CHAPTER 380: CHAPTER 380: ANNA, I WANT TO THANK YOU!

"President Sterling, I know you don’t like beating around the bush, so I’ll be direct. I’m sure Ethan Hawthorne has explained the current situation of the Hawthorne family to you clearly. I don’t know why you chose him, but I think you’ve seen his capabilities during this period; Ethan is not fit for a major role."

"Moreover, he’s just a descendant of my grandfather’s distant cousin, while I am the granddaughter of the Hawthorne family’s main line. In terms of capability and relation, I am far superior to Ethan Hawthorne and more suited to the position of heir. If you’re willing to support someone else, I promise you won’t get less than what Ethan promised you, possibly even more."

Rainie Hawthorne was rare in her confidence in front of Conrad Sterling, emphasizing her own abilities.

She truly has the talent and the skills.

Unfortunately, her talents and skills are in a daughter destined to be overlooked by the old man, never receiving his attention no matter how hard she worked or how capable she was.

So later, Rainie learned to bide her time and wait for opportunities.

If it wasn’t for the incident in the third house, Rainie wouldn’t have the chance to shine so quickly.

Because opportunities are rare, she grasps them tighter than anyone else.

During this time, Rainie pressed Ethan Hawthorne step by step in the company, engaging in intellectual battles before the old man, and she got the hang of it.

In truth, Ethan Hawthorne is just an incompetent fool, not much better than her useless third uncle.

The person she’s always admired lies behind Ethan Hawthorne, namely Conrad Sterling.

Ethan Hawthorne isn’t qualified to be Rainie’s opponent; as for Conrad Sterling... Rainie doesn’t want to be on opposite sides with him.

After all, since Rainie started studying business management in college, she has always regarded Conrad Sterling, this legend in the business world, as an idol and a target.

Admiring him for creating his vast business empire in Aethelgard despite pressure from the four big families.

Rainie was secretly labeled as cold by Ethan, but she isn’t truly cold.

She just has high standards, as her talents surpass most men, leaving her unimpressed with ordinary ones.

And Conrad Sterling... indeed, listening carefully, one might detect subtle implications of hidden flirtation in her promise to offer more than Ethan Hawthorne.

Unfortunately, President Sterling is like an emotionless wooden block.

He ignores Rainie’s admiration and isn’t interested in her proposal for cooperation either.

But as Conrad Sterling was about to walk away, Rainie eagerly rushed forward: "President Sterling, wait! Don’t you believe what I’m saying?"

"How about this, I’ll prove with action that I am far more outstanding than Ethan Hawthorne. We can exchange contact information, and anytime you see my performance and decide to change your mind, you can."

When Anna Thornton and Finn Grant walked to the underground parking lot, they happened to witness Conrad Sterling and Rainie exchanging contact information.

At that moment, President Sterling felt a slight twinge of guilt.

Yes, a very small bit; he almost instantly distanced himself from Rainie.

It shows that he’s not entirely an emotionless block!

Rainie has some feelings for him, and Conrad Sterling is aware of it.

But he simply chooses not to care, pretending not to know and has no interest in knowing.

Yet when facing the actual person he cares about, Conrad Sterling is worried Anna Thornton might overthink.

So after dispatching Rainie, Conrad Sterling explained further: "She’s quite hard to deal with."

Listen to that, how much like a scoundrel’s script.

Just like phrases used by unfaithful men to shift blame after being caught—It’s not that I want to cheat, she just insists on clinging to me.

For Conrad Sterling to make such a mistake, it indicates that beneath the surface, he is genuinely a bit panicked.

Originally today, he was aware that Finn Grant intentionally brought Anna Thornton to Ethan Hawthorne’s party for a certain reason.

Someone wants to steal his cherished partner. Finn Grant acts righteously and has nothing to fear from Conrad.

But not being afraid doesn’t mean he’s not nervous!

Conrad Sterling fears Anna Thornton would misunderstand his connection with Rainie, but when he sees Anna’s indifferent expression, his panic quickly turns into frustration.

Previously, Anna Thornton was displeased with Conrad Sterling, and she treated him as if he didn’t exist.

However, today Anna Thornton was in good spirits, after all, she won money with President Sterling’s assistance.

So she didn’t ignore him but rewarded Conrad Sterling with a comment: "Quite the charm!"

Conrad Sterling: "..."

Immediately Anna Thornton turned her head and went towards her sports car.

Finn Grant also got into her car.

At that moment, Conrad Sterling felt a surge of anger and almost wanted to crash directly into them.

But this time it wasn’t Finn Grant’s car; it was Anna Thornton’s.

Conrad Sterling restrained himself!

That day, when Anna Thornton returned to Sterling Residence, she found an additional person at home.

Pop took Mommy’s hand, leading her to the living room to see the woman sitting on the sofa, lovingly watching Lola do her homework.

"Aunt Murray?" Anna Thornton was somewhat surprised.

Jade Sterling still had her mask on, her body and face covered tightly.

Her skin was too damaged to scare the children.

Eeven the servants like Granny Chandler couldn’t help but be startled at first sight of Jade Sterling.

No one had heard before that President Sterling had relatives.

That’s because Jade Sterling had been living in a care facility, and even when Conrad bought such a large estate in Aethelgard, she never planned to move over.

Recently, though, she took the initiative to come by for a visit.

"Cough, Anna, you’re back?... You’ve been busy, right?... I watch your... TV dramas... cough!"

Jade Sterling’s health was very poor.

Even saying just a few words, she had to break them into segments.

After speaking, she had a bout of coughing so intense that her forehead turned red.

Anna hurried to pour her a glass of water, but Granny Chandler had already acted first.

Jade took the cup but didn’t dare remove her mask to drink.

She ultimately regulated herself by breathing deeply.

"Aunt Murray, are you feeling better now?" Anna gently patted her back.

Although Jade Sterling is Conrad Sterling’s relative, Anna Thornton believes that grievances shouldn’t affect family members.

Plus, considering Aunt Murray’s health condition, Anna felt distressed just watching her.

It’s as if you can see someone’s life hanging by a thread, fearing she might not catch her breath, and you dare not speak loudly.

"Anna, please sit... I’m fine!"

"Cough, I just wanted to see you, Conrad... and the children!"

On hearing this, Anna sat beside her.

The gaze of Jade Sterling swept over the two little ones by the side of the sofa, Pop and Lola, overflowing with infinite affection: "So wonderful! Anna, I must thank you!... You’ve given Conrad a complete family."

Anna Thornton didn’t need this gratitude.

She was after the inheritance package President Sterling left for her and the two kids.

But if she said that, she feared it would agitate Aunt Murray to the point of fainting.