CHAPTER 371: CHAPTER 371: DON’T MENTION HER

"Daddy, you’re back!" Honey ran over joyfully seeking a hug from her father, completely forgetting she had decided to give up living with him.

For Honey, not living with her father wasn’t a big deal. Her brother said they wouldn’t go abroad this time, so whenever she missed her father, she could just have him come to visit her.

Ethan Sterling ruffled his daughter’s hair but didn’t pick her up and kiss her like usual. Although he wasn’t seriously ill, he still had a cold and didn’t want to pass it on to her.

Ruby Sullivan didn’t expect he’d be discharged so soon, feeling momentarily awkward, "Are you... alright now?"

"Yes, the doctor said some good rest would do the job."

Seth Sterling came over to take his sister’s hand, "Let’s go back to our room, you two have a good talk." He said to his father before leading his sister away.

Ethan suddenly felt a bit anxious. His son had seemed excited when he called him in the morning, but now, seeing his downcast look, he figured Seth didn’t manage to persuade Ruby, and his heart sank a little.

Ruby stood up, "I came to see the kids."

"Hmm." Ethan put down his luggage, walked over to the sofa, and sat down, "You... still don’t want to change your mind?"

"No."

"Even for the kids’ sake?"

"I have to live my own life first." Ruby met his eyes directly; for once, she didn’t evade.

"Alright, I’ll move out from here. You and the kids continue with your lives, and other matters will carry on according to the divorce agreement. I’ll retain visitation rights with the children."

"I hope you won’t intentionally disrupt my life." Ruby reminded him coldly; if they continued entangled, it wouldn’t be any different from before.

Ethan frowned but soon sighed, his eyes darkening, "Ruby Sullivan, I hope you won’t regret today’s decision."

"Hmm." Ruby replied softly, apologizing to him in her heart. Besides apologies, she didn’t know what else to say.

An hour later, Ethan packed all his things, called Old Black, and left. As he departed, Honey and Seth came out to see him off. There was no wailing and crying as he had imagined. His son looked at him seriously, and his daughter said she would miss him, as if to them, it was merely sending their father off on a business trip.

In the car, Old Black wiped the sweat from hauling luggage, hesitantly saying, "Boss, are you really leaving?"

Thinking about the farewell scene, Ethan felt a bit upset, "Old Black, do you think I’ve been a lousy father?"

"A father’s love is like a mountain; it’s deeper and heavier. Seth and Honey are still young, so it’s natural for them to rely more on their mom."

Ethan sighed deeply, "Let’s go."

In the afternoon, Ruby went to Sasha Shaw’s house to fetch her luggage. The events had occurred so suddenly that she didn’t know what to tell her friend other than that Ethan had moved out.

Once home, she felt utterly exhausted. Honey kept pestering her, asking when she could see her dad and if she could call him, which made Ruby even more irritable. Helplessly, she handed her talkative sister over to her more reserved brother, explaining she was just tired, and locked herself in her room.

Once the world quieted down, an unspeakable sense of grievance welled up inside her. Lying on the bed, she covered her face, pretending to be a corpse free from worldly emotions, with tears streaming silently down her face despite her closed eyes.

She consoled herself that enduring this discomfort just for a moment would make everything fine, believing that the more she repeated it, the more it might become true.

Elsewhere, the unexpected return of Ethan to his family’s home startled Vivian and Cindy Sterling. They both assumed he had argued with Ruby, whispering to each other for a while before deciding to call Ruby together, but no one answered several times.

At dinner, Ethan declared that no one was to mention Ruby at home.

Only then did the Sterling mother and daughter realize that the situation between Ruby and Ethan wasn’t simply a matter of quarreling.

Leon Sterling jested, "So... can I openly pursue her now?"

"Leon!" Vivian’s face turned stern instantly.

Ethan ate leisurely, not even glancing at him, "As long as it makes you happy."

After dinner, Cindy chased after Leon into his studio, "What’s going on with Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law?"

"They divorced last year; calling her Sister-in-law isn’t appropriate."

"Hey!" Cindy punched him, "Second Brother, you aren’t really thinking of getting involved, are you?"

"Of course not." Leon began to add another layer of color to a watercolor painting.

"That’s good." Cindy exhaled deeply, thinking that if her second brother really pursued Ruby, it would be a disaster for the Sterling family, no matter the outcome.

"Get out, I’m painting." Leon ordered her to leave.

"Oh." Cindy turned and walked out. After descending the stairs, she suddenly realized that her second brother hadn’t answered the question she most wanted to know. What a cunning guy!

The next morning, Vivian went to her third uncle’s house.

She had already prepared to arrange a wedding for Ethan and Ruby in spring next year. How could they talk about separating just like that? Also, Ethan’s attitude was so stiff. She believed there must be something fishy going on. But knowing her son’s temper, since he spoke like that, she definitely couldn’t go directly to him to ask.

The third uncle also sighed after hearing about the two kids.

He had planned to propose to Vivian after Ethan’s wedding, but with this situation unfolding, what would happen to his marriage proposal?

"Aidan and Ethan get along well; maybe he knows something. Could you ask Aidan for me?"

"Sure, I’ll call that kid right away." The third uncle said, taking out his phone.

On the day of the fashion show, there were many elites present. Even with the news blocked, rumors were unavoidable. Although Aidan wasn’t there, he’d been keeping an eye on The Lawson Group and The Sullivan Group’s collaboration and coincidentally knew some things.

However, since the involved parties hadn’t admitted it, and there was no evidence to confirm that it was Ruby, plus she was his brother’s woman, Aidan wasn’t going to be so unethical as to tell the third uncle directly.

"It was rumored that the unexpected assistance from the Caelus Government in rescuing Ethan was mediated by Dr. L, who is now the head of The Lawson Group, and also Ruby’s mentor in perfumery. There have always been rumors about her and Dr. L. Who knows if they’re true, but I guess Ethan and Ruby’s situation could be related to this."

The third uncle had the call on speaker, so Vivian heard every word.

"Got it." the third uncle said, hanging up. Seeing Vivian’s grim face, he comforted her, "I think you shouldn’t meddle in the kids’ matters."

"How can I not care when my future daughter-in-law has been wronged so much?" Vivian’s face was pale with rage, unable to let go.