CHAPTER 400: CHAPTER 400: BEING A GOOD SON-IN-LAW

Ethan Sterling was exasperated, looking at her silly expression, he couldn’t argue anymore, glanced at her with a cold face, "Get up, it’s cold on the ground." He said, pulling her up from the ground.

Ruby Sullivan stretched her legs, only then realizing that in such a short time, her legs had become numb from the cold. She didn’t even know what she was thinking earlier; why she sat on the steps in the middle of winter. She felt embarrassed about her earlier conduct, and hung her head, not wanting to look at him.

Ethan Sterling looked at her weak demeanor, surprisingly recalling the chubby little girl she was years ago, and couldn’t help but worry, "Did Rhonda bully you again?"

Ruby Sullivan, still with her head down, rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Who do you think you’re looking down on?"

"You!" Ethan Sterling replied heavily, then lightly poked her forehead, intentionally trying to tease her.

Ruby Sullivan crinkled her nose in annoyance, lifted her foot, and kicked him in the shin.

Ethan Sterling grimaced in pain, saw she was trying hard not to smile and persevered through the pain, slightly helplessly asking, "Feel better?"

"Kind of." Ruby Sullivan exhaled, thinking that it wasn’t right to leave just like that. Then she realized Brandon Sullivan hadn’t come after her, feeling slightly unbalanced, unsure whether to leave or go back.

Ethan Sterling noticed her hesitation, "What’s the matter?"

"Nothing." Ruby Sullivan didn’t want him to interfere, "You should go back."

Ethan Sterling glanced at her, then bypassed her to ring the doorbell.

Ruby Sullivan turned to chase after him, but it was too late to stop him, so she resigned herself to standing beside him.

After waiting for quite a while, Brandon Sullivan finally came to the door. Seeing Ethan Sterling and Ruby Sullivan there, he was momentarily stunned but then put on a cheerful face, "Come in, come in." But it was evident from his red eyes that he had been crying.

Ethan Sterling realized why Ruby Sullivan had been crying as soon as he entered the house.

Brandon Sullivan saw them both standing and said slowly, "Please sit down."

Ethan Sterling led Ruby Sullivan to the couch, started chatting with Brandon Sullivan, asking about his health and how he had been coping recently.

This was how they learned that the two housemaids had left two weeks before the New Year and wouldn’t be back until after the Lantern Festival. Rhonda had left the day after the maids, teaching Brandon Sullivan how to order takeout before she left, and the reason he hadn’t bathed all this time was that he forgot how to use the water heater,

And because all the takeout places were closed yesterday, he had gone shopping on New Year’s Eve and eaten half-cooked instant dumplings.

While Brandon Sullivan talked about these things, he always maintained a cheerful demeanor, with a tone of self-deprecation, as if the hardships of life were slightly amusing to him.

"I’m getting old, becoming useless." Brandon Sullivan shook his head lightly, though his smile didn’t seem forced.

In reality, he was genuinely happy to see his daughter. Even though he couldn’t remember why she had distanced herself from him, he just assumed his obedient daughter was too busy now. Seeing her leave in anger, he didn’t want to chase after her, afraid of what to say if he caught her, worried that chasing her would only make his daughter unhappier.

He didn’t expect her to come back, especially with his son-in-law. Seeing them well, he felt relieved.

In fact, Rhonda had already told him about Ruby Sullivan’s divorce from Ethan Sterling; he just didn’t want to believe it, so he forgot once she told him.

His dementia had inadvertently made his life easier and happier.

While chatting with Ethan Sterling, Ruby Sullivan kept staring at the dull floor, not daring to look into his eyes, her emotions in turmoil.

Even Ethan Sterling couldn’t remain calm after listening. Seeing Brandon had said enough, he suggested going out for dinner.

"Sure, I’m already hungry." Brandon Sullivan agreed immediately like a child and got up to leave.

Ethan Sterling held Ruby Sullivan’s hand, giving it a squeeze, and smiled as he reminded Brandon Sullivan, "Wear a thicker coat, it’s windy outside."

Hearing this, Brandon Sullivan put on a down jacket and a knitted hat, looking silly yet somewhat endearing.

Unable to bear looking at him like this, Ruby Sullivan stepped out the door first.

Brandon Sullivan noticed they had driven two cars there and wanted to ride in his daughter’s car. Ruby Sullivan immediately said, "No."

He was taken aback for a moment, then gave Ethan Sterling a smile, "Then I’ll ride with the son-in-law."

Ethan Sterling nodded, "Alright."

On the second day of the New Year, only a few upscale restaurants were open. Ethan Sterling led Brandon Sullivan into a familiar Chinese restaurant, intending to book a private room, only to be told they were reserved well before the New Year.

Reluctantly, Ethan Sterling chose a seat in the main area, although it wasn’t crowded and hence not noisy. As he sat down and started ordering, people at a table in the corner kept staring at him.

Hannah Jennings had brought three student friends out for dinner, not expecting to run into Ethan Sterling.

Her three friends had seen photos of Ethan Sterling, so when he entered, they immediately recognized him.

Hannah Jennings glanced over, laughing, "You really got it wrong; my sweetheart’s on a business trip in Bellaza, no way he’d be here."

Her blonde-haired, blue-eyed friend continued staring at the back of Ethan Sterling’s head, "If he’s not your boyfriend, I’m going over to ask for his number now." She tossed her long hair, wiggled her eyebrows flirtatiously, ready to make a move.

Hannah Jennings knew she wasn’t joking and quickly grabbed her, "Emily, calm down. He’s dining with family; approach him like that, and the police might get called."

Amy was unmoved, "A family nearby? Perfect to meet the parents." In reality, she was just teasing Hannah Jennings.

They had met Ethan Sterling together, but she thought she could outshine Hannah Jennings in looks and body, though not in background. Reminded of this, she saw an opportunity to make Hannah Jennings look bad.

Watching Amy wiggle her hips as she walked over, Hannah Jennings turned green with anger, resolving to end their friendship immediately.

Soon, Amy was in front of Ethan Sterling, "Do you remember me? We’ve met at a party before; I’m a friend of Hannah Jennings." She extended her hand as she spoke.

She was confident she wasn’t mistaken, such a beautiful face as Ethan Sterling’s was unforgettable, missing this would mean giving up charming men at the bar.

Speaking directly allowed her to find out if she was mistaken; a simple apology would follow, and perhaps they’d get acquainted. But if he tacitly acknowledged her, it would expose drama with Hannah Jennings, a prospect she enjoyed.

Ethan Sterling glanced, but didn’t shake her hand, instead coldly asked, "What do you want?"

Brandon Sullivan chimed in with a chuckle, "Son-in-law, who is this young foreign girl?"

"Don’t know her."

Amy wasn’t perturbed by Ethan Sterling’s remark but recoiled at Brandon Sullivan’s, "Son-in-law? Are you Hannah Jennings’s father?"

"Who’s Hannah Jennings?" Brandon Sullivan furrowed his brow, directing the question to Ethan Sterling.

At that moment, he saw Ruby Sullivan walking through the door, waved her over, "Daughter, over here, over here!"

Amy followed his gaze, thinking... and wondered, who is this woman now?