CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: THE BELATED BIRTHDAY GIFT

Ethan Sterling stared straight ahead, as if he had heard what his grandmother said, or perhaps hadn’t heard anything at all. He paused for a moment, then quickly carried Ruby Sullivan outside under everyone’s curious gazes and whispered discussions.

The elder Mrs. Sterling’s face was clouded with gloom, as if all her wrinkles had drooped down with it. Her gaze was fixed unblinkingly on her grandson’s back, as if she would say "Step out that door and never come back" the next second.

The elder Mrs. Sterling clearly wanted to say it, but she no longer had the leverage to threaten Ethan Sterling in such a way. So, she just stood there, staring at the door opening and closing, her gaze fixed, as anger poured into her chest, unable to go up or down.

No matter how long he stayed by her side, her grandson was still the blood of that woman. Even his resolute silhouette was the same, a kind of fickleness engraved in his genes.

The reporters couldn’t suppress their professionalism, snapping photos with their professionally-equipped phones. But before they could relish their shots, the guards were already checking the phones and deleting all relevant pictures. The elder Mrs. Sterling hadn’t invited them to spread gossip; even if someone dared to keep the photos hidden and take them away, thinking of publishing them later would require considering if they could afford to offend the Sterling Family first.

Thus, everyone cooperated to delete the photos cleanly.

The atmosphere was unbearably awkward, compelling Mama Bennett to hasten the band to play some music. The melodious tune began, reminding the guests of the normal order of the banquet, and they resumed eating and drinking.

The friends around the elder Mrs. Sterling continued their conversation at a small prepared table, thanks to Mama Bennett’s arrangements. Only the elder Mrs. Sterling remained standing in place, slightly furrowing her brow in thought.

Rhonda Sullivan approached her and spoke in a low voice, "Shall I help you upstairs to rest for a bit?"

The elder Mrs. Sterling snapped out of her reverie, her stiff expression slightly eased, "It’s burdensome for you."

Rhonda Sullivan smiled and shook her head, "Ethan may be charismatic in business, but he’s still immature in matters of the heart. Men are always like this, unsure of what they want and constantly neglecting those who stay by their side."

"It’s good that you understand." She sighed, "I’ll have Mama Bennett accompany me upstairs to rest, while you take care of the other guests."

Outside the villa, Ethan Sterling carried Ruby Sullivan into the car and sat her down, "What do we do? I’ve had a drink too?" He looked at her with some helplessness.

Ruby Sullivan lowered her head, afraid to consider the color on her face, "Let Howard take me home."

At that moment, Ethan Sterling’s phone rang—it was the elder Mrs. Sterling calling.

"I meant what I said; if you want to be with that kind of woman, it’ll be over my dead body." The authoritative warning from the phone left no room for negotiation.

Ethan Sterling grinned like a disobedient child, "Got it, Grandma, I’m headed back." Without waiting for a reply, he hung up the phone. His face, previously squinting, seemed as if coated by an autumn frost, cold and intimidating.

"Do you really not plan to tell Grandma the truth?" Ethan Sterling tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, squinting slightly at the front, pondering how to handle the current mess.

"Tell her what? That Ruby was killed by Rhonda? Or that I am Ruby Sullivan?" Ruby Sullivan sneered, "No matter what I say, your Grandma will think I want to be with you, thus losing my mind."

She shrank against the car door, instinctively wanting to distance herself from Ethan Sterling, further and further.

How could she possibly beat her? What should she do?

Ethan Sterling touched his lips, pondered for a moment, then got out of the car, bending over to look at her, "Come on, let’s change clothes."

Ruby Sullivan was puzzled but seeing his determined look, she followed him out of the car.

Ethan Sterling, annoyed with her slow pace, took a few steps back and once again grabbed her hand.

After Ruby Sullivan threatened to run away from home, Ethan Sterling remodeled the garage a bit, creating a small storage area where he moved over things she hadn’t taken.

