CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: YOU ONLY NEED TO GUARD YOUR OWN HEART

"Conrad Sterling, you stinky man!"

"I only wanted to say a word to you, did you have to be so fierce?"

"Why can’t you be tough in front of Marilyn Ford? You only know how to lose your temper with me, bullying the weak, huh? ... Fine, I won’t give your wallet back. I want to see how you pay after you finish your coffee!"

On the drive back, Anna Thornton was cursing that stinky man all the way, at times wanting to throw the leather men’s wallet out the car window.

But considering she couldn’t afford to compensate for it, and that Conrad Sterling could give her the same treatment as the wallet, she finally held back with a thread of reason.

Pop sat in the child’s seat next to her, scratching his head and blinking his big, innocent eyes curiously.

"Pop, today that big pig’s knuckle just ditched us when he saw another woman. Let’s not talk to him anymore, shall we?"

"Okay!"

At the café—

After Conrad Sterling drove Anna Thornton away, Marilyn Ford finally spoke up: "Conrad, you promised me before that I would be the only female artist at Dynasty Entertainment. But then suddenly you allowed Anna Thornton and her manager to join the company. Are you trying to see if I would get jealous?"

It’s because Marilyn Ford is quite skillful.

Her words first reminded Conrad Sterling of the promise he made to her but didn’t fulfill, planting a seed of guilt in the man’s heart.

But soon after, she gave him an excuse, whether or not Conrad Sterling indeed let Anna Thornton into the company to provoke Marilyn Ford, the man wouldn’t deny it at this moment, and Marilyn Ford had found herself an out.

"I admit, I wasn’t in a good mood the day she joined the company. In the days we weren’t in touch, I didn’t really calm down but got more and more confused. Conrad, blaming you for the mistakes you made before I knew you, am I being unreasonable?"

"Even I think that after being with you for so long, I’ve become unlike myself. Three years ago, when I chose to enter the entertainment industry, my family disagreed, but only you supported me unconditionally, helping me silently from behind. That made me the Marilyn Ford I am today. I think... I can’t do without you more and more!"

Just now, Marilyn Ford saw with her own eyes how poorly Conrad Sterling treated Anna Thornton.

But after that woman left, she also noticed a bite mark on Conrad Sterling’s side neck.

Although it was covered by his shirt collar, she could still see that those neat yet small teeth marks were probably from a woman.

Since they met, Marilyn Ford had never seen Conrad Sterling injured?

How could he be bitten so casually? And in such an intimate area?

Marilyn Ford believed Conrad Sterling didn’t like Anna Thornton, even showing undisguised disgust for her.

Yet, at the same time, he signed that woman into the Sterling Group’s entertainment company.

From Anna Thornton’s words earlier, they might even be living together...

Marilyn Ford didn’t want to ask why because she was smarter than most women. Since she decided to reconcile with Conrad Sterling today, she wouldn’t actively create conflict or disharmony.

Ethan’s previous judgment about her was correct; Marilyn Ford was born into a noble family and now in the entertainment industry. The lavish, decadent underbelly of high society, she had seen or heard much about.

As long as the relationship wasn’t admitted by Conrad Sterling, given Marilyn Ford’s usual understanding and grace, she could turn a blind eye.

Not asking him, pretending he’s just having a fling.

However, having suffered from the cold war this time, she wouldn’t lower her guard again, allowing anyone to take advantage.

...

That day, after Conrad Sterling had coffee with Marilyn Ford, he returned to the Sterling Residence by dusk.

Upon arriving home, President Sterling glanced around first, noticing the Sterling Family servants busily attending to their duties, while the hall seemed particularly empty.

Granny Chandler noticed his gaze, and without needing to be asked, she voluntarily reported, "Miss Thornton is playing with the little lady in the backyard."

"Playing what?"

"Finding ants and earthworms, Miss Thornton said she wants the little lady to meet small animals."

Ants? Earthworms?

Anna Thornton, despite being born a lady, claiming she learned etiquette from three years old, who knows where she learned all that?

Conrad Sterling walked to the window leading to the backyard. Seeing the big one and the little one squatting on the ground, covered in dirt, he couldn’t help but frown.

"When they come back, have them take a bath first."

"Alright, President Sterling." Granny Chandler nodded in agreement and continued to ask, "Have you had dinner?"

"No, not yet."

