CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: HAVE YOU FOUND HER?

In the end, the one call that pulled all the Sterling Group employees out of their miserable slump was a phone call.

In the conference room, except for Conrad Sterling, everyone else displayed a look of weakness akin to exhaustion. Each had faces ashen, feeling chilled in limb despite the beads of cold sweat on their foreheads, as they exchanged glances.

It was as if they were trapped in a silent game of passing responsibility.

The project manager shook his head at the director: "I really... have nothing left."

Director: "Neither do I."

"Please, heaven, grant us a plan that will satisfy President Sterling!"

"I vow to be a vegetarian for a week!"

...

Just then, Conrad Sterling’s phone rang.

In a rare occurrence, he had not turned off his phone during the meeting, presumably waiting for some important call, turning this phone call into everyone’s hope.

Every pair of eyes fixed on Conrad Sterling’s phone, praying it was Miss Ford calling.

Although, based on past experience, President Sterling rarely answered Marilyn Ford’s calls during meetings.

But perhaps, this time was special?

Conrad glanced at the phone screen, and the caller ID seemed to surprise him a bit, but he answered without hesitation.

"Conrad."

The voice on the other end wasn’t Marilyn Ford’s but a slightly frail female voice: "You haven’t visited me in a long time, are you free today?"

"Yes."

"Then come over, shall we have a meal together?"

"Alright."

Conrad put down the phone, his stern expression softening a little.

Then the man stood up and said, "That’s all for today, meeting dismissed."

"President Sterling..." The project manager summoned the courage to ask him, "What about the plan?"

"Go with the first one!"

The first one?

Just the first one?!!!

All the contingency plans they had racked their brains to come up with were all for naught?

The project manager almost wanted to cough up blood, yet at the same time, he felt a sense of relief and even bowed to President Sterling’s retreating figure, thanking him for sparing them.

The secretaries had just received the dinner orders and were lucky to escape as the meeting ended abruptly.

Ethan just returned from outside, unaware of the turmoil that swept through the company during the day. He happened to run into President Sterling as he left the elevator and quickly asked, "President Sterling, are you going out? Do you need me to drive?"

Conrad paused to look at him, and with just one glance, he allowed Ethan to feel what everyone else had experienced earlier.

"Have you found the person?" Conrad asked him.

"No... I asked the landlord, but he really doesn’t know where Miss Thornton went after moving out. She and that agent have no other relatives or friends in Aethelgard."

So that means there’s no trace, completely missing.

Ethan himself lacked confidence in giving such an answer after a day of investigating, his voice growing quieter as he nervously awaited a scolding from President Sterling.

However, Conrad had no time to scold him, only leaving an unhappy command to ’keep looking’ as he entered the elevator.

"Yes, President Sterling."

Ethan paused for a moment, and then a group of women preparing to leave work surrounded him, seizing the chance to gossip while waiting for the next elevator. "Ethan, is President Sterling going to see Miss Ford?"

"Without even taking a driver, it seems there’s a chance for a passionate night."

"Please let them reconcile quickly. Although it’s rare for Miss Ford to have a tiff with President Sterling, we really can’t handle another fuss."

Listening to the female colleagues complain, Ethan was belatedly thankful for his busy day outside, for not returning to the company earlier.

Though he internally felt that President Sterling’s foul mood wasn’t greatly related to Miss Ford.

It was more likely because Miss Thornton left with her child without notice.

But he didn’t interrupt the others’ wild guesses.

After all, as an assistant bound by a confidentiality agreement, he dared not ask or know anything!

...

Conrad’s car stopped at a private clinic, which was actually an industry under Sterling Group, mainly providing high-end retirement services.

The clinic was located near Aethelgard’s suburbs to cater to the preference of most elderly patients for tranquility, surrounded by garden-like expansive greenery with fresh air and birdsong and floral scents.

This serene environment seemed mismatched with Conrad Sterling and his decisively ruthless business persona in recent years.

But as soon as President Sterling’s car drove in, someone welcomed him, the director stepped forward to open the car door for him, and staff went to park the car for him.

The proficiency of the series of actions suggested that Conrad often came here.

"President Sterling, at this time the caregivers are pushing clients around the front courtyard, please come this way."

The director walked slightly hunched, leading the way for Conrad Sterling.

Before Conrad Sterling could ask, the director provided the information he wanted to hear: "The client you care about is in her room."

"How is her health?" Conrad asked.

"Recovering, but you know her condition is really..."

"Enough!"

Conrad interrupted the director, refusing to hear any bad news: "Funds and physicians can be arranged, I don’t care what method you use, you must cure her."

"Yes, yes, as you instructed, we will do our utmost to care for her. Incidentally, the patient is in a good mood today, with someone visiting her."

Hearing there was a visitor, Conrad’s first reaction was to furrow his brow.

This clinic adopts a client confidentiality policy, generally allowing only registered direct relatives to visit.

Other than him, who else could it be?

Entering the villa-style clinic building, he happened upon a familiar figure giving him the answer.

"Hey, Young Master Sterling!" Henry Willow called out to him from afar.

The director also explained at this moment: "We made sure to follow President Sterling’s instructions and not let outsiders know you have a patient here. But today, the person visiting was brought by Young Master Willow."

"Director, what bad words are you saying about me?" Henry Willow approached, seeing Conrad’s unpleasant expression, yet still casually threw an arm over his shoulder, "What’s the matter? I came to see Aunt Murray, are you not welcoming me?"

"Who allowed you to bring people here at will?"

"How could it be at will? At least go up and see who I came with before saying that."

Outside the room, Conrad first heard the sound of a child’s sweet, joyful laughter from inside.

Among it was the sound of soft, feeble coughing.

Conrad pushed the door open, and in the neat and tidy room stood a single bed.

Because there was little furnishing, the room appeared particularly spacious.

On the hospital bed sat a slender middle-aged woman.

And beside her were Anna Thornton and Pop, who had disappeared all day without a word by discharging from the hospital and left Ethan searching with no leads.