CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: ARE YOU AFRAID OF FALLING FOR ME?

Facing Henry Willow’s questioning, Conrad Sterling remained expressionless: "You know my rules."

Conrad Sterling’s rule is that he never breaks the rules and never overturns any regulations he personally set for any subsidiary.

The translated meaning of this is that the fine will be imposed as necessary, and there’s no point in looking at him.

"Young Master Sterling, if your sanatorium is going to be so strict, didn’t little Pop just pick flowers too? You said you treat everyone equally, are you really going to fine a three-year-old?"

"She doesn’t need to be fined."

"Why?" Henry Willow was unconvinced.

"Young Master Willow, according to our regulations, illegal entrants not listed in the sanatorium’s family visiting records who cause damage to the park’s interior must be fined the corresponding amount, otherwise, they will be handed over to the police." The security guard explained to him.

The rule is detailed and reasonable. The Sterling Group’s sanatoriums cater to high-end clientele. Some appreciate the comprehensive services and beautiful environment, while others simply use it because the next generation doesn’t have time to care for their elders, who also don’t want to burden their descendants. Regardless of the reason, this elite clientele is never stingy with spending on maintaining face.

The annual convalescence fees for each client here are in the millions, and the maintenance donations from descendants are considerable. How could the company afford to offend them over a few flowers?

"So, I’m the illegal entrant?" Henry Willow pointed at himself, "And only I am the illegal entrant?"

The security guard, seeing his disbelief, specially pulled out the records, showing that Pop and Anna Thornton’s names have been included in Jade Sterling’s family list.

Standing a step away, Anna caught a glimpse, somewhat doubting if she saw it wrong.

But she didn’t see it wrong, because Henry Willow saw it too!

Henry Willow looked incredulously at Conrad Sterling, wanting to ask if Young Master Sterling had any conscience? I’d considered you a brother, how did you end up excluding only me?

However, Conrad Sterling did not respond to him, only focusing on Anna Thornton’s equally puzzled gaze and instinctively explained, "This was Aunt Murray’s idea. She hopes you’ll visit with the child more often."

"Then what about you, President Sterling, what do you mean?"

"If you dare speak nonsense in front of Aunt Murray, I will still drive you away."

Anna Thornton fearlessly said, "What counts as speaking nonsense? I think my conversation with Aunt Murray today was all based on facts. If according to your standards, it seems like President Sterling, you will have to guard against me, and can only come with me every time."

Conrad Sterling: "..."

"Wait a minute! Can you guys stop flirting and quarrelling?" Henry Willow couldn’t help but interrupt, "First care about the inexplicably twelve thousand I owe."

Conrad Sterling gave him a sideways glance and tossed back: "Pay the money, and you can leave."

The words seemed easy, but who carries twelve thousand in cash with them? Isn’t it heavy?

"Young Master Sterling, when will your sanatorium restore the electricity?" Henry Willow asked.

Conrad Sterling: "I’m not the one who does electrical repairs."

Exactly! You’re not an electrician! But you’re the boss! The entire sanatorium is yours, isn’t it? You say when there’s a power cut and when the power is restored, right?

Henry Willow shouted in his heart but dared not say it out loud.

Because clearly, today was when Young Master Sterling was settling scores with him. Who asked him to succumb to curiosity, tempted by Anna Thornton, and reveal his brother’s weakness?

Okay, he’ll accept it. Twelve thousand for his loose lips is a fair price. A lesson learned, they can still be brothers in the future!

Conrad Sterling’s car was brought from the parking lot by the staff. The man got into the driver’s seat, rolled down the passenger window, and said to Anna Thornton, who was still standing holding the child, "Get in the car!"

Anna Thornton raised her eyebrow slightly; her goal today was accomplished.

Suddenly, she felt a bit sympathetic for Henry Willow.

"Miss Thornton, the flowers in your hand are evidence of the illegal damage to the park’s ecology and cannot be taken away," the security guard reminded Anna Thornton.

"Oh."

Anna Thornton returned the roses to them and turned to Henry Willow, "Anyway, thanks for bringing me here today.

"Don’t just say thank you, do you have anything else to express?" Henry Willow hinted, thinking he’d offended a brother and spent money, might as well get some comfort from a beauty.

Anna Thornton nodded to show she understood his meaning, then pulled out two hundred dollars from her bag and shoved it into Henry Willow’s hand.

"This money was originally intended for a cab back, but now I don’t need it. I’ll just support you a bit, a small token."

Henry Willow: "..."

Within less than a minute of their conversation, Conrad Sterling’s car became impatient and honked from behind.

Anna Thornton really feared President Sterling might suddenly regret his change of mind and leave them there. So she quickly carried Pop into the car, not having time to worry about Henry Willow anymore.

Once in the car, Anna Thornton took a look around the front and back seats: "Your car doesn’t have a child seat, huh?"

Conrad Sterling didn’t previously have children around, so how could his business car have a child seat?

However, this time the man did not impatiently dismiss her question, instead, he said inexplicably: "Henry Willow’s sports car is even less likely to have a child seat."

When he mentioned Henry Willow, Anna Thornton couldn’t help but let out a snicker.

"Why are you laughing?" Conrad Sterling asked her.

"President Sterling, you said before that my skills in sowing discord are too low, but haven’t I still seen you brothers turned against each other?"

"It’s not what you think, it’s just business."

"Scamming so obviously and you still have the nerve to say it’s just business?"

"Any business action, essentially involves a scam. Damaging the park’s plants and fines are a cause-and-effect relationship. Everything I do is for a reason, and my people just follow the process."

"That makes sense too. But what you said earlier isn’t entirely correct." Anna Thornton pointed out, "You said everything you do has a reason, but as far as I can tell, President Sterling, your strong animosity towards me when I first returned was absolutely baseless."

Conrad Sterling: "You think you’re not loathsome enough?"

"Then tell me, what do you hate about me?" Anna Thornton asked him.

"My biggest flaw is probably being too pretty. It easily attracts men and pressures women. If President Sterling detests beautiful women, I greatly admire your distinctive vision. Though Miss Ford isn’t as pretty as me, she certainly isn’t my antonym, and yet you hate me and pursue her simultaneously, isn’t that a slap in your own face?"

"Or is it that you don’t actually dislike me as much as you say? You can’t even provide a reason, so maybe you detest me just for the sake of it. Conrad Sterling, could it be you’re afraid of falling for me?"

Conrad Sterling scowled: "I hate your inexplicable confidence."