If you can’t do it, there’s still President Sterling, right? I know he’s behind my arrest, not allowing bail. Why not ask him to relent and bail me out? I can take you to see the child. We can renegotiate terms after you see him!"

In the detention center, Anna didn’t give Holly a clear answer.

But when she returned, she kept pondering how much truth there was in Holly’s words.

Conrad Sterling noticed her distraction, asking Anna, "Is something wrong?"

"Um... I want... bail... Holly!" Anna muttered, lowering her head.

Like Pop, when indecisive and uncertain, she liked poking her fingers.

Pop usually lowered his head from feeling guilty when making mistakes; Anna didn’t want Conrad Sterling seeing her thoughts through her eyes.

"What’s the reason?" Conrad asked.