Ethan Sterling closed the book in her hand, "Honestly, don’t you miss your lab?"
When she was blending fragrances in the lab, she would completely imrse herself in her own world, as if she could conduct great experints to save humanity with the test tubes in her hands.
At that mont, Ruby Sullivan seed to embody those great scientists in the river of history, focused and serious, uncomplaining and tireless.
Ethan Sterling had been captivated more than once by her work state, he knew that was the life she truly wanted, and the life that could make her shine brightly.
But ever since Brandon Sullivan woke up, Ruby Sullivan seed like a misguided child, striving hard to prove herself but finding no way to start, becoming more and more lost.
She was too stubborn to admit defeat, thinking that working harder could change things, but she forgot that her true talent wasn’t in this area.
Ethan Sterling didn’t want to see her struggle with herself any longer, for this would only make her increasingly lost, turning from self-disparagent to worthlessness.
"You’ve been by L’s side for so long, and now you’re not doing it, don’t you feel it’s a pity?" Edwin Sterling frowned slightly, his intense gaze seed to penetrate her soul beneath her skin; even if she didn’t feel it was a pity, his heart ached for her.
Being looked at like this by him, Ruby Sullivan suddenly felt a bit wronged.
How could it not be a pity? Only she knew that being noticed by L was not just due to talent and luck, but mostly because of her hard work.
She had never been an outstanding child since she was young, especially when standing next to siblings like Ethan Sterling and Rhonda Sullivan, making her seem clumsy and unremarkable.
Among the three, she was the one who worked hardest at painting, yet she was also the least accomplished; if she weren’t truly incapable, the elder Mrs. Sterling wouldn’t have given up on cultivating her into the next Lana Shaw.
During her student years, Rhonda Sullivan was always an overachiever, starting to self-learn business managent and marketing before turning eighteen, earning praises for her sumr internships at The Sullivan Group, and even securing a major company project independently before graduating from university.
Whereas Ruby Sullivan, apart from eating and culinary skills, had no skills to speak of. The only reason she got into a decent university was that she simply didn’t want to study out of town, applying for a less popular major to get accepted.
Being the glamorous Wenny, apart from L’s ntorship, she still had to thank her own diligence!
She morized those tongue-twisting ingredient nas over and over, and to distinguish the subtle differences between various mints, her nose was red from exposure every day, like she was filled with cold air, unable to eat anything.
Atlas Cedar, Virginia Cedar, Red Sandalwood Cedar... which one was suitable for making sweet warm balm, which one was suitable for pairing with herbal fragrances, which one was a better fixative, she forced herself to rember these rules, forced herself to rember the differences between these scents, forced herself to rember what different effects the varying proportions would have.
The first year beside L was also one where she endured much hardship.
Because her heart was full of unwillingness and resentnt, she understood that only by gaining L’s approval could she and Honey live well...
So, what was the outco? Reality splashed cold water on her, again and again.
With a sigh, unintentionally a large tear rolled down, stunning even herself.
Ethan Sterling had a mont of panic, he had always known she must have harbored many grievances she refused to speak about, yet when she showed her vulnerable heart in front of him, he found himself heartbroken to the point of helplessness.
He thought, he must love this woman deeply, more than he had imagined, to be thrown into such turmoil.
Ethan Sterling’s heart was turbulent, but within a mont, he suppressed all his emotions, gently pulling her into his embrace,
"Co back to work, after all, you are the perfur I painstakingly invited back."
Ruby Sullivan sighed, sowhat embarrassed, "I just didn’t want to get exposed, so I deliberately made things difficult for you all..." She had received word that The Sterling Group was looking for a perfur, so she had discussed with L about leaving The Lawson Group, and as for intentionally raising prices, creating various challenges... it was just personal motives.
"Only soone capable could make things difficult for ," Ethan Sterling continued to praise.
Listening to his earnest tone, Ruby Sullivan felt much more at ease, "Say a few more things, like... how am I capable?"
Recently her confidence had been shattered into pieces, so she really wanted to hear so encouraging words.
Ethan Sterling laughed, "To be taken in as the last disciple by the world’s number one fragrance master, do you still need praise? Your presence there represents one word, excellence."
Ruby Sullivan chuckled lightly, feeling very at ease, "Mr. Sterling, your improvent in expression skills recently is a bit frightening, have you been watching sothing you shouldn’t?"
"What else can I look at besides you every day?" Ethan Sterling lowered his head slightly to look at her, implying, my eyes are only for you!
Ruby Sullivan felt as if she was going to drown in his sparkling eyes, quickly pulling herself out of his embrace, "I’ll go check if the al is ready."
Once again she hurriedly ran out of the room.
Ethan Sterling watched her back, filled with laughter and heartache.
He guessed at her concerns, understood her insecurities, and the more he understood, the more he felt he wasn’t good enough, because she wasn’t willing to trust and rely on him fully due to his inadequacy.
*
In the study room, the communication between Honey and Mr. Bishop wasn’t going very smoothly. She felt the other party was treating her completely like a child who knew nothing, speaking in a strange tone, always elongating his words, like the assistant teacher at the kindergarten who only played gas with children.
She didn’t think playing gas was bad, but she didn’t hire a tutor to play gas with her, did she?
Honey couldn’t articulate it, her brows furrowed into two soft little bumps, her chubby little face clearly displaying two words: displeasure.
Claire Bishop felt a bit of a headache.
She had already used all her patience, yet this little cutie still wasn’t happy, always giving her side-eye!
She sighed, took another storybook from the shelf, and tentatively asked, "Do you not like that story? How about the teacher switches to another story?"
Honey thought she was dumb, everything had to be answered by her, so what was the teacher for? She didn’t speak, simply didn’t want to speak, she missed the older brother she had only t briefly, his smile was really good-looking.
Claire Bishop watched Honey silently resisting, feeling awkward.
Hearing the knock at the door, she let out a sigh of relief.
Ruby Sullivan slightly opened the door, "Shall we eat first?"
Upon seeing her mother, Honey imdiately jumped off the chair, ran over to embrace her with a belly full of grievances she couldn’t express.
Seeing her twinkling big eyes, Ruby Sullivan knew she had a lot to say and feared it would be inconvenient for this new teacher to hear, hurriedly grabbed her daughter’s hand, smiled, and said, "Let’s go eat, Mama Bennett made your favorite curry chicken today."
Ever since her back injury, carrying her child had beco a thing of the past, otherwise she would have given this little one a good hug.
However, if Honey truly wanted to throw a tantrum, it should be at her biological father, making her unconsciously sympathize with this young teacher.
Claire Bishop followed to eat, already having a plan in mind. She thought she ought to have a good talk with the mother, Mr. Sterling had said too little, she needed to understand more about Honey.
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