CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: ACCIDENT

In the hospital, in the director’s office, Faye Truman placed all the documents on the desk and smiled wryly, "Do you really want me to call the police over such a trivial matter?"

"Mr. Truman, please be calm." The director, with a benevolent smile, replied, "Over the years, Mr. Brandon Sullivan has been under the care of his son-in-law. Since you’re a friend of Miss Sullivan, you must know Mr. Sterling. We haven’t seen Miss Sullivan in person, and Mr. Spencer Sullivan is in a coma. You need Mr. Sterling’s consent to transfer him."

"Ethan Sterling has already divorced Ruby Sullivan. Legally, he has nothing to do with Brandon Sullivan!" Faye Truman didn’t want to waste more words and took out his phone to call the police.

At this time, Ethan Sterling pushed open the door and came in.

"Oh," Faye Truman sneered, "You really have the face to show up." He pretended to look at his phone while actually texting Ruby Sullivan.

Ethan Sterling frowned.

He certainly remembered this man, who always posed as Ruby Sullivan’s brother. When they got married, he cried worse than any woman.

The director immediately got up, took the letter of authorization from Ruby Sullivan and the transfer application, and handed them over, "Mr. Sterling."

Faye Truman widened his eyes at the director’s sycophantic demeanor, "Ethan Sterling, don’t tell me this is your family’s hospital!"

Ethan Sterling focused on the signatures at the bottom of the documents and raised an eyebrow, "Is there a problem?" He looked at the familiar name, a bit lost in thought. After all, they had been married for three years, yet he didn’t recognize her handwriting.

"Where is Ruby Sullivan? Why didn’t she come herself?"

"Ethan Sterling, I’m not here to reminisce. I’m taking Mr. Sullivan. If you don’t release him, I’ll call the police right now."

Ethan Sterling ignored the question, "What’s Ruby Sullivan hiding from?"

Faye Truman was enraged, "What right do you have to mention her name?" He then took out his phone, "Release him, or make a big scene?"

Ethan Sterling sighed, "Why transfer him to a different hospital?"

"Because we’ve found a better hospital."

Ethan Sterling pondered for a moment and nodded, signing the consent form.

Faye Truman was taken aback, not expecting him to agree so readily. Despite this, he couldn’t help but quip, "What a waste of words."

Ethan Sterling watched as Brandon Sullivan was loaded onto a special vehicle. Before Faye Truman could leave, Ethan blocked his path, "Where is she?"

"Dead," Faye Truman replied coldly, "Ruby’s health was already at risk for childbirth. Five years ago, she died from a hemorrhage during labor." With that, he pushed Ethan Sterling aside and got into the car.

In a moment of desperation, Ethan Sterling forcefully held the car door, "And the child?"

"Both died in one fell swoop!" Faye Truman slammed the car door shut.

Ethan Sterling stood frozen in place. She... was dead?

As the car drove away, he remained motionless until Howard approached and reminded him, "Mr. Sterling?"

"Check if the signatures on those two documents are Ruby Sullivan’s handwriting." Ethan Sterling squinted. Alive or dead, he had to see her himself.

Just as he was about to drive away, he noticed a familiar car parked not far away. Then, Wenny got out of the car and hurriedly walked towards the medical building.

During the morning rush hour, Ruby Sullivan, unfamiliar with the route, took over an hour to reach the hospital. Not finding Faye Truman in the lobby, she thought about calling him. When she checked her phone, she first saw the message he sent.

Ethan Sterling is here.

She was startled, half-panicked, and quickly called him to find out the current situation.

Rhonda Sullivan had already taken over The Sullivan Group. Ethan Sterling had no reason to detain her father. Could he really be that ruthless?

Ruby Sullivan was utterly confused. She finally dialed Faye Truman’s number, but before the call connected, she heard a familiar voice call her name. Startled, she turned around abruptly, only to find Ethan Sterling standing less than two meters away.

