Mama Bennett was utterly confused, but she guessed that Tobias Townsend and T were two different n. She believed in Ruby Sullivan’s character; there was definitely a misunderstanding here.
Ruby Sullivan took a pack of cigarettes and an ashtray from the nightstand drawer. With a long, slender lady’s cigarette in her hand, her movents were very practiced, but the two-dollar convenience store lighter wasn’t cooperating at all, and despite her repeated attempts, it didn’t ignite, making her look even more displeased.
Suddenly, a hand reached over, snatched her lighter away, and lit it effortlessly.
Ethan Sterling leaned over and helped her light the cigarette.
Mama Bennett looked at the two of them with concern and quietly slipped out.
The room was soon filled with a faint mint aroma. Although the scent of the lady’s cigarette was pleasant, its nicotine content was not low and was equally harmful to the body.
Ethan Sterling suddenly rembered the last ti she asked him for a cigarette, she kept coughing continuously, but now she was completely at ease with it.
This woman, who was exceptionally sensitive to slls, had sohow made peace with the scent of smoke...
He sat down next to her, quietly waiting for her response, and his heart was not as agitated as it was earlier.
More than half the cigarette was gone when Ruby Sullivan finally spoke slowly, "Tobias Townsend wanted to compete with his predatory siblings for the family fortune, so he found a stand-in girlfriend to protect his already pregnant fiancée."
Ethan Sterling furrowed his brow in surprise at the real story.
Ruby Sullivan continued angrily, "He thinks I have a bad enough reputation that being with would easily make people believe he had been bewitched as soone naive and inexperienced. It was more believable, and having a girlfriend like , they would all rather the elder Mr. Townsend knew, so there would be no interference or threats to my safety. He jumped at the chance and considered the best candidate, hence he offered favorable terms."
"However, after the banquet, he suddenly backed out of the deal, saying he feared you might target Lustra in retaliation. He is already struggling with internal conflicts and doesn’t want another enemy like you."
After she finished speaking, Ruby Sullivan stubbed out the cigarette and exhaled one last puff of white smoke, "He said, as a man, he could clearly see that you haven’t let go of , and he didn’t want to stir up trouble. So, I really want to know why you went to Gallia, and after you went to Gallia, why you reconciled with Hannah Jennings when you returned."
"Who said I reconciled with her?"
Ruby Sullivan expected his entitled tone, this trust-fund kid attitude that really made one want to hit him. She didn’t want to be angry with him; anger would only lead to the sa outco as before.
She pulled out a second cigarette because it was the only way she could speak to him calmly and rationally.
This ti, the lighter ignited in one go.
She took a deep drag, feeling the smoke circulate through her innards before she finally felt at ease, "Tonight, when she claid to be your girlfriend, you didn’t deny it."
"Because I saw you being close with Tobias Townsend, and it made furious." Ethan Sterling looked at her smoking and was infuriated as well, but he knew, if he couldn’t control his emotions, this might very well be their last conversation.
He knew he hadn’t co here to argue.
"I brought Hannah Jennings along because Aidan Sinclair wanted to et her." He added reluctantly, "I also wanted to know if seeing a woman by my side would leave you unphased. I wanted to know if your tenderness towards in Gallia was because you pitied , wanted to use , or because you loved ."
Ruby Sullivan looked at him in confusion, her brow knitted together, "Mr. Sterling, is this kind of probing amusing?"
"I know your collaboration with Alex was facilitated by T. I also know you personally cooked a al for him before leaving Gallia, despite your tight schedule, indicating you really like him." He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "When I found out, I suddenly felt my accomplishnts ant nothing. In the face of T, I even needed you to protect with vigilance."
Ruby Sullivan was not at all surprised by Mr. Sterling’s sense of defeat.
But this is reality. In this world, no one is all-powerful; even soone like T has things to fear. Truly free individuals probably don’t exist, or if they did, they likely didn’t last long.
"I feel like I’m no match for that man."
He could ensure she didn’t fear retaliation from L because he was strong enough. He also shielded her from gossip. Ethan Sterling was unwilling but still hoped she could be happy.
Seeing Ethan Sterling looking so defeated, Ruby Sullivan felt she was hallucinating. The always high-and-mighty Ethan Sterling, the one who could carelessly shrug off the weight of the world, actually felt inferior to soone else?
She stared at him intently, trying to spot any signs of acting, but found nothing, and the more she looked, the more her heart ached.
"Who told you I like T?" she unknowingly adopted his sa irritating tone.
Ethan Sterling found the ssage L sent on his phone: Losing to T is not disgraceful.
Ruby Sullivan genuinely wanted to smash his phone on his head, "Do you think L hasn’t caused enough trouble? And yet you believe his nonsense."
Ethan Sterling, hearing her say that, felt his pent-up emotions slightly ease. But he was still unsure and turned to her, hoping she’d clarify.
Ruby Sullivan sighed and laid bare the situation regarding T’s feelings for her, as well as his attitude and the two gifts he had given her.
"I broke up with you indeed because of L. Although the news was contained, you can’t keep it under wraps forever. I didn’t want you to beco a laughingstock. I feared this would beco a barrier between us. Even if we could initially overco it with love, over ti, when love isn’t as strong, this matter would beco a scar between us. Ignored, it doesn’t hurt, but it can’t be overlooked."
When she saw him about to speak, Ruby Sullivan hurriedly raised a hand to stop him, "Let finish."
"Another reason is the fear of L’s retaliation. The Lawson Group has been built over a century, a legacy spanning generations, and the current Sterling Group simply doesn’t need to compete with that. I never thought you were inferior to anyone; I rely wanted to protect you."
"I borrowed the hotel kitchen early in the morning to make that braised pork for T because I was genuinely thankful for him. He not only helped solve two huge problems but also showed the correct posture for liking soone, which is to be straightforward and fearless. So, when I showed kindness to you, it was also displaying my determination, hoping we could start over."
Ruby Sullivan said everything she had to say, feeling much relieved inside.
"What about you?"
She tilted her head to look at him, her eyes clear yet forlorn. Even after sharing her innermost thoughts, she felt neither stirring excitent nor anticipation, only fatigue. She even...didn’t really want to know his answer.
At this mont, Ethan Sterling, silent up until now, suddenly leaned in and pressed a light kiss on her lips, so gentle it was almost ethereal, careful, as if kissing a fragile treasure.
"I want you."
Reviews
All reviews (0)