CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: NO ONE CAN ESCAPE THE LAW OF SCENTED TEMPTATION

Originally, Conrad Sterling thought he didn’t like children.

But the sweet, subtle children’s scent from Pop softened a corner of his unknowingly hidden heart.

He had been too busy lately, with too much happening, and it seemed only now did Conrad truly calm down to experience the reality of it all.

This is his daughter!

A daughter that Anna Thornton bore for him!

Pop came unexpectedly, so unexpectedly that Conrad didn’t even consider how to accept her.

But now Conrad thinks, perhaps after the surgery, they don’t necessarily have to leave Aethelgard.

He owns properties in many cities across the country, and they could choose one place for the mother and daughter to live.

Of course, the main reason is for Pop’s sake.

After all, she’s the Sterling Family’s flesh and blood, and Aunt Murray cares a lot... and Conrad Sterling cannot just stand by and watch his daughter drift without support.

As for Anna Thornton... that little woman’s energetic nature is quite a headache; she probably struggles to take care of herself, let alone a child.

The reason Conrad changed his mind and signed her on was to prevent her from causing trouble outside.

Hmm, keeping her in the country also gives me peace of mind.

After Ethan finished organizing the company documents for Conrad Sterling, he delivered them to the Sterling Residence.

When he saw Pop there, he tried his best not to show his amazement.

Even with his limited and not-so-deep interactions with Anna Thornton, he could see that Miss Thornton isn’t simple. Yesterday she suddenly disappeared from the hospital, and today she’s living at the Sterling Residence with a child.

He heard she finally successfully signed with Dynasty Entertainment under the Sterling Group.

Pop looked up and recognized Ethan, giving him a sweet smile, raising her chubby little arms invitingly, and offering him her tiny bowl.

"Is this for me?" Ethan squatted down to interact with Pop.

Seeing the little girl nod, he immediately took the mini tableware, which was about the size of his glasses lens, and pretended to eat the air inside with delight.

Then, with shining eyes, he praised, "Wow, this is so delicious. What kind of dish is it?"

"Meat..."

"Braised pork? This is the most delicious and authentic braised pork I’ve ever had. But I’m not full yet. Can the little God of Cuisine make me another bowl?" Ethan grabbed a handful of air from his pocket, pretended to pay, and handed it to Pop.

"Okay!"

Pop accepted the ’money,’ very pleased with Ethan’s praise, and immediately rolled up her sleeves, holding a plastic spatula smaller than her pinky, and began miming frying meat on the carpet.

Ethan also got down on the ground, accompanying her performance: "Little God of Cuisine, do you need me to add more firewood to make the fire bigger?"

Pop shook her head, drew a large and a small circle on the carpet with her finger, seriously telling him she’s using natural gas, just twist the small circle, and there would be fire, no need for firewood.

Ethan was amused by the little girl’s imagination, but just as he grinned, he noticed President Sterling looking down at him coldly from above, and he quickly scrambled up from the floor, tidying his suit.

"Sorry, President Sterling, I lost my composure." Ethan explained, "The little miss is just too cute."

"You seem quite idle? The company has nothing for you to do today?"

"No... not at all. Is there something you need me to handle?"

Ethan, as Conrad Sterling’s assistant, should be working here organizing documents since President Sterling was working from home today.

So when he saw Pop here, Ethan was actually very happy.

He thought this work environment was great, providing many opportunities to play with the little miss; cute kids are really the stress-relief tool every urban male elite longs for.

Who wouldn’t want such a cute and clever little girl?

Similarly, who would want their cute, clever daughter playing with others while her dad is here?

Especially when the other party is male!

It seemed President Sterling didn’t intend to let Ethan stay and bluntly ordered him out: "There’s nothing for you to do here, go back to the company."

Ethan doubted whether he had done something to offend President Sterling.

Lately, it felt like President Sterling was doing everything possible to send him away!

But as a mere assistant, how could he object? He just dared to take a reluctant peek at Pop.

Just in time, the little girl finished making the braised pork and handed it to him happily.

Ethan: "President Sterling, can I finish this bowl of braised pork before I go?"

Conrad Sterling: "..."

After Ethan left, there was no one to play pretend tea party with Pop.

The little girl swung her little spatula around, with several sets of mini tableware laid out in front of her, as if filled with delicious braised pork, but sadly no one was there to appreciate it and call her the little God of Cuisine.

Without customers, the little girl pursed her lips, looking a bit dejected.

Conrad Sterling couldn’t be as dramatic as Ethan, but seeing Pop’s longing and lonely little eyes, his heart softened.

President Sterling, after much mental preparation, seized the opportunity to ask the little one softly when no one was around: "Can I have a bowl of braised pork?"

However, Pop refused him, waving her hand: "Sold out, none left."

Conrad Sterling: "..."

Looking at her with not a single ’customer’ there, how could it be sold out?

Fine, President Sterling faced his second embarrassing moment of the day!

What else could be done? He brought it upon himself, after all.

At first, little Pop clearly wanted to be close to him, but when she asked for a hug, Conrad Sterling ignored it.

So now, she wouldn’t play with him.

Meanwhile—

Anna Thornton signed with Dynasty Entertainment and hastily announced it yesterday, so early this morning, a bunch of reporters were camped outside the entertainment company’s door to explore the truth of this news,

As soon as Anna Thornton got off the car, countless cameras were aimed right at her face; fortunately, her makeup was flawless.

"Miss Thornton, have you officially signed with Dynasty Entertainment?" a reporter asked.

"Of course, why else would I be here today?" Anna Thornton retorted.

"But previously, Dynasty Entertainment stated they didn’t know you and wouldn’t sign you. What do you think mainly caused them to change their mind this time?"

This reporter’s question seemed to have a hint of stirring the pot, and Anna Thornton even saw malice in the reporter’s eyes.

They just wanted to say she clung to Conrad Sterling relentlessly, resorting to any means to achieve her goal?

These reporters probably even thought of news headlines, wanting to link previous rumors through Anna Thornton, digging a pit for her to jump into.

But fortunately, it’s not her first time dealing with this situation; she responded with a confident and poised smile: "You’d have to ask them for the reason. If you ask me, I can only say, no one can escape the truth of the fragrance. Maybe when they released that tweet, they really hadn’t heard of me, but after knowing me, they thought my potential was worth their reconsideration, so they signed me."

"Now, Dynasty Entertainment only has you and Marilyn Ford as the female artists; what would you like to say to Marilyn Ford?"

"Let’s work hard together."

...

```