Chapter 444: Chapter 444

Several days later, Rainie Hawthorne realized she had been tricked by Anna Thornton. For more chapters visıt NovelHub(.)net

She had been trying every way she could to find out about Conrad Sterling, and finally an online gossip media outlet revealed some inside information from a previous investigation.

The storage card recovered from Conrad Sterling’s safe was decrypted, revealing that while it contained images of foreigners, it wasn’t evidence of collaboration with any foreign powers.

Because the people in the storage card were all adult film actresses.

The investigators had preserved it in a sealed bag and taken it away, asking Conrad to assist in the investigation.

They were supposed to make him explain everything on the spot, but after decrypting and seeing the explicit content on the storage card, one could imagine how awkward the investigators’ expressions were.

It was definitely Anna Thornton’s handiwork; she had not put the designated storage card in the safe as requested and used it to frame Conrad Sterling.

Rainie thought about how that woman ruined things at the last moment, she was about to explode with anger.

"Rainie, I made you fish maw soup."

Susan Jagger came in with a late-night snack, only to be met by Rainie’s annoyance: "Take it away, I don’t want to drink it now."

"You’ve been so secretive these days. I don’t want to pry, but I know it’s about the Hawthorne Family affairs. No matter how busy work gets, you must take care of yourself. It’s not your responsibility that the Hawthorne Family is in this state. Your grandfather is trying to find ways; don’t overwork yourself and damage your health for this."

"Mom, Grandpa is nearly eighty, do you think the Hawthorne Family can rely on him to make a comeback? I never put my hopes on others. I just want to prove I’m stronger than any other man!"

"Mom understands you want to stand tall. You’ve always been strong-willed since you were young."

While Susan Jagger was proud of Rainie’s determination, she couldn’t help but sigh.

Unfortunately, she had been a housewife for over twenty years and knew nothing about business.

At most, she would follow along and buy some stocks, and usually ended up losing money—she wasn’t suited for this at all.

"Rainie, you really do resemble your father in his youth. Such a pity that he wasn’t able to cope with setbacks, else he could have helped you a great deal."

Mention of her father inevitably stirred resentment in Rainie’s heart.

Having never experienced paternal love growing up, how could she not hold some resentment?

"Rainie, your dad has been acting really strange lately! I heard him talking in his sleep at night, always mentioning he has another son."

"Ha, I bet he’s crazy from wanting a son! Just because he resented having a daughter?"

Rainie scoffed, "Actually, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to have a son now—just divorce you and find a younger woman."

Susan Jagger turned white at Rainie’s words.

She had once experienced her husband’s infidelity when she was young and had held back from divorcing him.

Now, her mindset was that it didn’t matter whether he loved her or not; after all these years spent together, it was an established routine.

For a housewife like Susan Jagger, there was not much hope left for life anymore.

Yet, they are terrified of change.

Rainie watched her being unable to handle the shock and felt both sympathy and sadness.

"Alright, just leave for now. I must devise a strategy. Otherwise, the Hawthorne Family won’t last much longer. I’ll come out to eat once I’ve thought of something."

Just as Susan Jagger reached the door, she couldn’t help but turn back, "Rainie, I heard your dad talking with your uncle, saying your dad really has a son out there from before I gave birth to you."

Upon hearing this, Rainie furrowed her brows, "My dad is searching for someone?"

"I overheard him talk with your uncle, it seems so."

Rainie had tried so hard to prove she was not inferior to any man.

But did not expect her father was still yearning for the son outside?

Well then, Rainie wanted to see exactly what kind of person they were searching for.

Anna Thornton wasn’t actually imprisoned.

All the stuff about being dominated by the boss was just a story she made up to trick Rainie.

In reality, Conrad Sterling returned that night only briefly before he left again.

And he was gone for several days afterwards, busy handling a corporate crisis.

Anna wasn’t concerned about him, but Granny Chandler would report the news to her daily.

According to Granny Chandler, the situation at Sterling Group has improved significantly.

"Miss Thornton, today the families of the disgruntled workers appeared on TV to publicly apologize to President Sterling. It was obvious, they caused trouble by fighting among themselves, and it originally had nothing to do with the company. Yet, Sterling Group still compensated their families. President Sterling’s words were impressive; the compensation wasn’t to encourage provocation, but merely to compensate for Sterling Group’s own oversight regarding insurance work, hoping to restore public confidence in Sterling Group."

Seeing Anna Thornton unresponsive, Granny Chandler kept praising Conrad Sterling in front of her.

While Pop was off eating, Granny Chandler secretly switched the TV from cartoons to the news channel.

Lola looked up and saw her father calmly handling interviews on TV, snorted dismissively.

The small child came to Anna with the mini computer he had secretly assembled.

"Did he bully you that day?"

Anna saw the computer screen, showing robot design schematics.

The little one seemed to be hinting to her, "If he bullies you, my killer robot is ready."

Anna couldn’t help but gently touch Lola’s head, "My Lola is just so adorable, Mommy loves you so much."

Saying love wasn’t enough, Anna couldn’t resist kissing Lola, "He didn’t bully me."

Lola was a bit bemused after being kissed by Mommy.

Finally, Mommy kissed him again.

Oh... he had been waiting so long!

But he had to maintain his cool and not laugh.

So the little one tried hard to keep a straight face, pursed his lips, and turned away with a little bounce in his step.

"Hahaha... my child is just too cute!" Anna Thornton was incredibly proud.

If there was a reason she didn’t put the storage card Rainie gave her into Conrad Sterling’s safe, it was certainly for the two children.

After all, if Conrad Sterling ended up going to jail, who would fix the current troubles facing Sterling Group?

They couldn’t subject Lola to such burdens at a young age.

So Conrad Sterling could stay around a while longer, like raising pigs—for slaughter when they’re fattened up.

Yes, that’s how Anna Thornton convinced herself.

But even after she let Conrad Sterling slide, she didn’t expect the man actually came to confront her.

Conrad Sterling dealt with the company’s affairs—three days later.

He stayed up three days and nights without sleep, finally cleaning up the chaos caused by his overseas absence.

It was actually simple; there was a mole within Sterling Group. Had it not been for inside coordination, they wouldn’t have had the chance to make things worse.

Conrad Sterling’s approach was straightforward: dismiss those who needed dismissal, take legal action as needed.

As for speculations on his identity, it was left to the best PR team in the country to handle.

The team promised that within half a month, doubts questioning Conrad Sterling’s background would completely disappear.

With everything sorted out, Conrad Sterling stared at his red eyes from sleepless nights and went to find Anna Thornton...

Some things had been left unsaid for too long, their cold war had dragged on too long, it was time to clarify things!