CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: GO, DADDY!

"Conrad Sterling, haven’t you always been annoyed with me, saying my desire to marry you is delusional? Why now, when I’m not chasing you anymore, do you look so disappointed?"

Anna Thornton looked curiously at the man beside her, shaking off his grip on her hand: "Since you’re already planning to propose, stop being all handsy with me. Can you show some restraint?"

"You’re talking to me about restraint?" Conrad Sterling sneered.

Back then, who was it that stripped in front of him to offer herself on their first meeting, and then on their second meeting wore a backless nightgown attempting to seduce him, later using all kinds of tricks to move into his house.

Now that the bone marrow transplant surgery is imminent, Anna Thornton’s goal has been achieved, yet she increasingly talks about restraint in front of him.

This woman really is like a little fox; she clung to him purely for her own schemes.

Once she finds no value in using him, she’ll turn away without even bothering to wag her tail at him anymore.

When Anna Thornton first returned to the country, Conrad Sterling could tell at a banquet that the woman’s beautiful cunning eyes were full of calculations, which was why he intentionally kept his distance and guarded against her.

Signing the consent form for the bone marrow donation was for Pop and also to get rid of this woman.

Even though everything was within Conrad Sterling’s expectations, he didn’t understand where the sudden fury inside him was coming from.

"So, you’re here late in the corridor because you’ve just returned from your date with Marilyn Ford, right?" Anna Thornton scanned Conrad Sterling from head to toe, speaking in a sarcastic tone, "Why don’t you just go ahead and live outside?"

"By the way, you have another blood draw tomorrow." Anna suddenly remembered, "You didn’t eat anything inappropriate for dinner outside, right?"

"Marilyn wouldn’t know anything; if she saw you’ve lost weight, would she just stuff you full with a heap of rich delicacies?"

Faced with Anna’s concerned expression, Conrad Sterling couldn’t help his gaze from wavering.

When he met with Marilyn today, she didn’t even notice that he had lost weight in the hospital, nor did she ask how he had been these past few days.

First, it was Marilyn deliberately avoiding the matter of Conrad Sterling undergoing a bone marrow transplant surgery for the child; second, she grew up spoiled, accustomed to many people revolving around her, hardly able to pay attention to anyone else besides herself.

Suddenly meeting him today, making him drive seven or eight hours back and forth, was merely to prove and solidify her place in Conrad Sterling’s mind.

Probably in Marilyn’s view, she thought she was giving him a treat.

Since being hospitalized, Ethan has been contacting Conrad Sterling through emails regarding company matters.

No one has come to see Conrad Sterling, because he doesn’t have any family who can visit him in the hospital.

He didn’t expect the only concern he’d receive would come from Anna Thornton.

Though it can’t be considered concern, Anna Thornton was merely worried that his improper eating might affect the blood draw tomorrow, delaying the smooth progression of the transplant surgery.

But actually, at noon, Conrad Sterling went to that restaurant and barely had any appetite.

He originally thought pork liver was the hardest food to accept in this world.

But now, Conrad Sterling found himself disliking sashimi even more.

"I didn’t eat anything tonight," Conrad Sterling explained.

"That’s good!" Anna Thornton breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems she was just worried about the blood draw issue.

"Why are you still standing here? Not going back to your room?"

"..."

Neither of these questions were answered by Conrad Sterling; the dim corridor light hid someone’s slightly gloomy expression.

"Then I’m going back to sleep!"

Until Anna Thornton closed her room door, hearing her footsteps outside speeding up as she raced back to bed, snugly wrapping herself in the covers, did Conrad Sterling turn back to his own ward.

——

On the day of the surgery, the hospital had scheduled two bone marrow transplant surgeries.

Conrad Sterling was set for the second round, already prepared, arriving at the door of the operating room in advance to wait for the completion of the first surgery.

There, Conrad Sterling observed a couple anxiously waiting. They clasped their hands together in front of their chests, murmuring prayers for their child’s successful surgery.

They had met during prior examinations; they were the twin brothers’ parents.

They were coincidentally scheduled for surgery today, both children were in the operating room, and the couple exhibited anxious expressions, alternately praying and encouraging each other as they waited.

The mother of the twins had been chatting quite well with Anna Thornton lately, so she recognized Conrad Sterling and greeted him, "President Sterling, you’re here too?"

Her words sounded like they were just out shopping.

The child’s mother was somewhat nervous in front of Conrad Sterling after hearing from Anna Thornton about his identity, realizing her words sounded odd, she quickly added, "I hope your transplant surgery with Pop goes smoothly."

Upon hearing this, Conrad Sterling slightly closed his eyes, dismissively accepting this sincere blessing.

This President Sterling indeed isn’t easy to get along with!

After that, the couple dared not speak further with him.

A few minutes later, the operating room door opened, and the couple immediately approached, worriedly asking in unison, "Timmy, Yangyang, how are they?"

"The surgery went well, rest assured," the doctor explained to them after removing his mask.

Next, it was the younger brother going into isolation, while the older brother was to be sent back to the ward, the couple agreed to split duties, each taking care of one child.

The child named Timmy was the older brother, very brave, even after having his bone marrow extracted, he encouraged Conrad Sterling, "Uncle, don’t be afraid, it doesn’t hurt at all."

Conrad Sterling: "..."

He’s relying on such a young child for comfort?

He only feels that the maternal love and filial piety scene outside the operating room is somewhat noisy for him!

President Sterling has always had confidence in the Sterling Group’s medical technology, not to mention the success rate of the twin transplant could be foreseen before the surgery, the worries were unnecessary.

"How’s the preparation for the second surgery?" Conrad Sterling urged impatiently.

The medical staff beside him answered, "Almost ready."

"Wait a moment!"

Before Conrad Sterling was pushed into the operating room, Anna Thornton hurriedly arrived.

Seeing her nervous face, clearly all the worry is for the child, none of it is shared with him, Conrad Sterling couldn’t help being annoyed.

"Why are you here? I’ve already said, this surgery won’t encounter any unexpected problems." Moreover, Pop doesn’t need to enter the operating room at the same time.

"I’m here to cheer you on."

Anna Thornton took out her phone, opened the latest recorded video, and placed it in front of Conrad Sterling.

This was the video she just recorded for Pop, the little one sitting with his legs crossed on the hospital bed, despite his young age already very camera-friendly, waving his little paws, and gesturing towards Conrad Sterling on the other side of the camera.

"Pop, will you cheer for daddy?"

"Okay~"

"Then say, daddy, keep fighting."

"Daddy, keep fighting~"

"Considering he’s about to enter the operating room, give him a reluctant flying kiss?"

"MUA..."

Conrad Sterling didn’t intend to smile, yet at this moment he couldn’t help but let his mouth curve upwards.

Looking at the adorably cute little one on the phone screen, along with Anna Thornton holding the phone for him, the coldness collected on the face of the handsome, icy man dissipated without him knowing when.