CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: IS THAT PRESIDENT STERLING?

Conrad Sterling hired the country’s most authoritative doctor at a high salary to explain the surgery to Anna Thornton.

They listed the pros and cons, easing her mind from a professional perspective and relieving her overly tense emotions.

The final decision was, of course, to proceed with the bone marrow transplant, but Anna Thornton felt distressed about subjecting such a small child to chemotherapy.

She discussed with Conrad Sterling that since Pop didn’t get to eat the meat he wanted, today they’d take the child home first for a good meal, pack things, and come back to the hospital tomorrow.

On the way out of the hospital, Conrad Sterling was still carrying Pop.

Anna Thornton felt a bit uneasy about this man, reaching out to support him from behind; from a distance, they appeared like a happy family of three.

Pop was easy to pacify; a few candies made him forget all the discomfort from the examination.

The little one leaned on Conrad Sterling’s shoulder; usually, it was Mommy who carried him, so this view was unfamiliar, being too high. He was not quite used to it, hence his small hands tightly gripping Conrad Sterling’s tie all the way.

President Sterling’s distinguished and well-maintained tie was now crumpled by the little hands tugging at it, but he didn’t mind.

"Hold on, Conrad Sterling. Let’s not go to the parking lot yet. Pop was so brave today, I want to buy her a gift to reward her."

Upon hearing the mention of a gift, the little one’s eyes immediately sparkled, pointing at the balloons hung at a stall outside the hospital.

Anna had noticed earlier; the child was staring unwaveringly at that spot: "Pop, want a balloon? How about Mommy buys you a little rabbit balloon?"

"Okay!"

Pop loved little rabbits the most, rubbing his hands in anticipation.

Seeing the little one excited, Conrad Sterling had nothing to say but to hold the child in place as Anna went to buy, handing his wallet to her in the process.

"Here you go."

"Oh, you’re letting me manage your wallet already?" Anna Thornton teased him deliberately.

"I never let a woman pay."

Anna took the opportunity to open Conrad Sterling’s wallet, noticing various black cards, platinum cards, diamond cards, infinity cards...

There was also a considerable amount of cash, all in whole bills.

"You say you don’t let a woman pay, so if I wanted to buy myself a small diamond from the jewelry store across the street as a gift, could I use this money?" Anna asked him.

"Dream on!" Conrad Sterling snorted lightly.

However, recalling how Anna Thornton almost broke down emotionally in the hospital earlier, the man reluctantly added, "Anything but a diamond ring."

To him, it was all just small change; diamonds and balloons were no different.

But a diamond ring held special significance, and Conrad Sterling certainly wouldn’t give her one.

Anna Thornton pursed her lips, took the wallet, went out, and casually hung her bag on Conrad Sterling’s arm.

She had just left when a high-end nanny van stopped at the hospital entrance.

Sharon Langley saw Conrad Sterling from the car but didn’t immediately open the door, "Marilyn, take a look. Isn’t that President Sterling?"

Upon hearing this, Marilyn Ford looked out the car window from the back seat, her gaze landing on Pop in Conrad Sterling’s arms, her expression immediately turned sour.

"Who’s that little girl in President Sterling’s arms? Is she some relative’s child? Never heard of it?"

Sharon Langley was still unaware of Conrad Sterling having an illegitimate daughter.

Though not long ago, journalists had snapped photos here at the hospital entrance.

But then Conrad Sterling had taken measures to ensure they kept silent, and to date, none of the news or Pop’s photos had leaked.

Marilyn Ford was also unwilling to mention it, she only said, "That’s Anna Thornton’s child."

"What? So that’s actually Anna Thornton’s... she really has a three-year-old daughter!" Sharon Langley was utterly incredulous, having been through the entertainment industry for so long, she’d never met a female star like Anna Thornton who’d self-destruct her prospects.

"But that doesn’t make sense. Why would President Sterling be holding Anna Thornton’s child?"

Sharon Langley keenly noticed the purse clearly belonging to a woman on Conrad Sterling’s arm, immediately sounding alarm bells in her head, "Is the woman nearby too? Shameless, you’ve only been out of touch with President Sterling for a few days, and she’s already thrown herself over, bringing along a little third wheel?"

"Outrageous! Marilyn, we should go over immediately to ask President Sterling what he’s thinking? Why is he becoming increasingly ambiguous with that woman?"

Sharon Langley was more agitated than the person concerned, indignant on Marilyn Ford’s behalf, but the latter held her back, "Don’t go. I don’t want to see them right now."

"Marilyn, I wouldn’t normally say this, but seeing you like this, absent-minded recently, I have to speak up. Although I don’t know the exact reason for your distance with President Sterling, I know you must have your grievances. But now is not the time to be stubborn. Look at Anna Thornton... who is she? So young and already has a child of unknown origin, yet she shamelessly exposes it herself. She’s only been back a few days, trying to climb the ranks without any baseline to promote herself, and President Sterling really let her and her manager join Dynasty Entertainment. Do you know what this means?"

"Honestly, I don’t doubt President Sterling’s sincerity towards you. But having seen a variety of people in the industry, I have to admit that Anna Thornton indeed has her strategies. With her offensive, few men can resist."

"President Sterling may not be an ordinary man, but with their aggressive and determined approach over there, if you continue to let things cool... I’m afraid you’ll regret it in the future."

Sharon Langley’s words truly came from the heart.

Marilyn Ford has a prestigious family background, always flattered and praised wherever she goes, and hearing too many compliments can easily make one lose themselves and lack accurate self-perception.

The Langley family was considered a relative of the Ford Family, which is why she would speak honestly to her.

If they continued to underestimate the threat from Anna Thornton, Conrad Sterling, such a quality man-god, might truly be taken away by that woman.

Actually, Marilyn Ford’s heart wasn’t calm either.

Even though it was her suggestion to calm down for a few days and not let the man come to her.

But during this time, Conrad Sterling had only instructed Ethan to send a bouquet to the Ford Residence, with no other actions.

In their ambiguous relationship, Conrad Sterling had always been the active party.

Marilyn Ford managed to keep things under control, never acting up without reason.

But this time, her little outburst made her feel she lost the reins, uncertain about how much love Conrad truly had for her.

"Sharon, what do you think I should do?" Marilyn Ford asked.

"Go down and ask him, talk everything over with President Sterling. Marilyn, remember, any misunderstandings between you and President Sterling are your own business, so you can temporarily hold on and resolve them privately. Do not let Anna Thornton and her little third wheel benefit from it."