CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: AN UNFATHOMABLE SENSE OF FAMILIARITY

Ruby Sullivan nodded: "Go ahead and call."

Honey happily went to her backpack, took out her little phone, dialed Seth Sterling’s number, and listened to the long beeping sound before someone answered with a "hello."

"Brother Sterling, tomorrow you can eat the food my mom cooks!"

"Melody Wallace?" A man’s cool voice echoed.

Honey was stunned, somewhat puzzled as she picked up the phone and looked at Ruby Sullivan questioningly.

Not Brother Sterling?

Ruby Sullivan noticed Honey’s confusion and mouthed the question, asking who it was.

Honey shook her head in a daze and handed the phone to her.

Ruby Sullivan frowned as she took the phone, held it to her ear, and said, "Hello."

The man’s voice on the other end was deep, and upon hearing her voice, there was a brief sneer before he composed himself and said, "Miss Wenny."

It was Ethan Sterling.

Ruby Sullivan frowned even more: "Mr. Sterling, sorry, Honey meant to call Seth. If it’s inconvenient..."

"Seth is taking a shower, call again in ten minutes."

With that, he hung up the call abruptly.

Ruby Sullivan listened to the busy tone from the other end with a sense of bewilderment, unable to help but curse inwardly, what a nutcase.

On the other side, Ethan Sterling stood in Seth Sterling’s room, listening to the sound of water coming from the bathroom, feeling an inexplicable anger surging within him, unable to suppress it.

What’s wrong with him?

It’s just a call from that woman, why get so worked up.

Her tone carried an unintentional alienation, disdain, and dissatisfaction.

So what exactly did he do to offend her?

He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.

Late at night, Ruby Sullivan, just as every night for the past five years, started having nightmares again.

In the dream, the strength of two maids was overwhelming, making it impossible for her to struggle free. The icy liquid forced her to open her mouth and swallow, gushing back out from her nose and throat. She knelt on the ground, coughing forcefully, a twisting pain coming from her abdomen.

Just like five years ago, their voices were distorted and hoarse, unpleasant to hear: "Miss Sullivan, we advise you to abort this child, and soon vacate Mrs. Sterling’s position for someone else!"

The voices echoed like phantoms, elongating, like sharp nails scraping down a chalkboard, emitting a piercing sound. Ruby Sullivan screamed out loud, waking up with a shock.

Cold sweat trickled down her back, her nails clutching the thin blanket beneath her, twisting it into a knot.

She gasped for breath, turned on the bedside lamp, and the gentle light dispelled some of the dark fears. Ruby Sullivan lingered for a moment before feeling the lingering worries on her mind dissipate.

The time displayed on the phone was one in the morning.

Ruby Sullivan composed herself and dialed a call.

The phone rang for a while before someone picked up, as expected.

"Another nightmare?" A cheerful male voice came from the other end, exceptionally familiar with Ruby Sullivan.

"Mm, are you still up?"

"Pulling an all-nighter to work on a proposal for a client," the man on the other side yawned, "You must’ve guessed I wasn’t asleep, or you wouldn’t have called me. How’s it going, are the nightmares frequent?"

"Not too bad, just had one this week."

"Hmm, seems like you’ve adapted well to the life here, keep it up, try not to have any at all. But Fatty Ruru, are you sure you won’t regret coming back? When I took you away back then, it was to get you out of The Sterling Family’s misery. I never thought you’d be wading in these murky waters again."

"Nathaniel, you know I have no choice." Ruby Sullivan’s voice lowered as they touched upon the topic.

"Alright, I’m not blaming you. You know, I’ll support any decision you make unconditionally. You didn’t call just to talk about this, did you?"

Ruby Sullivan smiled, "This time I called, I also wanted to ask you a question, how’s my father doing now?"

Nathaniel’s voice relaxed, carrying a reassuring smile, "Don’t worry, I’ve got my people watching over your father; they wouldn’t dare try anything."

"I’m still worried," Ruby Sullivan sighed, knowing Ethan Sterling would eventually find out her true identity, and she’d end up being threatened with Brandon Sullivan, "I’m wondering if we could move my father to Meridia for care, so Ethan Sterling’s people won’t find him."

Nathaniel on the other end contemplated, "It’s quite feasible."

"I can give it a try. If it’s successful, I’ll let you know, but I might need a transfer application signed by you."

"Alright, I’ll find time to come over," Ruby Sullivan felt a weight lift from her chest, a boulder finally off her heart. She smiled, expressing her heartfelt thanks, "Nathaniel, thank you."

By this time, it was already two in the morning. Nathaniel seemed to have pressing matters to attend to, instructing someone to wait before asking, "Ruby, are you sure you’ve thought it through?"

"I said, I have no choice," Ruby Sullivan’s voice carried a hint of bitterness, "Honey’s health can’t wait, without her biological father’s marrow, we’re helpless, and besides—"

She paused, her voice tinged with coldness, gripping the blanket tighter unconsciously, "The matters from five years ago, I need Ethan Sterling to pay back, regardless of what happens. Nathaniel, thank you for continually supporting me, truly."

"Alright, Fatty Ruru, this makes me unhappy when you say it, listen up, it’s so late, go to bed quickly and get good rest so you can fight well."

"Mm, goodnight then." Ruby Sullivan responded softly.

After hanging up, Ruby Sullivan stared blankly out the window, her thoughts drifting back to five years ago once more.

Back then, she had struggled through agonizing pain to call Nathaniel Truman for help, and by the time he saved her, she was already unconscious.

When she regained consciousness, she was already in R City, and in her despair, she just wanted to focus on a safe pregnancy, but it wasn’t long before she learned her father had suffered a stroke and was hospitalized, while The Sullivan Family was completely taken over by Rhonda Sullivan.

It wasn’t hard to deduce that her father’s sudden hospitalization had everything to do with Rhonda Sullivan.

She wanted to fight Rhonda Sullivan to the end, but ultimately, her unborn child held her back.

The doctor informed her she was pregnant with twins.

In that instant, she couldn’t describe her feelings; she only felt that the heavens hadn’t been too harsh on her, so she could only ask Nathaniel to take good care of her father.

She thought she would bring her father back after giving birth to the babies, but she never expected...

Her thoughts abruptly ended on the night of labor.

The excessively painful memories were not something she wanted to recall.

Ruby Sullivan looked at Honey sleeping soundly next to her. The baby’s breathing was steady and serene, her sleeping face was her greatest comfort and motivation.

Ruby Sullivan affectionately placed a kiss on her face, determined that no matter the cost, she would ensure Honey lived safely.

As she turned and tossed, unable to sleep, on the other side, Ethan Sterling wasn’t any more at peace.

Five years had passed, and he had become a formidable presence, feared throughout Ariston with his decisive ways, but only in the deep of night would he reveal his emotions like any ordinary person.

That Wenny was definitely not as simple as she seemed.

A baseless familiarity, inexplicable hatred.

Piling up one insignificant matter after another stirred the deepest secrets buried in his heart.

He couldn’t find anything from Wenny, but from Melody Wallace, perhaps he could gain an unexpected joy.

At this thought, Ethan Sterling’s lips curled into a cold smile.