CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: INNOCENT CONRAD STERLING

Conrad Sterling almost turned the hospital upside down trying to find someone.

He finally discovered that Anna Thornton was in another ward. Anna had taken a liking to the twin brothers she met before, so she and Pop went over to visit them.

President Sterling knocked on the door of the ward, and saw a lively scene inside.

The two little boys were running around Pop, competing to play with her.

Anna Thornton was sitting and chatting with the children’s mother.

Seeing Conrad Sterling come in, the person next to them was surprised: "Anna, is that your husband? I saw you guys at the hospital yesterday with Pop for a check-up, and you really stood out as a family of three."

Hearing the misunderstanding, Conrad Sterling was about to frown, but Anna Thornton quickly denied it: "Sis Gina, you’ve got it wrong, he and I aren’t married."

Sis Gina’s younger son was diagnosed with aplastic anemia a month ago, so she naturally hadn’t paid attention to entertainment news lately and didn’t recognize Anna Thornton. After chatting for so long, she didn’t know Anna was an actress.

But Conrad Sterling’s name was well-known to everyone in Aethelgard.

However, for a housewife who’s busy with daily household tasks, she couldn’t immediately associate the name with a face.

"Sis Gina, the man standing before us is the famous president of Sterling Group, Conrad Sterling. A person of such noble status, I don’t dare to claim any relationship. He’s just donating bone marrow for the child," Anna explained.

"I see. I just thought Pop looks a bit like him, my apologies!" Sis Gina believed their explanation of no relation and couldn’t help but admire, "I never thought someone so important would be willing to donate bone marrow. It seems there are still many good people in this world."

A good person? Conrad Sterling doesn’t qualify as one.

Anna felt a silent scoff in her heart and looked up to meet Conrad’s gaze, without greeting him or making any further moves.

Pop also noticed her dad but merely glanced at him before turning back to continue playing with the twins.

What kind of attitude is this from both mother and daughter?

Recalling the morning when Henry Willow visited the Sterling Residence, Pop just remembered being held once and excitedly opened her arms to greet him.

How come the attitude towards the real dad is like this?

Conrad Sterling felt a bit of heartache.

With his presence, Conrad Sterling’s strong aura and identity immediately created a tense atmosphere in the not-so-spacious ward.

Sis Gina, feeling some restraint, greeted him, "President Sterling, would you like to sit over here..."

"No need!"

Her words were coldly interrupted by the man.

Conrad Sterling, without much patience, directly instructed Anna Thornton, "Come out!"

After saying that, regardless of whether Anna agreed or not, he was the first to walk out of the wards, his presence having created tension.

"This President Sterling seems... quite unapproachable," Sis Gina whispered in Anna’s ear.

"He’s always like that!"

Anna huffed coldly but stood up as well: "Pop, we need to go back to our room now, say goodbye to your brothers and aunty."

Hearing this, the little one obediently came over to hold her mommy’s hand, waving with the other soft hand, "Bye-bye!"

Mother and daughter walked out of the ward, where Conrad Sterling’s back was waiting in the hallway. He turned to question Anna Thornton, "Why didn’t you answer the phone?"

"Did you call me?" Anna Thornton responded with a question.

"What do you think? Taking Pop out without mentioning a word?" Conrad continued to question her.

"We didn’t leave the hospital, just visited different wards, how should I know you’d come at this time?"

"I told you I’d be coming later today."

"Oh, did you say that?" Anna pretended that she had no impression, "Maybe, but whether you said it or not doesn’t matter. After all, President Sterling, you never keep your word."

"Anna, do you have any issues?"

Conrad furrowed his brows, sensing that this woman was strangely sarcastic today.

"How can I dare to have issues with you? After all, President Sterling, you just reconciled with Goddess Ford yesterday and today, you’re busy sending her to a script meeting. Maybe there’s also dining and dating, even a night rendezvous arranged. You’re such a busy person, and I with Pop have no relation. Receiving your bone marrow donation is already a great favor, how dare we hope for anything else."

"Anna! Speak properly!"

Conrad couldn’t stand her feigned high-pitched ’you’ used to address him respectfully, probably rolling her eyes in her heart.

What nerve did this woman hit today?

"My words are unpleasant again and upset President Sterling? Then I’ll say no more." Anna made to bypass Conrad, intending to take Pop back to the ward.

But at this moment, the man grabbed Anna’s hand, forcing her to speak clearly, "What’s gotten into you?"

"..."

"Did Marilyn come over?"

Conrad heard Anna mention earlier about his sending Marilyn to a script meeting, how would Anna know?

"Yes, she came over this morning, specifically to emphasize that you two are back together."

Since Conrad was forcing her to speak, Anna decided to clarify, "Marilyn Ford and I are rivals, women fighting over jealousy, exchange pleasantries, as long as it doesn’t cross my bottom line it’s harmless. But Conrad Sterling... you’re Pop’s biological father, the one with the least qualification in this world to use the child’s illness to make others rub salt in our wounds is you!"

To be honest, Marilyn Ford’s sudden, purposeful visit today, along with implicit declarations of her sovereignty, wasn’t enough to anger Anna.

After all, Anna also pissed her off quite a bit before, and truthfully cannot expect always to have the upper hand.

In such straightforward, crushing scenarios, winning too easily simply wouldn’t feel interesting.

But the real reason Anna was upset today was Conrad Sterling himself.

Although he had promised not to tell others about Pop’s illness, he turned around and told Marilyn Ford about it.

How eager was this man to manifest his charity towards the child?

He still didn’t understand the responsibilities a father should bear.

Also, since he was someone who broke his word four years ago, what responsibility could one expect from him now?

Anna had already lost all faith in Conrad Sterling. Nonetheless, he remained puzzled by her speech: "Regarding Pop’s condition, I told you yesterday that I didn’t mention it to anyone?"

"Heh!" Anna scoffed, "You didn’t mention it? Then how did Marilyn Ford find the ward this morning? She knew Pop is about to have surgery, knew it’s your bone marrow being donated..."

"How she found out, I’m not sure at the moment. But I wouldn’t fail to acknowledge something I did."

"Heh!" Anna laughed even more disdainfully, "Back four years ago, you slept with me and then tricked me, why didn’t you acknowledge that?"

"I never agreed to your request back then!"

"Indeed, you didn’t verbally agree to avenge me, but you acted like you would, deceiving me into pinning my hopes on you for justice for the Thornton Family. Then you slept with me and kicked me to the curb afterward, you still feel quite justified, don’t you?"

The more Anna thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Given Conrad Sterling’s past actions, he could indeed be compared with this century’s greatest scumbag—upright Conrad Sterling, as honest as Unfaithful Man.

Conrad also grew irritated by her frequent rehashing of old grievances: "Address the matter at hand, since I agreed this time, I won’t breathe a word about it."

"Hmph, now I won’t believe a word you say."

"Believe it or not, your choice!"