CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: PRESIDENT STERLING TAKES CARE OF THE CHILD

Conrad Sterling thought Anna Thornton was joking, but the expression on that little woman’s face told him she was serious about asking him to take care of their child.

"Look, it’s my first day reporting to the agency. I can’t possibly take the child with me, can I? What if the reporters take pictures? Even if the reporters don’t, Marilyn Ford is at Dynasty Entertainment. Are you, President Sterling, genuinely wanting me to take Pop there to bother Miss Ford?"

No matter how legitimate the little woman’s reasoning, Conrad Sterling found her words always somewhat off-putting.

"You have to go to the company, but does that mean I’m very free?"

"Let’s not debate about free time or not; at least the company is yours, right? Does it matter where you work? You became the boss so you could work if you want to work, take a vacation if you want a vacation?" Anna Thornton asked him.

"In the ten years I’ve been in business, I’ve never taken a day off."

"Oh my God, what’s the point?" Anna Thornton really couldn’t believe it; some people haven’t enjoyed a vacation in ten years. "President Sterling, do you need me to award you a model worker prize?"

"Do you think I am like you, with time to casually waste?"

"Your daughter needs surgery; isn’t she more important than your work?"

This back-and-forth of rhetorical questions finally left Conrad Sterling at a loss for words.

The man stood coldly for a moment and suddenly glanced around; all the Sterling Family servants were busy with their own tasks, pretending they had headphones on, having heard nothing.

Despite being internally shocked that a woman dared to speak to President Sterling so loudly and assertively.

And the discussion about who should take care of the child sounded more like a married couple’s quarrel.

"Miss Thornton, actually you don’t need to worry. If the little miss is left at home, Granny Chandler and the servants will take turns taking care of her. She’ll be watched closely 24 hours a day; we guarantee she won’t get hurt or even lose a single hair," Granny Chandler spoke up at this moment. "And there are surveillance cameras in the living room and yard. We could provide you with live video so you can check on her at any time."

Having worked in this field for over twenty years, Granny Chandler was skilled at reading emotions and expressions of her employers. Although internally amazed by Miss Thornton’s boldness, considering President Sterling’s temperament, they were concerned continued standoff wouldn’t end well, so it was necessary for the servants to offer both sides a way to ease tensions.

Even so, with the Sterling Family full of people and eyes, Anna Thornton was still uneasy about leaving Pop alone.

Pop was so little, losing a hair might not be noticeable, and her poor Chinese would prevent her from speaking up if wronged.

The things to do in the country were just beginning, so Anna Thornton needed to be extremely cautious.

She only trusted two people now—her longtime friend Mary and Conrad Sterling.

After all, Conrad Sterling was Pop’s biological father and had now agreed to donate the bone marrow.

Anna Thornton could tell that, despite his indifference to her, the man wouldn’t mistreat his child.

So, she needed him to watch over her to feel at ease.

Seeing Anna Thornton reluctant to nod in agreement, Granny Chandler was also quite embarrassed.

The atmosphere was expected to remain tense, but surprisingly, Conrad Sterling ended up compromising.

The man called Ethan, requesting the day’s meetings be canceled and any necessary documents sent to the Sterling Residence.

This wasn’t just a personal victory for Anna Thornton. It symbolized a major advancement for modern women resisting the country’s type of absent father parenting.

Anna Thornton had long planned for this man to experience the challenges of raising a child, so before leaving, she eagerly packed up bags of Pop’s everyday items and placed them before Conrad Sterling.

"Conrad Sterling, let me tell you, inside here are Pop’s usual pacifiers, favorite candies, and some toys she particularly loves. I’m leaving them all with you. You just need to find what she needs to soothe your child. I’m handing over Pop to you. If you make her cry, I’ll come back to settle accounts with you."

After warning the man, Anna Thornton crouched down to comfort the little one: "Sweetie, mommy’s going out now, okay?"

Pop was used to mommy having work and not always able to accompany her, so despite a bit of unease, she wisely nodded, her little chin set solemnly.

And she proactively reached out her little arms for a hug, saying softly, "Mommy, give it your all."

"Alright, mommy will give it her all."

Pop gave mommy a kiss, and even Aunt Mary who followed got some kisses too, a scene of warmth and healing brightening the entire morning.

However, after Anna Thornton and Mary left, the atmosphere at the Sterling Residence abruptly chilled.

Not because Conrad Sterling activated a freezing ability, but because his personality had been shaped for so long, the coldness now a natural habit.

In the living room, it was just Conrad Sterling and Pop. The big guy and little beard could only stare at each other, like they were back at their first meeting.

When Conrad Sterling first saw Pop, he was astonished by the little one who didn’t even reach his knee height.

Despite more than once claiming he would marry Marilyn Ford, he hadn’t planned to have kids.

To him, children were an unfamiliar and troublesome kind of being. Dealing with thoughtful adults was exhausting enough, let alone these young-minded kids.

Always with wide curious eyes, not yet developed logical thought, it’s impossible to communicate with them.

But since he took up this task, Conrad Sterling tried picking out a toy car from the ones Anna Thornton left behind, handing it to Pop: "Want to play?"

But Baby Pop turned and ran as soon as he stretched out his hand.

Conrad Sterling: "..."

Thus, he found children troublesome.

Which adult would dare put President Sterling of the Sterling Group in such an awkward position?

Luckily, the servants were busy with their tasks, afraid to sneak glances this way, saving Conrad Sterling from feeling too embarrassed.

Little Pop seemed intent on dodging him, running away and crouching behind the sofa armrest, peeking out her small head to spy.

When Conrad Sterling looked over, the little head immediately ducked down.

Soon after, it quietly emerged again to observe.

Seeing her afraid of him, Conrad Sterling stopped looking her way, focused on handling emails on his laptop, leaving space for her to play.

Pop stayed crouched for a while, then sneaked out from behind the sofa armrest, cautiously inching close to the working man.

By the time Conrad Sterling processed two emails, he noticed a pink skirt-clad ’little dumpling’ at his feet, causing a slight curve to his lips.

Pop pulled out her pretend-play toys from her pocket, sitting on the rug to play. Coiled together like this, she seemed even smaller, like a kitten, back facing Conrad Sterling. Her round head inviting a hand to reach out and rub.