Chapter 417: Chapter 417

"I get it, you want to buy me off?"

"Miss Thornton, let me be honest with you, the project we signed with President Sterling’s company earlier might not meet the requirements." Rainie Hawthorne explained, "My purpose is simple, I just hope that the project file and related materials can be voided."

"Sterling Group might not care about this loss, but for the Hawthorne Family right now, we really can’t come up with such a huge compensation."

After listening to Rainie’s explanation, Anna Thornton tapped the table with her hand, bewildered: "Is there a virus in this USB drive? Can it damage Conrad Sterling’s computer?"

"Rest assured, it’s not. Given the closeness between Miss Thornton and President Sterling, it shouldn’t be hard to access his work computer. You just need to transfer the contract he signed with Hawthorne onto the USB drive, it won’t damage any other files on his computer, and it will leave no trace."

Rainie thought this deal was a good bargain for Anna. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ N0v3l.Fiɾe.net

Conrad Sterling’s company has so many projects he can barely keep track, even if money was made, it wouldn’t concern Anna.

Instead of relying on a man’s affection as a gift, it’s more practical to have it oneself.

Rainie believed that if Anna was smart, she wouldn’t refuse.

The result was as she expected; Anna accepted the check and USB drive.

"Miss Thornton, I’m waiting for your good news. What I just gave you is only half the pay. Once it’s done, send me a message and I’ll give you the other half."

As soon as Rainie finished speaking, Anna couldn’t wait to grab her bag and get up to leave.

After all, she had squeezed this visit into her busy schedule, yet she did gain something: "Just wait."

Returning to the Sterling Residence—

Anna originally planned to check out Conrad’s study.

But she was stopped by Granny Chandler first: "Miss Thornton, Sister Murray said if you returned, please come to her room first."

"Aunt Murray is looking for me?"

The servants, including Granny Chandler, still didn’t know the relationship between Conrad Sterling and Jade Sterling, nor did they know Jade’s real name and identity.

They only knew that some time ago, President Sterling brought home an odd old woman with a very fragile body who always wore a mask.

Jade Sterling’s health was too poor; she couldn’t withstand wind or cold, and she needed to have her meals delivered to her room. Occasionally, she’d come out just to see Pop and Lola; she really liked these two children.

The term ’Sister Murray’ used by Granny Chandler was also what Anna Thornton called her.

Little did they know, Jade was actually younger than her.

Anna walked to the door of Jade’s room and heard coughing inside.

She knocked on the door to signal her arrival, then turned the doorknob: "Aunt Murray, I’m back."

Jade Sterling had just caught her breath, and her trembling hand tried to put down the water glass, which Anna quickly helped her with.

"Cough cough... Anna, I have something for you."

After sitting down, Anna saw Jade take out a very rustic-looking wooden box from the bedside.

It was full of nostalgia, but it was well-preserved, the surface of the box was spotless.

"Anna, this is for you!"

"Open it...cough cough...and see."

Anna took the box, noting its weight.

Upon opening it, she finally understood what it meant to be dazzled.

Inside, bright and dazzling, were all precious gemstones.

"Aunt Murray, are these real?" Anna felt her jaw dropping in shock.

It wasn’t suspicion, for Anna, as a movie star, has seen plenty of jewelry.

But these in the box, if she wasn’t mistaken... there were the rarest, most vibrant red diamonds, more valuable than a thousand times over diamonds, Tanzanite, and various rare golden and emerald green gemstones, among others.

And these were uncut, each as big as a fist, filling up the entire box.

"If these are all real, how much would they be worth?" Anna couldn’t help but ask.

"Silly child, this is nothing."

"Cough cough...there was plenty of these things before."

Jade spoke with a sense of pity for times gone by; the Sterling Family used to be very wealthy.

Upon saying this, Aunt Murray couldn’t help but reveal a look of sadness and sigh, "It’s a pity, we can’t go back. These are the only ones I managed to bring when I fled the island."

"Cough cough...you’ve married Conrad, and normally when a son marries, elders should express a token. Conrad’s mother passed away long ago, and as his aunt, I only thought to give you a gift now. Anna, I hope you won’t mind!"

Holding such a box of invaluable gems in her hands, Anna had grown used to the unprecedented.

"Aunt Murray, from what you just said, these gemstones can’t possibly be the local product of your island, can they?"

Besides local goods, Anna has never experienced such a gift-giving.

But this kind of product is too incredible!

"Something like that, there were many."

"And now?" Anna increasingly wanted to visit the legendary Haven Isle.

"I don’t know...cough cough!" Jade shook her head, "I guess Howard Ford and Grant Willow have taken it all."

"Howard Ford and Grant Willow?"

Aren’t they from the Four Great Families?

No wonder Conrad Sterling has such animosity towards them!

After all, cutting off a person’s financial source is like killing their parents, Anna felt she was sniffing out the root of the past grievances.

Listening to Aunt Murray’s words, Haven Isle was originally an isolated island, able to self-sustain with abundant resources and rich in gemstones.

No wonder it attracted the Four Great Families; after all, ’those who possess treasures are subject to guilt.’

Unfortunately, Jade did not continue, and started coughing uncontrollably.

Her body was too weak, and Anna didn’t want to press her too much.

After helping Jade drink some warm water and settle her to rest, Anna left the room holding the box of gems.

Does Aunt Murray have some sixth sense?

Could she somehow sense that Anna was bribed and planned to betray Conrad Sterling?

So she suddenly gave such a substantial gift to counter-bribe Anna?

It shouldn’t be the case!

Anna still had the check and USB drive Rainie had given her in her pocket, feeling suddenly lighter in comparison.

She actually understood the intent of Aunt Murray who occasionally chatted with her; Aunt Murray wanted to express that Conrad had his reasons and hoped Anna could understand him.

But can that be an excuse for the man’s erratic desire for her, even to the point of coercion?

Anna didn’t care what grievances Conrad had with the Four Great Families; they had unsettled scores.

Since she was coerced by Conrad last time, she had warned him to wait and see.

So, directly to his study, Anna, while Conrad was away, inserted the USB drive into this man’s work computer without hesitation.