Though untouched for five years, there should still be wearable clothes.

Ruby Sullivan stood in the storage room, looking at the pile of dust-covered boxes in front of her, feeling that Ethan Sterling was teasing her, "Do you even know how much Ruby Sullivan’s physique differs from mine?"

"So, do you plan to wear that back?" Ethan Sterling raised an eyebrow, eyeing her.

"Why not let me leave?" Ruby Sullivan frowned, "Is something important happening today?"

Ethan Sterling smiled, "Of course, I’m proposing to Rhonda Sullivan; such a spectacular moment, wouldn’t you want to miss it?"

Ruby Sullivan stared at him in shock and, after a few seconds of stiffness, immediately started searching the boxes for ones labeled with clothing tags. She remembered buying many loose-fitting Korean-style dresses before, which flare out below. Though they might look like maternity dresses on a plus-size figure, they’re indeed cool for summer.

No sooner said than done, she found a dress in the box, though the chiffon was a bit yellowed, pair it with a belt, it should work.

"How about this?" She held it against herself, tossed it to Ethan Sterling for him to hold, ruffled her hair, and started looking for a belt.

Ethan Sterling squinted at her; who other than Ruby Sullivan herself could be so familiar with her old things?

Having picked out the clothes, the two slipped in through the garage’s back door, making their way up the stairs to avoid guests and reaching the second floor. The master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom was usually Ethan’s exclusive domain, but today he had to offer up the room key for Ruby Sullivan to get ready before coming out, while Ethan had to return via the original route, entering the main hall through the front door from the first floor.

*

Rhonda Sullivan was stunned seeing Ethan Sterling return; she hadn’t expected the elder Mrs. Sterling to really make him come back, proving she bet on the right horse.

She immediately went to him with a smile, "Is Wenny okay?"

Ethan Sterling smiled, "She’s fine; she’ll probably be back when it’s time to cut the cake."

Rhonda Sullivan’s face momentarily stiffened, but she maintained her smile, "That’s good, if she left without even eating a piece of cake today, I’d feel guilty."

Ethan Sterling looked at her with a smile, suddenly lifting his arm bent at his waist, "Alright, it’s time for the main event, let’s go."

Though he was smiling, his eyes held a frigid nonchalance, a carefree indifference.

Seeing him like this made Rhonda Sullivan suddenly a bit afraid, her heart unaccountably uneasy, "Have you... thought it through? Actually... I could talk to Grandma, I’ve waited for you so long, I don’t mind waiting longer for you to be sure."

Ethan Sterling kept smiling, "I despise wasting time on pointless matters."

Rhonda Sullivan took a deep breath and slipped her hand inside his arm, fiercely determined she wouldn’t let him regret choosing her as his wife, willing to live for him for the rest of her life!

Thinking this, Rhonda Sullivan’s heart surged with infinite turmoil, she tilted her head at him, "We will be happy." Her voice was low, almost drowned out by the music, no one could discern the trembling tone.

Just as she presumed Ethan Sterling hadn’t heard a thing, he surprisingly nodded, adding, "Of course."

Though his expression was clearly a casual jest, she nevertheless smiled, quite content, her heart filled with a satisfying complete satisfaction.

The lights suddenly dimmed as a spotlight hit the two on the second floor; one was Ethan Sterling, unbeknownst to the guests when he had returned, the other was Rhonda Sullivan.

The music stopped, Ethan Sterling held a microphone and began, "I apologize for the earlier interruption. Today is Miss Rhonda Sullivan’s birthday." He paused, tilting his head to look at her, smiling, "Rhonda, happy birthday. On this special day, I want to..."

Before he finished, a bold female voice echoed from downstairs, "Rhonda Sullivan, happy birthday!"

Downstairs, Sasha Shaw with a built-in mic, stood among the four wreaths, waving to the second floor, smiling brilliantly.