Ruby Sullivan reacted for a mont, then snapped out of her panic. She hastily stepped out of his embrace, stood firm, and stubbornly retorted, "Why would I run away? I just don’t want to delay your afternoon tea with others."
Ethan Sterling chuckled, "Ti is indeed a bit tight, but not so urgent that I can’t finish my words." He handed her the invitation she left behind, "Wednesday, which is the day after tomorrow, is Naomi Sinclair’s birthday. She’s hosting a birthday dinner at the top floor of the Splendor Grand Hotel. She only sent an invitation to you. If you need, I’d be glad to be your dance partner."
The invitation was beautifully crafted, with the word "invitation" embossed in elegant script on complex floral gold embossing, and the seal was an old Euronia red embossing, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.
Ruby Sullivan turned the invitation over and over, still puzzled, "Why was this given to ?" mories of the "hospitality" she received five years ago flashed in her mind, "Is it to make give up my seat again?"
Ethan Sterling let out a soft laugh, "Is this considered a complint to ?"
"If that’s what you insist on thinking, fine. I’ll admit you do belong to the kind of man who is indeed charming." Ruby Sullivan looked at him with a serious expression, her tone flat, not at all as if she was complinting soone.
Hearing this, Ethan Sterling couldn’t help but smile wryly.
"Your husband is a proper businessman. If you don’t believe it, you can take this chance to ask her yourself." He glanced at the ti, "Alright, we really can’t talk anymore. Wait for at the company tonight, and I’ll take you to buy clothes."
She frowned, "We have a bunch of clothes. Do we really need to buy new ones?" She didn’t want shopping to cut into her ti with Honey.
In reality, Ethan Sterling wasn’t fully grasping Naomi Sinclair’s personality either, but he wanted his wife to make a stunning entrance. Partly because attire mattered in such an occasion and partly to give Naomi Sinclair a challenge, ideally without involving business cooperation. Of course, the latter would be the most ideal outco.
Also, he wasn’t sure if Rhonda Sullivan, now backed by Dr. L, would appear at the banquet.
"Then... let’s discuss it when we et tonight." Ethan Sterling said, holding her hand, "Let’s go."
Ruby Sullivan still felt a bit dazed. This man seed very fond of holding her hand, making them seem like teenagers, which made her a bit uneasy in crowded situations. Once they reached the elevator, she promptly let go.
On the first floor, they parted ways. Ethan Sterling went to the underground parking lot, while Ruby Sullivan stepped out of the elevator and heard him say "Bye-bye" and turned around to respond, but her expression was heavy.
She returned to her office, looked at the invitation for a long ti. Then, she carefully peeled open the embossing. Inside was a card of the sa color, folded and surprisingly handwritten in a graceful and elegant script.
She pondered, this Miss Sinclair truly had money to burn. If she employed soone to do this, just based on such fine handwriting, the labor fee wouldn’t be cheap, would it?
Thinking about this, she beca slightly interested in Naomi Sinclair.
In Bellaza, she diligently studied perfu blending under Dr. L to beco a woman Ethan Sterling would admire. Now that Ethan Sterling was telling her he wanted to win over Naomi Sinclair, of course, she couldn’t back down.
With a man like Ethan Sterling, there would likely always be won pining after him, whether for the man himself or for his money. Being Mrs. Sterling was a position requiring constant vigilance, today Naomi Sinclair, tomorrow Tessa Lawson, even if she wanted to back down, it would have to wait until Honey’s illness was cured.
She made up her mind and sent Ethan Sterling a ssage, "I’ll wait for you tonight."
Even if clothes weren’t prepared, she had to send an appropriate gift.
Ruby Sullivan packed the invitation into her bag, planning to use the afternoon to perfect the second fragrance of the Daydream series to wear at the banquet.
However, when she shared this idea in the evening, Ethan Sterling imdiately dismissed it.
A birthday gift for Naomi Sinclair indeed couldn’t be too casual, so he had prepared one ten days in advance.
Ruby Sullivan was a bit displeased, "Then I’ll prepare sothing that can’t be bought anywhere." She finished with a downcast expression and gaze.
Seeing his wife’s displeased face, Ethan Sterling felt a touch of guilt, like a child fearing punishnt for wrongdoing, wanting to make ands, "Then... how about we go buy clothes? Shoes? Bags?" After Ruby Sullivan shook her head three tis, he was lost for words.
"Let’s go to the hospital then, just in ti to have dinner with Honey." Ruby Sullivan rarely took command in the car.
"Okay, to the hospital." Ethan Sterling agreed imdiately.
Seeing Honey improved Ruby Sullivan’s mood considerably, and Ethan Sterling sighed in relief. That evening, they returned ho with Rachel Lawson and Seth Sterling, and ex-husband Tessa was consistently updating Ruby Sullivan on Honey’s condition, so her deanor was as composed as ever.
But Ethan Sterling knew sothing was off because from the ti they arrived at the hospital, she practically avoided eye contact with him, clearly still upset.
Later, Ethan Sterling, having bathed first, got into bed and covered himself up. When Ruby Sullivan got in, he promptly hugged her cold body, asking sowhat ingratiatingly, "Warr now?"
Being enveloped forcefully by him, Ruby Sullivan almost couldn’t suppress a laugh, but rembering she was still holding a grudge, she forced the smile back, "Hmm."
He chuckled foolishly, softly saying, "I’ve thought it over, if you don’t want to go to Naomi Sinclair’s birthday banquet, then don’t go."
Ruby Sullivan raised an eyebrow, tilting her head to look at him, doubting her ears, "Isn’t Ethan Sterling’s world all about business being the most important?"
Ethan Sterling paused for a mont before nodding, "That was indeed before." He exhaled a long breath, "Because my grandmother drilled it into from a young age. I’ve carried too many responsibilities on my shoulders, responsibilities instilled into my ears since childhood, possibly weighing heavier in my heart than what you perceive."
Ruby Sullivan listened quietly, suddenly realizing he had been talking more recently—not just inexplicable sweet nothings but many sincere words, like the ones he was saying now.
She lay in his arms, positioning herself as a listener.
Ethan Sterling gently rubbed her shoulder, pensively continuing, "After my grandmother passed and my mother returned, I pondered a lot, especially after marrying you. I started discovering joys beyond business, including you, Honey, and Seth. My hope now is for Honey and Seth to grow up safe and healthy and for us to be alright too."
Warmth seeped into Ruby Sullivan’s heart. She wanted to believe, yet was a bit afraid to, "Is everything you’re saying true?"
"I know that after everything that’s happened, you won’t truly believe whatever I say, so... let’s wait and see?" He finished by kissing her lips, finally seeing her smile, which made his heart settle quite a bit.
Ruby Sullivan pouted slightly, "Since you’ve put it that way, I absolutely must attend Naomi Sinclair’s birthday banquet. Just be ready to be my escort."
"It would be my honor."
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