"I’ll have the kitchen prepare for you right away."

Just as Granny Chandler turned to leave, Conrad Sterling asked an additional question: "What about them?"

"Miss Thornton and the little lady have already eaten, and Miss Thornton said..."

"What did she say?"

"She said you most likely wouldn’t come back tonight, so we didn’t prepare in advance."

Conrad Sterling: "..."

The dinner prepared just for Conrad Sterling was a luxurious indulgence, a variety of dishes and flavors complete.

But looking at the dazzling gourmet spread in front of him, President Sterling didn’t feel much appetite.

Granny Chandler placed a bright and tempting dish of braised pork nearest to Conrad Sterling as if bringing it up casually: "Miss Thornton and the little lady had this for dinner, alongside a plate of greens, and they enjoyed it with rice."

Just then, Anna Thornton and Pop came back from playing in the dirt.

The two were indeed quite dirty, and Granny Chandler quickly grabbed two towels, subtly passing along Conrad Sterling’s earlier instruction for them to wash up.

After all, President Sterling had a severe case of germophobia. Normally, if the servants missed cleaning anything, leaving a footprint on the floor would make him angry.

Had Anna Thornton known it was Conrad Sterling’s request, typically, she would have retorted a couple of lines. But today, she obediently took Pop to the bath.

After they bathed, just as Conrad Sterling finished his dinner.

When Granny Chandler was tidying the dining table, she noticed that the dish consumed the most at dinner was the braised pork.

Normally, these home-style dishes are just ornamental to the President.

Anna Thornton and Pop played downstairs for a while, whispering secretively to each other like they were planning something, with even Granny Chandler joining in at times. But they continued to ignore the man sitting on the living room sofa.

Conrad Sterling was left standing aside, yet he wasn’t awkward, minding his own affairs.

Today’s work wasn’t based in the study; he had someone bring the computer downstairs.

Until after nine in the evening, when Pop yawned getting sleepy, Anna Thornton intended to take the child to bed.

At that moment, Conrad Sterling called her: "Wait, what did you want to say to me today?"

Upon hearing that, Anna Thornton turned to look at him.

This was the first time tonight that Anna Thornton focused her gaze on Conrad Sterling.

Granny Chandler, being sensible, immediately stepped forward to take the child from her hands, carrying Pop upstairs.

Left in the downstairs living room were only Anna Thornton and Conrad Sterling. The former tossed the wallet back to him: "Didn’t you say you’d never let the women you’re with pay? I was worried you didn’t have money for coffee."

Conrad Sterling glanced at his wallet: "That place accepts mobile payments."

"Oh, it seems I overthought it. Sorry about that, it’s my fault for being inexperienced, almost disrupting your enjoyment and deserving to be chased away."

Conrad Sterling ignored the emotion in her words and continued to ask: "Just for this?"

"One more thing, I don’t want you to tell anyone about Pop being sick." Anna Thornton’s main purpose of returning today was to emphasize this to Conrad Sterling.

After all, the child was innocent and shouldn’t become an adult’s excuse or shield.

Upon hearing this, Conrad Sterling’s expression softened slightly: "I haven’t said a word!"

"That’s good."

Anna Thornton heaved a sigh of relief and turned to go upstairs back to her room, when Conrad Sterling suddenly added behind her: "After the surgery recovery, you must leave Aethelgard!"

Anna Thornton turned to ask him: "Is that your wish, or Miss Ford’s demand?"

"Does it matter?" Conrad Sterling countered.

"Seems like you two have made up today... then it doesn’t matter." Anna Thornton shrugged, "But she still hasn’t given you a title, has she? Since that’s the case, you don’t have a girlfriend, let alone a wife. Neither of you can dictate whether I stay or chase after you."

Seeing this little woman beginning to blur the focus again, Conrad Sterling’s face turned slightly grim, reiterating: "I will marry Marilyn Ford!"

"So what? You pursue yours, I’ll pursue mine, we’ll rely on our own abilities."

Anna Thornton continued with her persistent, shameless tenacity, winking at Conrad Sterling, "Honestly, if you’ve really decided to marry Marilyn Ford, I can’t tie you down to me and Pop."

"Anna Thornton, no matter what you say, you can’t stay in Aethelgard for long."

"Conrad Sterling, you don’t need to chase me away, just guard your own heart!"

...