CHAPTER 10: CHAPTER 10: THE WOMAN WHO CAME TO PROVOKE

The morning passed quickly. Although Honey wasn’t paying much attention, she stayed quiet and behaved herself because a top student was sitting beside her. Finally, it was lunchtime, and her stomach had been growling for a while.

Ruby Sullivan had enrolled her in a prestigious school, where the lunches were well-balanced and healthier than the meals at home. Unfortunately, Honey was always a picky eater who only ate the meals prepared by Ruby Sullivan.

So she had just taken out her lunchbox from her backpack and placed it on the desk when the teacher walked over, looking somewhat troubled, and said to Seth Sterling, "Seth, no lunch today?"

Seth was fiddling with a pen in his hand and slowly responded, "I’m not hungry."

He didn’t dare confess to the teacher that he had forgotten to bring his lunch that morning. Even though he didn’t like the food at home, the kindergarten lunches were even less appetizing!

"Hey, Brother Sterling doesn’t have lunch? Why don’t you share with me!" Honey said, opening her lunchbox. "My mom packed my lunch, and it’s delicious!"

Seth glanced at the lunchbox and instinctively wanted to refuse, but his stomach grumbled loudly.

With a bit of annoyance, he argued, "I’m not hungry..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Honey stuffed a piece of sweet and sour pork into his mouth.

Seth’s eyes darkened, and anger surged up. He had a cleanliness obsession and never used the same chopsticks as others! "You..."

He looked at Honey with some irritation, but she remained innocent, asking, "Isn’t it incredibly tasty?"

The sweet and sour pork in his mouth seemed to have been cast with magic, with a perfect blend of sweet and sour flavors bursting with taste. With every bite, the juices exploded.

It was... unexpectedly delicious.

A flicker of amazement appeared in Seth’s eyes.

"See? My mom’s cooking is worth more than gold and silver!" Honey said, offering another piece of meat to Seth, her eyes full of anticipation. "Brother Sterling, if you like it, I can ask my mom to pack one for you next time!"

It’s just a meal; what’s the big deal?

Could it possibly be better than what those chefs Dad specially invited from Gallia make?

Though he thought this way, when he looked at the sweet and sour pork, Seth clearly heard the sound of his own saliva being swallowed.

Just one more bite.

A hint of amusement flashed in Honey’s eyes as she handed the chopsticks over, watching Seth eat the sweet and sour pork.

Seth’s earlobes reddened slightly, seemingly embarrassed, yet he still stubbornly said, "It’s just average."

Honey’s ears ignored his words, and she handed him another piece of meat, "No matter, no matter, I’ll have my mom make you some next time anyway!"

Seth gave her a glance but said nothing.

After a while, he finally spoke, "I don’t eat ginger."

"Great! My mom and I don’t eat ginger either!" Honey was delighted to find a commonality with Brother Sterling.

...

The Sterling Group.

Today, as soon as the boss appeared in the company, the employees were all excited.

The reason was Ruby Sullivan, who was two steps behind Ethan Sterling.

Since Wenny had rarely appeared in the media over the past two years, most people knew she was joining the group but couldn’t match her to a face.

So when the woman stepped gracefully into the president’s office in high heels, the chatter reached its peak.

"No way, the president has a new favorite? This woman has such a perfect figure, almost like a Victoria’s Secret model! Look at that chest, that waist, those legs..." One woman exclaimed with envy.

"Entertainment industry? Model? I don’t think so," another woman shook her head. "Look at that aura; she’s definitely some prestigious young lady with a clean background. She might even be the future president’s wife!"

Just as she finished speaking, the faces of several others showed fear, and they hurriedly covered her mouth, "Are you crazy? If Miss Sullivan heard you, she’d surely peel your skin!"

"Who are you talking about?" A familiar female voice came from above, and the gossipy women jumped up, not daring to look at the woman in front of them. "Miss Sullivan."

Rhonda Sullivan stood nearby, holding a lunchbox, her beautiful face covered in coldness.

She hadn’t expected that coming to see Ethan Sterling today, she would hear such news.

The president’s new favorite?

She knew Ethan Sterling’s personality and was never impressed by women. Since Ruby Sullivan disappeared, she had been the one by his side the longest.

Thinking of this, Rhonda felt more confident and looked toward the front desk, "The president brought a woman over? Where are they now?"

"President’s office," the receptionist replied in a whisper.

President’s office?

Rhonda automatically imagined the woman Ethan brought in as a fox-like seductress.

Turning around, she quickly entered the elevator.

Ruby Sullivan was at The Sterling Company only to discuss work details. Now, being alone with Ethan Sterling was quite uncomfortable, so after a while, she excused herself to go to the bathroom and left.

However, after only a few steps, the sound of high heels suddenly echoed behind her.

Ruby instinctively looked back, only to meet Rhonda Sullivan’s face, twisted with anger.

Her mind blanked for a moment before quickly reacting.

After five years apart, we finally met again, my dear sister.

I hadn’t even gone looking for you, and you came right at me.

In the next moment, Ruby curled her lips, "Hello, may I ask if there’s something you need?"

Rhonda had mentally rehearsed many sarcastic remarks, but seeing this woman, she couldn’t help but suck in a breath.

She finally understood why the people at the front desk reacted so excitedly.

Because the woman before her possessed beauty sufficient to make Rhonda jealous, her features were composed entirely of understated elegance, like a carved masterpiece with not a trace of excess, her figure flawlessly perfect—even a woman like Rhonda had to pause, not to mention Ethan Sterling!

Mad jealousy flashed through Rhonda’s eyes.

"You’re the woman Ethan brought into the company?" Rhonda’s voice was sharp, becoming increasingly aggressive.

"Over the years, countless people yearned to turn from sparrows into phoenixes. Women like you who imagine climbing into Ethan’s bed just because they have some looks—I’ve seen plenty. Don’t think you can stay just because you have a seductress’s face..."

"Miss," Ruby looked at her with some amusement, her voice unhurried, "I haven’t even said who I am, yet you’re so agitated. Do many women who come looking for Mr. Sterling end up talking so nastily?" Rhonda’s expression turned pale. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you," Ruby drew out her words and gave Rhonda a mocking glance, "it’s one thing to enjoy picking men from the trash heap, but to think every woman in the world enjoys trash."

A cold smile passed through Ruby’s eyes.