Chapter 287: Chapter 287

After Anna Thornton fell asleep, a shadow resembling a small brown bear sneaked out of the bedroom.

The tiny figure came up to Conrad Sterling’s side, observing the cold silhouette of the man sleeping on the sofa under the faint light from outside the window. Conrad Sterling didn’t look much different asleep than awake; he was just as composed and dignified, without a sound that could compromise his image.

Lola looked at him as if she were seeing an enlarged version of herself!

But she was extremely displeased with this person because the first time she heard the name ’Conrad Sterling,’ he had taken Aunt Anna away from her.

Today, he not only came over to snatch her away but also wouldn’t allow Aunt Anna to be kind to her!

That’s right, Lola had heard the entire conversation between Conrad Sterling and Anna Thornton in the living room.

Lola was only pretending to sleep, afraid that Aunt Anna might leave again while she was asleep, so she couldn’t relax.

So after Anna Thornton got up and left the bedroom, Lola quietly got up too, hiding at the bedroom door to eavesdrop.

She heard this big bad guy persuading Aunt Anna not to get too close to her!

Anna glared angrily at Conrad Sterling for a while, then turned to the balcony.

After the little shadow left, Conrad Sterling, who was lying on the sofa, suddenly opened his eyes.

He couldn’t sleep in a new place, so he might as well see what the little troublemaker was up to.

Conrad Sterling arrived at the balcony perimeter and heard Lola making a phone call.

"Big Bear, I’m issuing new orders now. Our goal is to take over the Sterling Group within three years!"

Not having heard such audacious words for a long time, Conrad Sterling couldn’t help but smile.

He admitted that Lola was indeed a clever child.

The fact that such a small child could afford a house in the luxury district of Veridia truly surprised Conrad Sterling.

But given her age, she hadn’t truly seen how big the Sterling Group was.

Lola’s little arms and legs, even if she uses all her might to challenge the Sterling Group, would be like an ant trying to nibble at an elephant’s heel.

Her courage was commendable; this little brat was quite unique!

"Kind of like myself when I was a child. No wonder Anna Thornton likes her," President Sterling shamelessly thought.

Lola was about to finish her call, prompting Conrad Sterling to quickly return to the sofa and pretend to be asleep.

The little troublemaker was about to return to the bedroom, but as she passed through the living room, the more she thought, the more upset she became.

So, a bright idea struck her, and she fetched a bottle of ink and a brush.

She planned to draw a big turtle on Conrad Sterling’s overly perfect, yet unbearably annoying face.

Conrad Sterling: "..."

Morning came, and Anna Thornton found Lola with ink marks on her little face.

"How did this happen?"

Lola didn’t speak, but it was certain she didn’t do it herself.

The little cherub’s fair, clean cheeks had three whiskers drawn on each side with ink, and even panda eyes were added.

Paired with Lola’s puffed-up baozi face, it looked especially cute.

Anna Thornton couldn’t help but giggle.

Seeing herself being laughed at, Lola immediately scrunched her face, appearing even more adorably silly.

"Hahaha~ Okay, I won’t laugh! I’ll take you to wash your face!"

Anna Thornton took Lola to wash her face, and upon leaving the bedroom, she saw Conrad Sterling sitting on the bedroom sofa reading a newspaper, with no clue where he got it from, wearing a fresh change of clothes.

The living room table was laid out with breakfast for three, offering a variety of choices like milk sandwiches, pumpkin congee, and dumplings.

"Conrad Sterling, did you draw a cat face on Lola? How childish can you be?" Anna Thornton didn’t appreciate President Sterling’s effort in preparing breakfast and immediately criticized him as she emerged.

Lola, following behind Anna Thornton, nodded in agreement; indeed, it was childish!

"How about you ask him who started it first?"

"No matter who started it, why is a grown man always quarreling with a child?" Anna Thornton’s protective instincts were very evident.

"Exactly!" Lola continued to nod in agreement.

Conrad Sterling coldly eyed the pair, speaking out of one nostril clearly wasn’t going to help, realizing more talk was futile.

Lola clearly left her face unwashed just for Anna Thornton to see when she woke up, devious little imp.

Conrad Sterling’s main disadvantage was that he couldn’t act cute!

"Let’s eat." President Sterling decided it wasn’t worth venturing into a discussion with the little brat, "After eating, send this little one to kindergarten and then come back with me."

Upon hearing this, Lola immediately clung to Anna Thornton’s arm, gazing at her imploringly.

"School is non-negotiable, Lola; you’re a big girl now. You shouldn’t need coaxing, right?"

With Lola’s intelligence, kindergarten was unnecessary.

But since Anna Thornton had put it this way, Lola didn’t want to appear childish.

"It’s okay; anyway, my company tasks are here, plus filming. I’ll be in Veridia for quite a while, so we’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet." Anna Thornton comforted her.

"What about him?" Lola pointed at Conran Sterling.

"Him? He’ll go back to Aethelgard when he’s all healed up."

Hearing Anna Thornton mention that Conrad Sterling would leave soon, Lola felt comforted and contentedly resumed eating breakfast.

After breakfast, before heading out, Lola discreetly collected the hair from the comb Anna Thornton used.

Wrapping it with some of her strands, she tucked it into her backpack.

Lola usually wouldn’t let Freya Vaughn drop her off. This time with Anna Thornton at the school gate, they immediately caught the attention of many children.

Among them was Zack, with his parents.

But today, seeing Anna Thornton, this family of three seemed a bit embarrassed, trying to avoid her; Zack’s expression seemed like he’d been crying.

After inquiring with the teacher, Anna Thornton learned that last night, this family of three encountered a robbery on their way back.

In the dark night, a burly man, standing at a height of six feet three, suddenly appeared. The man blocked and robbed Zack’s family, snatching Zack’s newly acquired smartwatch.

Six-foot three? Burly man?

Why did that sound like someone she’d seen before?

"Skyler Sutton~ Skyler Sutton~ Who’s the pretty lady that brought you to school this morning?" classmates asked.

Lola wasn’t fond of dealing with these kids, so she ignored them, gliding around the campus coolly on her skateboard.

But kindergarten kids tend to be chatterboxes, repeating a question dozens or even hundreds of times, not stopping until they get an answer.

"Skyler Sutton~ Who’s the pretty lady that brought you to school this morning?"

They asked in class, and again after class.

Lola, utterly annoyed, finally replied, "She’s my mom!"

"Wow~ Lola’s mom is so pretty~"

"She looks like a star~" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel[f]ire.net

Lola proudly lifted her tiny chin, as if to say, "Just look at who’s mom she is."