Chapter 9 Shopping Tactics

Victoria looked down at Anna with the imposing air of a family elder.

Anna met her gaze coldly. "Do I need to report to you where I'm going?"

Victoria was irritated by her attitude but forced herself to hold back, managing to squeeze out a slight smile.

"Didn't Mother mention yesterday that I should take you shopping? Hurry up, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Anna thought for a moment. She had brought very few clothes when she came to the Sterling estate. After considering briefly, she nodded. "Fine."

See? The moment shopping was mentioned, her attitude changed immediately. This was enough to prove that Anna was only coveting the Sterling wealth.

Victoria silently vowed to find an opportunity to expose this woman's true nature.

Soon, the two arrived at a high-end shopping mall, and Victoria led Anna into a boutique.

"Find some suitable clothes for this lady," Victoria instructed the saleswoman with a dismissive wave toward Anna.

The saleswoman quickly brought over several racks of clothes. "These are all the latest styles this season," she said enthusiastically. "Would you like to try them on, miss?"

The racks were filled with everything from underwear to outerwear—a complete wardrobe.

Anna scanned them briefly, gave her size, and then waited for the saleswoman to select appropriate items. After a cursory glance, Anna said flatly, "Wrap them all up."

"What do you mean, you want everything?" Victoria stammered, her eyes widening.

Anna turned to her with a cold expression. "I like all of these. Don't tell me you've changed your mind about buying them?"

"Of course not," Victoria forced a smile, gritting her teeth as she snapped at the saleswoman, "Package everything."

Although the amount was insignificant compared to the cost of a handbag, Victoria still felt furious about spending money on Anna.

The saleswoman packed up more than a dozen shopping bags. Victoria left the delivery address and stormed home in anger.

As soon as she got home, Victoria grabbed a throw pillow and hurled it at Alexander, who was lying on the couch.

"Find a way to get rid of that Anna, quickly!"

Alexander rubbed his head where the pillow had hit him and offered a placating smile. "What happened? Didn't you go shopping?"

"That Anna is no pushover!"

Alexander looked confused. "Darling, you're overthinking this. The Rice family are all fools—just look at the advertising contract situation. How could they possibly raise a shrewd daughter?"

Seeing he wasn't taking her seriously, Victoria jabbed her finger into his chest and said coldly, "This woman will cause trouble."

"Darling, you're being paranoid," Alexander tried to reassure her. "Getting rid of her is actually quite simple."

Victoria glared at him. "Nonsense! Haven't you noticed how much your mother likes this girl? William himself has explicitly stated he wants her to stay. How do you propose we get rid of her?"

Alexander scratched his head. "Let me think about it."

Victoria understood the importance of patience. After the Sterling family fell into difficulties, she and Alexander had nearly gained control of the Sterling Group. She wouldn't allow anyone to interfere with her plans.

"She cannot stay here no matter what," Victoria declared. "Either come up with a solution, or you can sleep elsewhere."

"Darling, you can't be serious?" Alexander protested behind her.

Victoria slammed the bedroom door in his face.

That evening, when William returned home and noticed the lights on upstairs, he questioned the butler.

"Mrs. Anna Sterling and Mrs. Victoria Sterling went shopping this afternoon," the butler explained. "Mrs. Anna Sterling has been in her room since they returned."

William dismissed the butler with a wave of his hand.

During dinner, William suddenly asked, "Have you had medical training?"

Anna nodded. "I helped you on my first day here, remember?"

William recalled the image of her wielding acupuncture needles against the Dogo Argentino, and his expression immediately darkened.

"As I understand it, after your mother died, you were sent to the countryside. Is that where you learned these... medical skills?"

Anna looked up, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Investigating me?"

William's body stiffened, and his expression grew cold.

Anna remembered that she needed to visit the Sterling Medical Center tomorrow to find someone and couldn't afford to create too much tension. After thinking for a moment, she explained, "I learned these skills for self-protection. Don't worry, I'm not interested in you or anything related to the Sterling family."

'Keep pretending,' William thought. 'Let's see how long you can keep it up.'

The Sterling family was the most influential family in Brighton Harbor. William had seen countless women throw themselves at him after learning his identity. However, few could maintain such cold indifference as Anna.

The food before him lost its appeal. As William wheeled himself out, he coldly said, "Keep it quiet when you sleep at night."

Anna rolled her eyes, as if she actually wanted to stay here.

Back in her room, Anna received a phone call. The man on the other end sounded exceptionally excited.

"J, is that really you?"

Anna responded with a brief affirmation, then asked, "The person I asked you to find, any news?"

The man on the other end teased, "We've only just reconnected, and you're already asking about another man? Am I meaningless to you?"

His whining tone made Anna hold the phone away from her ear. "Speak properly."

The man on the other end, sensing her poor mood, dared not joke further. "No news."

Anna hung up abruptly.

"Heartless woman." The man on the other end chuckled softly, planting a kiss on his phone. "Remember to think of me, baby."

In the darkness of her room, Anna's brow furrowed deeply. After all these years, that man remained untraceable. If she hadn't experienced nine months of pregnancy, she might have believed that night was just a dream.

"We spent one night together, and then you vanished without a trace. Where are you?" she murmured.

The room was pitch black as William lay quietly in bed. Tonight, the adjacent room was unusually silent.

Just as he closed his eyes to sleep, a loud crash came from next door.

In the darkness, his eyes snapped open, anger rising within him. He waited—if another sound disturbed his rest, she wouldn't get away with it!

Several hours passed in silence. Gradually, fatigue overtook him, and he fell asleep.

Another loud crash jolted William awake. He checked the time—only four in the morning.

William was now fully awake and furious. He dressed and wheeled straight to Anna's door, knocking forcefully.

Inside her room, Anna was rubbing the back of her head in confusion. Somehow, she had fallen off the bed—twice. Looking at the six-foot-wide mattress, she couldn't understand how this had happened.

'This can't be my fault,' she thought. 'It must be the bed.'

Just then, she heard the knocking at her door.