CHAPTER 395: CHAPTER 395: UNHAPPY NEW YEAR

A few minutes later, Ruby Sullivan came downstairs again, slightly out of breath, and gave each of the little ones a red envelope, "This is the New Year money from Mom. I hope you both will be healthy, happy, and safe in the new year."

After saying that, she kissed each of them on the forehead. Hm... although she hadn’t brushed her teeth yet, her love for her babies was genuine and full.

"Thank you, Mom!" Seth chuckled with joy as he held the red envelope, showing a rare childish expression on his face.

Honey, who had been examining the golden letters on the red envelope, quickly echoed her brother after hearing his thanks, "Thank you, Mom!"

This made Ethan Sterling, sitting on the sofa, feel a bit awkward.

Although he had prepared gifts for the children, he had forgotten the essential red envelopes for New Year. Watching the two little ones receive their New Year money so happily, he felt a bit uneasy. Even if he wanted to go upstairs and wrap a couple of red envelopes quickly, he didn’t have any ready ones.

Taking advantage of the kids’ happiness, Ruby Sullivan turned around and pulled out two more red envelopes from her pocket and handed them to him. These were originally prepared in place of the absent father, but since he was back, he should give them himself.

Although she and Ethan Sterling couldn’t continue together, she didn’t want the two babies to feel like they didn’t have a dad or were ignored by him.

If it were before, Ruby Sullivan wouldn’t worry too much about this matter, but now that Ethan Sterling was no longer single, as the saying goes, with a stepmother comes a stepfather. So she just hoped the children would grow up quickly enough to accept this fact.

Ethan Sterling let out a long breath inwardly, then got up and walked over to the two little ones, "This is from Dad. I hope you both will be healthy, happy, and safe in the new year." Then he also gave them each a blessing kiss.

Of course, he said this not because he just woke up and couldn’t think of a different blessing, nor did he want to deliberately imitate Ruby Sullivan, but to let the children know that although Dad and Mom weren’t together, their love for them was the same.

Honey was overjoyed, "Wow, another red envelope!"

The little girl wore a bright red Tang suit embroidered with silver thread, fringed with white rabbit fur on the shoulders and cuffs. Holding a big red envelope in each hand, she smiled like a flower. If it weren’t for her disheveled hair, she would look just like a lucky baby doll.

Seth was also very happy, "Let’s go back to the room and put the red envelopes away."

"Okay." Honey nodded and followed her brother upstairs.

For a moment, the living room was left with only Ethan Sterling and Ruby Sullivan.

"Red envelopes, thank you." Ethan Sterling awkwardly spoke first.

"They’re for the children." Meaning it has nothing to do with you, no need to say thanks. Ruby Sullivan said as she got up, intending to freshen up and then style Honey, who looked like Melanie Storm.

Ethan Sterling was pricked by her movement, "You can’t even bear to stay with me for one more second?" Even this morning, he saw her immediately escape from the room after seeing him, and she wouldn’t stay in bed when Nolan Nash came to sleep on the sofa.

Ruby Sullivan smiled, "I just need to wash my face, you’re overthinking." She walked a few steps away, then turned to look at him, "Happy New Year." She wouldn’t escape because he didn’t hold enough weight in her heart. To her, at most, they could only be obligatory friends, strangers, really, as they had two children at least, she hoped it to be the case.

Ethan Sterling’s slightly furrowed brows quickly relaxed, "Happy New Year." He responded without smiling because he wasn’t one bit happy, nor did he want such a blessing at all.

He no longer felt sleepy, sitting dazed on the sofa when Leon Sterling returned from his morning run and looked at him in surprise, "Brother? When did you get back?" After entering and changing his shoes, Leon joined Ethan Sterling on the sofa for some post-run stretching and casual chatter.

"Vivian was worried sick last night, your phone was off the whole time, she’d be very happy to see you."

"I was probably on the plane, wanted to come back to celebrate New Year with you guys, so I finished my business early. But I got stuck in traffic on the way to the airport and missed my initially booked flight."

"Ruby made some really tasty dumpling fillings, there should be some left, you must try some today." Leon raised his arms and stretched upwards, exhaling deeply, then chuckled, "The Spring Festival Gala was really a letdown."

Ethan Sterling didn’t expect him to watch the Spring Festival Gala, and he laughed too.

Seeing the blanket thrown on the sofa and Ruby Sullivan gone, Leon walked over to fold it intending to take it away.

Ethan Sterling couldn’t help asking, "Is this yours?"

"Yes, I saw Ruby sleeping on the sofa in the morning, didn’t want her catching a cold, it’s still pretty cold in the living room." He said and walked away with the blanket.

Ethan Sterling really wanted to deliberately say thanks, hesitated for a moment, but the words still drifted out of his mouth, though so quietly that Leon didn’t even hear it.

Leaning back on the sofa, Ethan Sterling exhaled deeply, feeling an even less happy New Year.

It wasn’t long before the whole family gradually got up, and Ruby Sullivan had dressed the two little ones neatly and beautifully.

Seth was wearing a black Zhongshan suit, with his hair slicked back with gel, standing there like a refined young gentleman from the Republic of China era, gentle and unparalleled.

Honey had her hair tied in two small buns, adorned with red ribbons, looking cute and adorable.

The two little ones took turns visiting Vivian, Uncle Three, Leon, and Cindy Sterling, wishing them a Happy New Year, and received several more red envelopes, their smiles wide with joy.

Actually, Honey had no concept of money; to her, red envelopes were like gifts, and receiving gifts naturally made her happy.

Since starting elementary school, Seth received a certain amount of pocket money each week for discretionary use, but usually, anything he needed, Ruby Sullivan would buy for him, so his pocket money was saved up, intending as his first capital for starting a business in the future. However, he was happy to receive red envelopes, mostly because it was his first time receiving them.

Moreover, this year was the liveliest Spring Festival he had ever experienced in his life.

Vivian suggested that everyone go to the temple in the afternoon to fulfill a vow, and take a stroll to see the festivities.

This was another new experience for the two little ones, and this trip not only included Dad and Mom but also Vivian, Grandpa Three, Uncle Two, and Aunt, how lucky they were!

So after lunch, they set out in grand style.

The Sterling brothers acted as drivers; two cars were more than enough for everyone. Ruby Sullivan graciously sat in Ethan Sterling’s car since she couldn’t ride with Leon and the two little ones sat in the back, with Honey excitedly asking her brother all sorts of questions about the temple, almost unable to contain herself.

Honey had never been to a temple before; she didn’t even know what monks looked like, so when listening to her brother’s explanation, her excitement grew, wishing she could fly to the temple to see the Eighteen Arhats right away.

Yes, Seth hadn’t been to a temple either.

His understanding of monks mostly came from the few martial arts films he had seen, but when introducing them to his sister, he was extremely confident and poised.

Listening with interest, Ruby Sullivan found her son’s serious nonsense a thousand times cuter than usual, hence she signaled Ethan Sterling with her eyes not to correct him.

The atmosphere inside the car was very warm when suddenly Ethan Sterling’s phone rang, and since it was his personal phone he brought, he habitually accepted the call before looking at it.

Then, a sweet voice sounded inside the car, "Honey, what are you doing? Do you miss me?"

The two little ones in the back, who had been chatting about Shaolin Kung Fu, suddenly stopped talking.