CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 1: HOW ABOUT WE MAKE A DEAL

"Anna, your father’s death was mysterious, and his burial was sudden. Haven’t you always blamed me for not letting you see him one last time? Well, now I’m going to let you see him."

The phone screen suddenly showed her father’s face, not the usual gentle and kind demeanor, but his eyes wide open, pupils bloodshot, hands tightly clawing at his throat, displaying a look of agony from poisoning...

"Holly, I’m going to kill you!"

Anna Thornton angrily lunged at the woman holding the phone smugly, but she couldn’t grab her, and was first pinned down by her family’s bodyguards.

"Let go of me! Holly killed my dad, she’s the murderer! You’ve caught the wrong person, you should catch her!"

The two bodyguards were expressionless, seemingly not hearing Anna Thornton’s screams, ignoring her anger and agitation, yet still holding her tightly in restraint.

The woman standing in front of her calmly deleted the video, put down the phone, and ordered, "The young lady has gone mad, take her to the mental institution."

"Yes, madam!"

...

"No! I’m not crazy!"

Anna Thornton awoke drenched in cold sweat, realizing she was having a nightmare.

But it wasn’t a nightmare; she had indeed been locked in a mental institution.

No way!

She couldn’t continue being trapped here!

To avenge her father, to reclaim the Thornton Family’s assets...

Finally, after being locked away for a full month, Anna Thornton found a chance when the guards were lax.

The first thing she did after escaping the mental institution was not to return to the Thornton Family!

But appeared outside the door of an unfamiliar apartment.

This place was the most high-end apartment complex in the entire Veridia city, inhabited by just one person. Yet equipped with the most comprehensive property management facilities, over fifty security guards rotated in shifts.

Anna Thornton didn’t have access here, naturally couldn’t even pass the security gate. She quietly squatted outside the entrance for half a day, until she finally saw the only limited edition Bentley in all of Veridia coming her way.

Anna Thornton got up and dashed forward, risking the danger of a car accident, banging on the rear window of the sports car.

"Mr. Sterling... please wait!"

The sports car stopped, the window rolled down, revealing a man with a handsome yet indifferent side profile.

"Mr. Sterling, do you remember me? We met at a banquet!"

Conrad Sterling glanced at her, seemingly recalling.

The Thornton Family’s little princess, the banquet she mentioned was her eighteenth birthday celebration.

Back then, Conrad Sterling was invited to attend, witnessed Dad Thornton’s adoration for his only daughter. Unfortunately, within just half a year, the Thornton Family’s fortunes changed, and the little princess was thrown out of The Imperial Palace by the ’Poison Empress’...

Conrad Sterling glanced at the words "Veridia City First Mental Institution" on Anna Thornton’s clothing chest, and without unnecessary pleasantries: "Why are you here?"

"It’s... a long story, can I explain in the car?"

Anna Thornton asked this, seeing Conrad Sterling not immediately respond, then explained: "I don’t have mental illness, I’m being falsely accused. It was Holly, Holly killed my dad..."

"Get in the car." Conrad Sterling interrupted her.

At the same time, the security guards jogged over, respectfully opened the other side’s back door welcoming Anna Thornton inside.

Conrad Sterling’s impression of Anna Thornton might only be limited to the one who had a single brief encounter, the Thornton Family’s little princess.

While Anna Thornton’s understanding of him traced back to Dad Thornton’s frequent chatter, wishing he could have a capable son like Conrad Sterling.

"Didn’t expect this President Sterling, so young, to be more adept in handling affairs than someone who’s battled in the business arena for forty years, truly a rare business genius!"

"Anna, just watch, in less than two years Conrad Sterling’s achievements will rival our Thornton Family."

Dad Thornton said these words two years ago.

But now, from the lavish setup of Conrad Sterling’s residence that left Anna Thornton speechless in amazement, it was clear his financial status had long surpassed the Thornton Family, likely becoming Veridia City’s richest man.

"Mr. Sterling, this is what’s happened with our family. Dad was killed, the family assets were taken by outsiders, I hope you can help me."

After listening to Anna Thornton narrate the tragic tale of her broken family, Conrad Sterling had already prepared two glasses of red wine.

He handed her a glass, then the man leaned against the wine cabinet filled with famous wines behind him, a cold smile emerging from the wine’s aroma: "These things you’ve told me, what do they have to do with me?"

Anna Thornton: "..."

"Miss Thornton, I’m a businessman, not a philanthropist! If you want justice, please go out the left door to the police station!"

"The evidence has already been deleted by that vicious woman Holly, and she’s falsely accused me of being mentally ill, now nobody believes what I say!"

"Then... forgive me for being unable to assist."

Conrad Sterling sipped some red wine, his gaze remained calm.

After all, he didn’t have deep ties with the Thornton Family.

Businessmen are driven by profit, others’ deep-seated vendettas are none of his concern.

Just as Conrad Sterling was about to call someone to send her away, Anna Thornton suddenly stood up from behind him: "Mr. Sterling, wait! You said you’re a businessman, so how about we make a deal?"

Conrad Sterling turned his head upon hearing this, his eyes unexpectedly fell upon the girl’s slender yet graceful body as she took off her clothes, his gaze deepening.