In her shock, she forgot to manage her expression, instinctively lowering her phone and hiding it behind her, as if his eyes could see through the phone to her secrets.

"Mr. Sterling," she said with a stiff smile, so nervous that she forgot how to smile properly.

Ethan Sterling stared at her strange expression, squinting slightly, "What are you doing here?"

"I..." Ruby Sullivan took a deep breath, composing herself, "I wasn’t feeling well. But with such a long queue for registration, maybe I’ll come another day."

"Need me to have a word with the director?" Ethan Sterling smiled.

"Mr. Sterling... knows the director well?" Her heart sank as she cautiously probed.

"It’s part of The Sterling Family’s property, and besides..." He paused before continuing, "My father-in-law is hospitalized here."

Hearing the words ’father-in-law,’ the grimace on Ruby Sullivan’s face slowly stiffened until it vanished completely. Her fingertips dug into her palm, unsure of what to say.

Ethan Sterling observed her expression and spoke again, "His name is Brandon Sullivan."

With those words, Ruby Sullivan’s entire body shuddered violently.

Two seconds later, she calmly replied, "I see."

Ruby Sullivan seemed incredibly calm as she spoke, looking at him indifferently, as if his words couldn’t stir her heart at all.

"Yes, has Miss Wenny heard of my father?"

As the man directly referred to Brandon Sullivan as his father, a strange look flashed through Ruby Sullivan’s eyes, quickly disappearing as if it had fallen into the ocean without a ripple in sight.

"Sorry, I haven’t. Is Mr. Sullivan a renowned figure?" Ruby Sullivan replied with a smile, hiding her nails clawed into her palm behind her back.

Seeing this, Ethan Sterling’s expression faded, and he took a step back, "He was the former chairman of The Sullivan Group. I thought you’d have some impression."

"Sorry, Mr. Sterling, I wasn’t very familiar with The Sterling Group before, let alone The Sullivan Group, just a partner of The Sterling Group. I’ll let you visit the patient then. See you at the company."

Ethan Sterling shifted slightly, blocking her path, "Not seeing a doctor?"

"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Sterling. It’s a small issue, no need to bother you."

"It’s no bother." Ethan Sterling stared at her, a sly smile playing on his lips.

Ruby Sullivan returned his gaze with a smile, took a deep breath, and somewhat helplessly said, "Mr. Sterling, girls like to be discreet when they see a doctor, you understand, right?" With that, she deftly moved around him and walked away quickly.

Ethan Sterling kept his eyes on her retreating figure, his gaze growing deeper.

Ruby Sullivan hurried toward the parking lot as if fleeing, realizing only after she got into the car that she was out of breath. She wanted to call Faye Truman immediately to get things clear, only to see Ethan Sterling’s car parked askew in front of her. Afraid she might run into him again, she decided to drive off first.

A few minutes later, her phone started repeatedly indicating that the other line was busy.

Ruby Sullivan’s brows furrowed more and more, unable to figure out why Faye Truman couldn’t be reached and growing more anxious about her father and his safety.

Today’s Ethan Sterling was no longer the naïve young man of the past. If he still had any of that humanity left in him, he wouldn’t have continued to be with her while knowing As if suddenly realizing something in distress, Ruby Sullivan made a quick U-turn to head back to the hospital.

Unexpectedly, the driver on the opposite side couldn’t react in time and failed to slow down, crashing straight into the back of her car.

Ruby Sullivan only felt a "bang," and the steering wheel in her hands became unsteady. The car lost balance, swerving and crashing into a barrier, while she was thrown forward, her head colliding with the steering wheel due to inertia.

The car horn shrieked shrilly, causing her head to spin. Disoriented, she seemed to see someone frantically knocking on her car window, yet she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

It felt like viscous liquid was flowing down from her forehead, blurring her vision. Despite her anxiety, she only felt her head growing heavier and her eyelids unwilling to remain open.