CHAPTER 381: CHAPTER 381: WE WERE NEVER MEANT TO BELONG HERE

The purpose of Jade Sterling’s visit this time is to reconcile the differences between Conrad Sterling and Anna.

Yes, she knows there is trouble between the young couple.

Although Conrad Sterling says nothing, Jade Sterling is his only relative.

It can also be said that Jade Sterling’s only concern left in this world is him, naturally observing things more closely than others.

Conrad’s mood has not been good recently, presumably starting when he returned from Veridia.

Now looking at Anna’s attitude, Jade Sterling can more or less guess that something might have happened between them, involving matters from four or five years ago.

The thing Conrad wanted to hide so badly, eventually couldn’t remain hidden.

Taking the chance as Anna Thornton sat down, Jade Sterling extended her hand, cautiously wanting to touch the other.

Anna Thornton proactively held her hand.

Aunt Murray’s hand also had burn marks, with a large patch of rough skin on the back, but the palm was very soft.

With a temperature slightly lower than average, it had the effect of calming people and focusing them to listen.

"Anna, what unpleasant thing happened between you and Conrad? Can you tell me?" Jade Sterling asked her.

"Nothing, Aunt Murray. I’m pretty good with him!" Anna Thornton replied.

Upon hearing this, Jade Sterling’s gaze shifted slightly, she lowered her head.

She coughed twice before continuing: "I know Conrad’s temper is bad, he lost his parents at a young age, and as for me... cough cough, like this! No one has ever taught him how to take care of people, especially how to love a girl."

"Aunt Murray, you overthink. Conrad Sterling is pretty smart, doesn’t need anyone to teach him!"

He even learned how to be a rascal all by himself, isn’t he impressive?

hetui!

Anna Thornton secretly spat at that dog of a man in her heart, but when she looked up, she saw traces of sadness in Jade Sterling’s eyes: "Conrad, as a child, wasn’t like this! He was originally lively and active, cough cough... At three years old, he would laugh and make himself endearing to adults."

"Him?!!"

"Can’t tell now, can you? As a child, Conrad was really adorable, just like Pop and Lola, like a lovable doll. He would cuddle in adults’ arms and act spoiled, and given the opportunity to play outside, he loved to laugh and be noisy."

Talking about three-year-old Conrad Sterling, Jade Sterling’s eyes, originally lifeless, sparkled.

Yet hidden beneath her mask, her mouth curved into a bitter smile: "But after turning three, he never smiled again. Because that year, he lost the last close kin he had in the world."

At this point, Granny Chandler tactfully led Lola and Pop to the backyard to play.

Leaving the living room with just Anna Thornton and Jade Sterling, so they could talk about the past of President Sterling, unknown to others.

Conrad Sterling who loved to laugh and play? Anna Thornton really couldn’t picture that.

She thought that man must have been born with a serious face, like a little old man.

But upon reconsidering, if a baby was born with Conrad Sterling’s sulkiness, it might give the midwife a fright.

Thinking it was some wooden sprite or ice sprite reincarnation, eager to throw the person away and raise the placenta instead.

"Pft..." Anna Thornton couldn’t hold back, amused by her own imagination.

Seeing her laugh happily, Jade Sterling didn’t mind, rather she felt relieved: "Anna, your personality is truly wonderful! No matter what happens, you can always handle it easily. Cough cough... With you by Conrad’s side, you’ll surely be able to guide him."

Can Anna Thornton say that she really didn’t want to guide Conrad Sterling?

Being this optimistic and confident now was something Anna developed through her own experiences, after enduring many events.

Besides, back then, Sterling seized the opportunity to kick someone when they’re down, almost driving Anna Thornton to depression, thanks to her resilience.

Why should she share her optimism with him now?

According to the principle of repaying grievances with grievances, Anna Thornton should hope that Conrad Sterling would twist himself into a depression.

Then she and the two kids could get their inheritance package in advance.

"You and Conrad have completely opposite personalities. The burden he carries is too heavy, so heavy that he doesn’t leave himself a moment to breathe. Anna... cough cough, can you promise Aunt Murray one thing, don’t resent him?"

Anna Thornton: "..." She probably couldn’t agree to that.

Anna Thornton was very clear that she wasn’t a saint, when the Thornton Family faced a major upheaval, Conrad Sterling stood by without intervening, and even went to the hospital to provoke Dad Thornton before he died, unforgivable.

What’s more, regarding that matter, the man still hadn’t offered any explanation.

"Conrad is a child who never complains, no matter what grievances he has, he keeps them inside. This is all my fault, don’t blame him, okay? Cough cough..."

Jade Sterling knew that at the moment she appeared to Anna just like a parent pampering a child indefensibly.

In her eagerness to explain, she ended up with a fit of coughing.

Anna Thornton helped gently pat her back to smooth the breath, her hand just withdrew but was suddenly gripped by Jade Sterling.

This time Jade Sterling wasn’t as gentle and soft but seemed to use all the energy of her life, tightly gripping Anna Thornton: "Cough cough... Anna, promise me not to be mad at Conrad. He has it really tough, without you by his side, I fear someday he might lose himself."

"Aunt Murray..."

"Anna, listen to Aunt Murray! I know I won’t live much longer, yet I drag along this battered body tenaciously, both because I can’t leave Conrad and for atonement. Your father’s death was actually caused by me, so blame me if you want."

"Aunt Murray, do you know my father? What was his name?"

"I don’t know your father."

"..."

Anna Thornton was about to say that Aunt Murray, even if she felt sorry for Conrad Sterling, didn’t need to take all the blame herself.

She couldn’t even say Dad Thornton’s name.

Besides, Dad Thornton passed away four years ago, Aunt Murray’s body had been in a sanatorium for decades, how could she be related to Dad Thornton’s death.

But at this moment, Aunt Murray seemed to be lost in her own memories.

Her face paled, eyes full of doubt.

Though the room was comfortably temperate, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

As though that memory was some enduring nightmare, still haunting her to this day.

"Anna, have you ever heard of Haven Isle?"

"No!"

"Makes sense..."

Jade Sterling suddenly let out a light laugh, "Haven Isle is just a name they came up with themselves, having done those ruthless things, naturally, they don’t want outsiders to know. The four big families now hold significant influence in Aethelgard, they certainly wouldn’t want others to know how they built their fortunes with despicable means."

Hearing Jade Sterling about to talk about the intrigues between Conrad Sterling and the four big families, it looked like it would be exciting, Anna Thornton almost wanted to grab a plate of sunflower seeds to snack on while listening.

But fearing missing anything important, she sat still and listened to Jade Sterling continue: "They investigated for three years and couldn’t trace Conrad’s lineage. Because we were never originally from here. Cough cough..."