CHAPTER 396: CHAPTER 396: DIALED THE WRONG NUMBER

Ethan Sterling was also frozen, and he immediately hung up the phone in the next second. He hadn’t felt so uneasy and ashamed in a long time, as if caught in bed doing something wrong.

The atmosphere in the car dropped to freezing point. Ruby Sullivan turned her head to look out the window to hide her sullen expression. She knew there was nothing inherently wrong with what happened, but for it to happen so abruptly while the children were oblivious felt, to her, like not just an accident but a disaster!

She could only silently hope that the children were so engrossed in their conversation a moment ago that they didn’t hear what the woman said.

But fate didn’t allow her to have everything go her way just because it was New Year’s.

Because Honey soon unhappily asked Ethan Sterling, "Dad, who was that person who just called you?"

Well, actually, she thought the same as her mom. She was absorbed in her brother’s talk about The Grove Temple’s martial arts and didn’t pay attention to what had just happened. Moreover, she couldn’t even tell that there was anything wrong with that way of speaking.

Her mom and Aunt Sasha often called each other darling, and when she was in Meridia, she would call Nina that way too, thinking that as long as they were good friends, they could be called that.

It was Seth who had just leaned in and whispered for her to ask.

After living together for these days, the twins were very in sync. Even though Seth had lowered his voice to almost a whisper, Honey could still understand what her brother was saying.

Ruby Sullivan frowned, uncertain if what Ethan Sterling would say would ruin the good mood of the two little treasures. She couldn’t help clenching her fists.

Ethan Sterling pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "I don’t know, maybe it was a wrong number."

He had just finished saying this when the phone rang again. This time he glanced at the number. Although there was no name, he recognized it and immediately hung up.

Seth was somewhat annoyed and questioned, "Was it another wrong number?"

"Yes," Ethan Sterling replied with a darkened expression.

"Oh," Honey responded unconcernedly and turned to look at her brother, only to see him frowning as though he was angry. She didn’t know if it was Dad’s answer that displeased him or if her question upset him.

However, after looking at her brother a few more times, she saw him staring angrily at the back of Dad’s head, thinking that he must be unhappy with Dad. But since her brother didn’t prompt her to ask anything else, she didn’t dwell on it further.

Just as she looked at her brother again, hesitating about whether to ask once more about The Grove Temple, her brother suddenly spoke up, "We’ll be there soon, and you’ll see then."

Honey didn’t know why her brother was suddenly so angry, but her natural sensitivity told her that now wasn’t the time to ask, so she said dejectedly, "Okay."

Ruby Sullivan knew that Honey had been fooled, and at that moment, she didn’t know whether to be happy or sad. Happy, because at least it wouldn’t affect Honey’s mood.

She exhaled a long breath and looked sideways at Ethan Sterling, eager to know what he was thinking; a wrong number... it was amazing he came up with that.

Others in the car didn’t know what had just happened over here, so when they got out, they were all still in high spirits. Only Seth’s gloomy expression was too apparent, causing Vivian to worry, wondering who had upset her little grandson.

Just as Honey was about to say it was Dad, Seth tugged her arm.

"I’m not unhappy, I’m just a little sleepy from the trip and haven’t fully woken up yet," Seth said coolly, holding on to his sister’s hand.

Honey gave her brother a look, leaned over to pinch his face, and then made a big, exaggerated smile at him, squinting her eyes and grinning wide, as if trying to show all her back teeth, with this bizarre, overly odd expression. Then, maintaining this look, she widened her eyes and asked, "Brother, are you awake now?" With her offbeat tone, she occasionally rolled her eyes like she was having a fit.

Seth looked at his sister, who had turned herself into a little bundle of nerves, and the ice on his face shattered, laughing as he dismissed her antics with, "So ugly." Then he took her hand.

Her brother rarely laughed heartily like her, so she knew, as long as his gaze softened and the corners of his mouth lifted even slightly, he was happy. As long as he was happy, she’d gladly be silly.

Ruby Sullivan watched the rowdy pair from not far away, feeling gratified. Opportunities for the whole family to be out together like this would probably never come again, and she hoped the two little ones could happily enjoy this outing.

She hadn’t expected so many people to visit the temple on New Year’s Day. Uncle Three was familiar with the area, so he acted as the guide. Honey and Seth were a bit disappointed that although there were monks in robes in the temple, there were too few, and they didn’t seem like they knew martial arts; some even held mobile phones.

Unwilling to give up, Honey ran up to a monk, clasped her palms respectfully, and with a childlike voice asked, "Master, can I see the Eighteen Arhats here?"

The Head Monk was amused by the little girl’s innocent question, slowly returned the salute, then slowly answered, "Little donor, I’m afraid you’d have to go to The Grove Temple on Mount Canto to see the Eighteen Arhats; they aren’t here."

"Oh, I see..." Honey looked disappointed and sighed, but she didn’t forget the etiquette her brother taught her and put her palms together in return, "Thank you, Master."

However, Honey’s disappointment was soon replaced by the joy of drawing lots.

She found the way Vivian and Grandpa Three were drawing lots interesting, so she joined them and got a lot. The fortune teller said her lot was extremely lucky, predicting that she would grow healthy and achieve academic success in the new year.

Seth believed that a scientist should be a staunch atheist, so no matter how his sister coaxed, he refused to go into the temple to burn incense and draw lots, nor was he willing to pray. Honey couldn’t do anything with him, so she knelt on the cushion and prayed to the gods to share half her fortune with her brother.

She always remembered her mother telling her that her life was saved by her brother, so without him, there would be no her. She didn’t want to keep all the good fortune to herself.

Ruby Sullivan also didn’t want to burn incense, so she sat on the outdoor bench basking in the sun alongside Cindy Sterling.

Behind them was a giant wishing tree, its branches hung with wish plaques, visible just by looking up.

The plaque closest to Ruby Sullivan had written on it a wish to grow to six feet tall next year, with a note in parentheses explaining (I’m 23 years old this year) in case the gods didn’t understand.

Cindy Sterling noticed her gaze and asked, "Want to make a wish?"

Ruby Sullivan smiled, "I have no wishes, life is good now." She tilted her head towards her, "You want to make a wish?"

Cindy Sterling flattened her lips and was silent for a long time before laughing, "I want Nathaniel Truman to work the counter all his life, but that wish is too malicious, I’m afraid hanging it up there would desecrate the gods and get me struck by lightning." She couldn’t help but burst into laughter as if she had heard the funniest joke.

Ruby Sullivan looked at her, wanting to encourage her to try rekindling those pursuits, but held back, remembering her own hesitations and shortcomings.

And hearing what she said, Ruby also found herself wanting a similar wish, but with the target changed to Ethan Sterling.

This thought flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Leon Sterling, who was taking photos nearby, captured the moment of the two of them laughing together in his camera.