CHAPTER 453: CHAPTER 453: DO YOU DARE TO MARRY ME

"Redo it." Ethan Sterling tossed the proposal onto the table. "If you waste my time again, you don’t need to come back."

The subordinate, frightened by his boss’s expressionless face, shuddered, picked up the proposal, and was about to leave when he saw the boss pick up the vibrating phone. Instantly, Ethan’s gaze softened, and his smile bloomed like a flower, leaving the subordinate momentarily stunned.

Is the boss possessed? This smile is nothing like the slight smile they occasionally see!

In that second of being dazed, he met his boss’s murderous gaze again, blinked in fear, and quickly rushed out with the proposal.

In a gentle voice, Ethan said to Ruby Sullivan on the other end of the phone, "Don’t be afraid, I’m coming over right now."

Fifteen minutes later, Ethan appeared at the photo studio.

Smiling, he stood there, and with just one glance, he helped her relax entirely. Her heart no longer flustered, feet steady, and hands knew where to go. With just a backward glance, she looked like a blissful woman, so sweet.

With a reminder from her assistant, she switched poses and expressions, as if she wasn’t the person who previously didn’t know how to smile at all!

Thirty minutes later, the photographer called for a break and asked Ruby to view the untouched photos on the computer. "This is completely different from what we initially shot; you’ve now hit your stride." He had been focused on work and hadn’t noticed Ethan had arrived.

Ethan still stood far away, not approaching. From her smile, he knew he had already made an impact.

The last two outfits flowed particularly smoothly. When wrapping up, Ethan brought in pre-ordered bubble tea and cake to share with the staff. Only then did everyone understand the reason for Ruby’s transformation, and they were all enviously amazed.

In today’s feature interview, although they couldn’t disclose the true reasons for their three separations, the emotions and decisions made after the struggles were real. Ruby did it also to leave a memento of her relationship with Ethan.

In this era, holding hands and growing old together is challenging; without the right time, place, and people, it’s impossible. She still doesn’t know if the ugly scar between them will eventually be laughed off or become unbearable to behold. But at least at this moment, her feelings are genuine, her love for him is real, and all these true emotions deserve to be documented.

After the digital publication was released, it sold out thirty thousand copies on the first day, and the week’s sales nearly hit a hundred thousand. Although it had something to do with the super low price of just five dollars, no one, not even Dragon Girl, expected it could sell this much. She now somewhat regrets that she only included two ads, both priced very affordably; it truly was a misstep in her career.

Moreover, even last year’s joint VS interview edition of the magazine with Mr. and Mrs. Sterling saw many digital editions sold.

Online, a trending topic titled "A Love Called Ruby Sullivan and Ethan Sterling" emerged, narrating their tumultuous love story in a dramatic manner, rivaling novels in excitement, leaving many young women moved to tears.

Though the lovers eventually became a couple, the journey was exceedingly tragic. Thinking of Ruby as the tragic heroine, netizens couldn’t help but want to flood her Weibo with smiles and flowers, so she would only see joy moving forward.

Throughout the entire report, Ruby did not mention Rhonda Sullivan, but netizens still dug her out. Soon after, someone discovered that the recent hot domestic brand Miss, engaged in various advertisements and promotions online, was Rhonda’s company.

Taking her brother-in-law was one thing; now, using the fact she seized the family fortune to open a competing company against her sister? What kind of person is this sister?

Enraged, netizens quickly launched a boycott "Miss" campaign.

Rhonda had already invested a lot of money in publicity to create momentum for the brand, but unexpectedly, overnight, not only did all the money go down the drain, but she also attracted negative attention!

Driven to fury, Rhonda began smashing everything in her office, and her assistant, frightened, hurriedly called Jack.

With a history of mental illness, such immense emotional upheaval placed a significant burden on Rhonda’s mental health. Once a nerve breaks, she’d only be sent back to the hospital for treatment.

Jack was also scared stiff by the sight of Rhonda in a rage, red-eyed. Regardless, he rushed in to hold the emotionally unstable her tightly, no matter how she struggled, speaking in his clumsy Chinese, "Dear, calm down, just calm down!"

Rhonda clutched him and cried loudly, screaming hoarsely, "Why can she easily find happiness? Why do I always lose to her, no matter how hard I try, why?"

Jack kissed her tear-streaked cheek, "I’m by your side, I’ll make you happy."

Rhonda glared with reddened eyes, full of tears, unwillingly saying, "You speak so well, would you dare to marry me?"

In her frenzied state, such words would otherwise never dare to come out.

She was accustomed to losing, fearing that uttering these words would mean the end between her and Jack. Initially, she thought Jack was with her for money, but after learning about his family’s business in Ankoria, she realized that the Sullivan Group’s money wasn’t enough to attract his attention.

Jack’s family ran a tourism business, and his father had the title of a tourism tycoon in Ankoria.

Without this tie, Rhonda had been cautiously apprehensive, fearing he might suddenly leave her. She would rather he was after her money, so she could feel at ease.

So daring to ask him to marry her was something she would’ve never said.

Even now, after saying it, she was stiff, looking at him with trepidation, afraid his next words would be breaking up.

The most feared is the sudden silence.

Before Jack could speak, Rhonda jerked her arm out of his grip and covered his mouth, "I don’t want to hear it, don’t say anything..." She was in a fluster.

Jack smiled, pulling away her hand, "I will, of course, I will marry you."

Rhonda blinked, mouth agape not knowing what to say, staring into his eyes searching for some truth, but only saw sincerity.

"I didn’t hear wrong, did I? Are you serious?"

"Of course, actually, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, just hadn’t figured out a way to propose, didn’t expect you to get ahead. I know your father’s condition has been deteriorating, I want to walk you down the aisle while he can still recognize you, you want that too, don’t you?"

Rhonda, moved, burst into tears again, hugging his neck and nodding. In reality, she couldn’t care less about Brandon Sullivan’s condition, but she discerned from this that Jack truly loves her. Only a man who loves her would think so thoroughly for her!

The next day, she began preparing the wedding with Jack, no longer caring about Miss’s trivial issues. To her, even if the company went under, it didn’t matter, since it was just a small attempt. Her anger was purely because she was overshadowed by Ruby.