CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: I’LL GRANT YOUR WISH

"Fifty million, is that enough?"

Conrad Sterling took out a pre-prepared check, but when he saw Anna Thornton’s slightly mocking smile, he added another zero to the number.

"Is it enough now?" he asked her.

"Although I don’t do business, I’m not so stupid that I can’t even do the math. I’ve heard that President Sterling, your net worth has already surpassed a hundred billion. Meanwhile, my previous request was to marry you and for Dynasty Entertainment to use its best resources to support me. Compared to that, this amount is just peanuts, isn’t it?"

"Your conditions mean nothing until I agree!"

"I’m sure there’s a way to make you agree."

Anna spoke with such confidence that Conrad couldn’t help but tighten his grip on her: "If you dare play tricks, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

"President Sterling, have you ever been courteous to me? Four years ago, I thought being ruined by my stepmother was bad enough, but you redefined my despair. Not only did you watch as things went down without helping, but you also took advantage and disappeared completely after getting what you wanted. Even when I was pregnant and locked in a mental hospital, begging you for help, you didn’t show mercy."

"Now I’ve come back with Pop. When you see your child, you don’t care or hold her, and your mind is only focused on using money to send us away, afraid we’ll interfere with your perfect marriage with Miss Ford."

Conrad merely furrowed his brows slightly when Anna accused him of neglecting the child, then returned to his usual demeanor, surprisingly not angered by her provocations.

"Given that, you should know you’ll find no extra benefit from me. Four years ago, I refused to help you, and four years later, don’t think you can hold me with just a child."

"Don’t worry, President Sterling. I’m not like other women who think stealing your genes means they can rely on the child to elevate themselves and force a marriage. Letting you meet Pop is because she has the right to know who her father is. I’ve done what a mother should do, whether you acknowledge her or not is all up to your own conscience."

Initially, Conrad indeed thought Anna’s high-profile revelation of her unwed motherhood was a tactic to use the child as a weapon to force a marriage.

But hearing her now, he couldn’t grasp her real intentions.

"I sincerely want to marry you, so Pop can grow up in a complete and healthy family. And I assure you, in playing the role of a wife, I won’t do worse than Miss Ford."

As she spoke, Anna’s eyes shifted, suddenly leaning close to Conrad, teasing him ambiguously by his ear: "That applies to every aspect, including in bed."

However, in the next moment, the car door on Anna’s side was opened by the man who had run out of patience.

Conrad: "Get out!"

"I had originally arranged to meet with Marilyn Ford, but you showed up midway and had me cancel on her. I’ve just returned to Aethelgard and am unfamiliar with the place, how am I supposed to find my way back on my own?"

Anna resolutely refused to get out of the car, determined to cling to him for the day.

"Anna Thornton, your so-called method is to pester a man endlessly? That’s hardly more clever than using a child to force marriage. You’ve made no progress in four years."

"I’ve never claimed to be clever, but if you want to see my progress... then before getting out of the car, I could tear off my clothes and run crying to Marilyn Ford, telling her you were inappropriate with me in the car."

"..."

"I think the surveillance in this parking lot, along with your assistant, counts as full evidence and witness, right? After all, it’s hard to believe that two unrelated people have been in the car for so long without doing more than talking."

Compared to four years ago, Anna certainly has grown. Back then, she went to Conrad’s house, sent herself headfirst into danger, without thinking of leaving any evidence or leverage. Becoming pregnant was an unexpected turn.

Now, she knows to first observe her surroundings, find the cameras upon entering a parking lot, and how to use them to manipulate the man.

Her only misjudgment probably lies in her assessment of Conrad Sterling.

Four years ago, even as Veridia’s richest man, he was arrogant enough to not care about anyone, let alone now when he can single-handedly shake the whole of Aethelgard.

How could a man like this allow himself to be threatened by a woman’s petty tricks, even if it’s just with words?

Therefore, just after Anna proposed the idea of running out of the car crying, Conrad’s masculinity violently flared up suddenly, overwhelming the woman beside him.

Anna instinctively leaned back, almost pushing her upper body out of the car.

But Conrad’s long arm reached out, shutting the car door behind her and locking it, trapping the woman between him and the car door.

"Anna Thornton, you’re the one who refused to leave!" he said, "I’ll grant your wish!"

Sensing the danger in the man’s voice, Anna’s heart trembled slightly, yet she maintained a calm exterior, making sure to keep eye contact with him at close range.

"I told you, you need to take me back..."

Before Anna could finish her sentence, she suddenly widened her eyes, her lips caught by the man’s forceful presence.

"Mmm..."

She reached out intending to push him away, but both her hands were quickly seized, pressed high against the car window.

This scene was eerily similar to the transaction four years ago, where she regretted but was forcibly held by the man.

The disparity in strength between them left her utterly unable to resist Conrad.

Anna Thornton, from four years ago to now, you’ve asked for this!