Chapter 442: Chapter 442

After Rainie Hawthorne hung up the phone, she really opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

She had been following the news about the Sterling Group closely.

Normally, the media wouldn’t dare offend Conrad Sterling.

But now, negative news about the Sterling Group was rampant online, obviously not without some behind-the-scenes pushing.

After all, when the Sterling Group emerged in Aethelgard, it took away a significant portion of the interests of the four major families.

This flock of vultures, always drawn to the scent of decay, even pounced on the declining Hawthorne Family, with whom they once had close ties, let alone such a big piece of meat as the Sterling Group.

Lately, many people have been secretly plotting against him, hoping to bring down Conrad Sterling so they can seize the resources he had taken.

These hidden hands might as well have been doing Rainie a favor.

After all, there’s only so much the Hawthorne Family can do right now, but she still knew how to take credit.

Rainie quickly contacted that mysterious man.

"I just got the news and confirmed it by phone, our plan is proceeding smoothly. Anna Thornton probably didn’t realize from the start that we are not targeting the Sterling Group, but rather Conrad Sterling himself. She has been of great help to us, but even if she figures it out now, it’s too late to back out."

Rainie never fully trusted Anna, even though Anna claimed to have a vendetta against Conrad Sterling.

Because Rainie was also a woman, she knew all too well how women tend to have a soft heart. Follow current novels on novęlfire.net

In her exchanges with Anna, she always downplayed the potential crisis impact on Conrad, from a full ten to a six. This way, it not only eased Anna’s conscience but also prevented her from faltering at a critical moment.

After all, Rainie believed that no other woman was as willing to go all out as she was.

Although she once admired Conrad Sterling, compared to the family’s interests, nothing else mattered.

"Are you sure Conrad Sterling would cooperate with them like that?"

"He probably never expected to be betrayed by the ones closest to him. I see President Sterling treated Anna quite well. No matter how formidable a man is, he can also be bound by feelings!"

Rainie’s words revealed her disappointment with Conrad Sterling.

After all, the person she once admired was the high-and-mighty, invincible Conrad Sterling without a single weakness.

"I need to check the situation first."

"Investigations would probably be kept under wraps in the early stages, right?"

"Don’t worry about it. I’ll contact you in half an hour. If all goes well, I’ll fulfill the terms I promised you. If it fails, think about how you’ll explain it to me."

After Rainie hung up the phone, she still felt anxious.

She always felt that the man was not ordinary, and she did not expect his influence in the country to have reached such a terrifying degree, even having informants in such a tight investigation.

But it’s okay; fortunately, they were on the same side, and Rainie felt she had chosen the right camp this time.

From outside the window came the sound of her uncle muttering incantations in the backyard.

Rainie found it headache-inducing and shut the window immediately.

Recently, the Hawthorne Family had sold some land and houses, causing everyone to pile up, and the living environment was suffocating.

Also, Rainie’s father, ever since that illness after the charity gala, seemed to have been muddled by the fever.

One day, Marvin Hawthorne even held Rainie’s hand and called her son.

He kept insisting that he originally had a son.

The men of the Hawthorne Family were all useless in the end; it still fell on Rainie, one woman, to keep the family afloat.

Just wait. She would one day lead the Hawthorne Family to rise again.

By then, everyone would look at her, Rainie, with new respect and follow her lead.

Just as Rainie opened her bedroom door, she ran into Tanya Ford passing by.

Since Tanya’s husband went to prison, she had nothing to rely on at the Hawthorne Family and placed all her remaining hopes on her son, typically avoiding Rainie.

Rainie’s eyes showed a flicker of caution as she called out, "Wait! How long have you been standing at my room door?"

"I was just passing by."

"Really? Then what are you doing?"

"I... Little Evan was running around. I was just looking for him."

Facing Rainie’s distrustful gaze, Tanya felt uneasy.

At that moment, a small figure darted out from the opposite empty room’s door: "Mummy, you still haven’t found me? Silly~"

"You little rascal! Getting naughtier by the day!"

Tanya lightly scolded her son, pulling Evan out from the door and getting ready to take him back to their room.

Rainie didn’t forget to warn her, "Given the Hawthorne Family’s current situation, we’re all in the same boat. If you and your son want a good life, you’d better know which side to choose!"

"Rainie, don’t worry; I don’t have any other options. I’m not foolish; I know the Hawthorne Family’s burden falls on you now."

Although she said this in front of Rainie, once back in her room, Tanya secretly dialed Marilyn Ford’s number.

Sharon Langley answered on the other end.

"Is this Marilyn’s manager? Hello, I’m Marilyn’s aunt. Can I talk to her for a few moments?"

"Marilyn is working now; she’s busy!"

"Wait, before you hang up, could you please note down a message for me? I know Marilyn is angry with me, but if I had another chance, I’d send that scoundrel Mason Hawthorne to prison without hesitation. Marilyn is my own niece; we’re both Fords; how could I not take her side? Even if it means cutting all ties with the Hawthornes, I just hope I can return to the Ford Family with my child."

Tanya had realized the Hawthorne Family was past its prime.

She didn’t hold much hope for how long Rainie could keep things afloat on her own.

Even if Rainie could sustain it, Tanya couldn’t bear this life of dependency any longer.

"Okay, I’ll see when Marilyn has time to listen and pass on your message."

"Thank you! By the way, I have one more important thing. I just overheard from Rainie that she’s made some moves recently, seemingly targeting the Sterling Group! Doesn’t Marilyn still have feelings for President Sterling? This news might interest her."

Marilyn had just finished shooting some scenes, and as she returned, Sharon conveyed the phone conversation to her.

"Marilyn, your aunt is not entirely useless. She said Rainie might be scheming behind the scenes to sabotage President Sterling. And she even overheard Rainie making a phone call to Anna; they might be in cahoots."

Hearing this, a knowing smile appeared on Marilyn’s lips: "I warned Conrad a long time ago, but he didn’t believe me. That woman Anna is not simple and certainly won’t stay quiet!"

"So what are you going to do? Will you inform President Sterling of this?"

"The last few times I helped him voluntarily, he was ungrateful. If that’s the case, why should I give my affection to uninterested parties? Didn’t you say? A man won’t know who’s truly good to him until he’s suffered some losses."

Previously, Marilyn had always taken the initiative to approach him, but she wanted to regain the dignity she had lost.

This time, she wanted Conrad Sterling to come to her.

"Have Tanya continue staying there, keep an eye on Rainie’s movements for me. When she finally finds some solid evidence, I’ll have her reaccepted by the Ford Family."