CHAPTER 494: CHAPTER 494: TRULY BEAUTIFUL

After the opening dance ended, the host handed the microphone to my uncle, who smiled and gave a speech, "Thank you to friends and family for coming to my wife Vivian’s birthday party. I hope you all have fun tonight." Then, he turned to Vivian, "My dear, happy birthday. It’s an honor to have met you in the latter half of my life."

The two exchanged a smile, linked arms, and left the dance floor. Soon, many people came forward to offer congratulations, and the dance floor quickly filled with couples dancing.

Leon Sterling and Cindy Sterling arrived with their respective dance partners. Ruby Sullivan specifically glanced at the petite girl beside Leon Sterling, the two of them hand in hand, looking very sweet. Prior to this, she had thought Sasha Shaw might be Leon Sterling’s opening dance partner.

"Her name is Ivy, from Nihona, my girlfriend," Leon Sterling said with a smile, still somewhat shy at the end, his eyes shining brightly but sincerely.

"Hello, everyone," Ivy greeted everyone in broken Chinese.

Ruby Sullivan smiled, momentarily lost on how to offer congratulations. She could tell Leon Sterling really liked this girl, but she immediately thought of Sasha Shaw and couldn’t help looking around.

Cindy Sterling complained, "Brother, I want to go abroad on a business trip too."

"There’s a mess over in Bellaza that needs someone to handle." Ethan Sterling said bluntly.

"Forget I said anything." She wanted a leisurely job, not to overwork herself. She then introduced her date, "Colin Coleman, my all-round assistant."

"Hello, everyone." His position was a bit awkward, facing not just his boss but also superiors,

it was hard to say anything.

After that, Leon Sterling took Ivy away, while Cindy Sterling and Colin Coleman went to greet some business-related bosses.

Ethan Sterling hadn’t been there long. Many people hadn’t seen him before the opening dance, so they soon crowded around to greet him. Seeing this, Ruby Sullivan wanted to take the kids to find something to eat, but she was held back.

Ethan Sterling wrapped an arm around her waist, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Who do you think my uncle organized this party for today?"

"Vivian, of course." Who else could it be?

"You and me," Ethan Sterling said confidently.

Although Ruby Sullivan had thought it might be that way too, she thought it impossible until Ethan Sterling said it.

"You either stay with Vivian today, or you stay with me."

"Pretend?"

"Yes." Ethan Sterling said firmly, "Today is about letting others know, especially those women with ulterior motives, that our relationship is excellent, and they shouldn’t even think about disrupting it."

Ruby Sullivan burst into laughter, feeling a bit touched inside. She always thought my uncle and Vivian were the kind of elders who were completely carefree, never expecting them to do something like this.

Sure enough, not long after, Vivian came to find her, wanting Ruby Sullivan to accompany her to deal with the wealthy ladies.

"I tend to lose my temper when I see those tasteless women, remind me not to offend anyone." Of course, she wasn’t afraid of offending anyone. With Aidan Sinclair and Ethan Sterling’s status today, plus my uncle’s indulgence, there shouldn’t be anyone here who’d want to make her uncomfortable.

She just wanted to bring this daughter-in-law along, to let everyone see that no matter what the rumors outside say, she as the mother-in-law fully acknowledges Ruby Sullivan.

However, inviting so many socialites was also Aidan Sinclair’s idea.

At first, Vivian really thought Aidan Sinclair was considering Ethan Sterling. Observing his interaction with Stella Jennings, she immediately understood that the young man wanted to declare his own territory.

Thinking about it, since his lifelong affair was more important, Vivian didn’t want to fuss about these small things with him.

Seeing the guests almost done eating and drinking, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly dimmed. In a spotlight, my uncle pushed a large three-layer cake slowly to the center of the venue.

"I got up early to bake this cake myself with the help of a master. It might not taste as good as a custom-made one, but it’s filled with my sincere affection for you. I hope all your wishes will come true after blowing out the candles."

This time Vivian was especially surprised, covering her mouth and unable to speak for a long time, her eyes moist.

When he walked over, she quietly asked, "Did you come late because you were making the cake?"

My uncle nodded.

Actually, these are small matters. The main issue was that earlier, Vivian was a bit angry and he couldn’t explain, which was the most distressing.

Ruby Sullivan nestled against Ethan Sterling watching Vivian climb up the high platform to blow out candles, together with my uncle cutting the cake, looking happy. A hint of envy arose in her heart. In the latter half of life for both of them, wasn’t this encounter incredibly fortunate?

She held Ethan Sterling’s hand and said thank you, though she didn’t know what she was thankful for.

After this party ended, all rumors about Ruby Sullivan transformed into something else entirely.

She must have been maliciously harmed by Rhonda Sullivan, otherwise, why would even my uncle come out to strongly support his daughter-in-law?

Of course, this news had something to do with Cindy Sterling as well. Working in the PR department for so long, she had no problem setting such a little tone.

When Ruby Sullivan was about to leave, she called Sasha Shaw only to find out she had left an hour ago. As a friend, Ruby Sullivan naturally knew why she left, so she didn’t say much, just told her to get some good sleep.

Returning home at night, my uncle noticed the diamond bracelet on Vivian’s hand and couldn’t help asking, "You said you don’t like wristbands, didn’t you?"

"Oh," Vivian raised the bracelet, turning it back and forth in appreciation, smiling sweetly, "Yes, I always felt it could easily get smeared with paint, but it’s really beautiful, so I thought I’d wear it for a while for a thrill before donating it."

"If you like it, don’t donate it."

"If you like it, don’t donate it; it’s really beautiful."

Vivian curled her lips slightly, "I don’t like it that much now." She finished and took out the cloth bag Ruby Sullivan gave her, "I prefer this."

Before leaving, Ruby Sullivan told her this bracelet, though blessed by Master Valerius, personally received seven weeks and forty-nine days of blessings, it might be a bit less spiritual than the master’s.

In her heart, this bracelet was a hundred times more precious than the one blessed by Master Valerius; it was the kind of thing to keep close and eventually take into the grave.

However, the happiest moment today was seeing the other two sons bringing girls they liked. Although Leon Sterling couldn’t match with Sasha Shaw, she felt a bit of regret, but she could see he genuinely liked the girl named Ivy. As long as he was happy, that was what mattered.

And at this moment, Stella Jennings was slapped to the ground.

"Do you know how precious these shoes are? They were specially designed and customized by a master from Britton. Do you really think having Mr. Sinclair backing you lets you do whatever?" Crystal Pierce’s assistant angrily looked at Stella Jennings on the ground.

"Troy, don’t scare Holly." Crystal Pierce frowned slightly, reproached the agent, and bent over to help the fallen Stella Jennings.