CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: MAGIC SOUP

Ruby Sullivan faced a closed door at The Sterling Family’s house. After calling Seth Sterling, she rang the doorbell again.

This time, Mrs. Jewel didn’t hang up directly but went to the front door to open it for her, although she still had no intention of letting her in.

"Miss Wallace, I’ve already told you, sir is resting and doesn’t want to see anyone. You should just go back." She had come out just to make sure no one else would hear her.

When Rhonda Sullivan left Ethan Sterling’s, she had made it clear that Wenny was not to come in.

"Then I’ll look for Seth," Ruby Sullivan maintained her smile, not wanting to clash with her.

Mrs. Jewel impatiently pursed her lips and said, "Young master isn’t home." As she finished speaking, she was about to shut the door when Seth suddenly rushed out.

"Wenny, Auntie Wenny!" He ran to the door, afraid that Mrs. Jewel would really send her away, and was a bit flushed when he arrived.

"I was the one who asked Auntie Wenny to come." He looked up at Mrs. Jewel, speaking righteously.

Mrs. Jewel knew this young master was different from other kids, hard to deal with, and found herself momentarily at a loss, saying, "Young master, sir has instructed that he’s in a bad mood and doesn’t want to see anyone. Your father can be quite scary when he’s angry."

Seth was annoyed by her attempt to scare him and frowned, threatening, "If you don’t want to get fired, you better move aside."

Mrs. Jewel awkwardly moved her lips, at a loss for words, and had no choice but to let Wenny in. Watching them walk away, she immediately called Rhonda Sullivan to inform her.

Seth, walking alongside Ruby Sullivan, glanced back sneakily and saw Mrs. Jewel on the phone. He mumbled, "She’s definitely telling Mrs. Sullivan."

Ruby Sullivan chuckled, "The adults’ business is not for a clever little one like you to get involved." Although she said that, she remained cautious, "How’s your dad doing?"

"After coming back, he’s been alone in his room, not sleeping, not eating, just drinking." Seth reported.

Ruby Sullivan nodded. Once inside, she didn’t rush upstairs to find Ethan Sterling but instead took Seth into the kitchen.

Last night, Ethan Sterling just had a bit of champagne and stayed awake all night. Not sleeping was one thing, but continuing to drink would be hard on the stomach. Many of the younger generation of entrepreneurs, who recklessly worked themselves to the bone in their youth to expand their business empires, didn’t have good stomachs.

Back then, Ruby Sullivan had worried herself sick over Ethan Sterling’s frequently acting-up stomach issues. According to Howard, he no longer dared to touch strong whiskey, so his daily ice and tequila became two glasses of red wine.

Seth, although a faithful admirer of Ruby Sullivan’s culinary skills, had never seen her cook and was filled with anticipation, "Auntie Wenny, do you need my help?"

Ruby Sullivan didn’t mind the child’s involvement, but Seth was still young and probably hadn’t cooked before, and today she wasn’t in the mood to slowly teach him, so she smiled and declined, "Today, you just watch and learn. Next time when there’s time, I’ll teach you how to help, okay?"

"Okay!" Seth beamed upon hearing there would be a next time.

He had always had a distant relationship with his great-grandmother, and recently things had been a bit tense. His naturally cool demeanor meant her departure didn’t affect him much.

Looking at the ingredients in the kitchen, she took out onions, tomatoes, broccoli, lemons, celery, and scallions, lining them up, then asked Seth to instruct the servants to fetch a bottle of red wine from the cellar.

She intended to make Ethan Sterling a bowl of Witch’s Brew Soup.

Ruby Sullivan had always adored Romani flavors, considering herbs like rosemary, lemon grass, and black pepper to be magical seasonings. Using whatever was on hand, she could always brew the perfect soup for the moment.

An hour later, she stood at the door to Ethan Sterling’s room with the soup pot, and Seth stood beside her respectfully holding the soup bowl and spoon as if they were about to undertake a grand task.

Ruby Sullivan looked down and nodded at him. Seth received the signal, nodded back, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door, "Dad, may I come in?"

There was no response for a long time until faint footsteps were heard. Ethan Sterling opened the door, astonished to see Ruby Sullivan there, "What are you doing here?"

"To check on you." Ruby Sullivan raised the soup pot, "Can I come in?"

Despite the lid, the hot fragrant aroma escaped. Ethan Sterling hesitated for a moment before relenting and stepping aside.

The room’s furnishings were still the same as a few years ago, something Ruby Sullivan was all too familiar with. She walked straight to the bay window and placed the pot down, beckoning Seth over to serve the soup.

Ethan Sterling, being a clean freak, couldn’t fathom eating in the room. If soup spilled on the carpet, wouldn’t that be troublesome to clean? But Ruby Sullivan liked doing it this way.

To her, life was about comfort, regardless of what should or shouldn’t be done.

He thought he would find it unbearable, but now, seeing the sparkle in Seth’s eyes and smelling the familiar yet unfamiliar aroma, he just wanted to have a bowl first.

"Is... this Witch’s Brew Soup?"

"Yes." Ruby Sullivan handed him the served soup, "I added shell pasta, in case your stomach felt uncomfortable."

Ethan Sterling sat by the bed, took a sip, met Ruby Sullivan’s probing gaze, and softly said, "It’s alright."

Ruby Sullivan smiled, knowing that his "alright" meant it was delicious.

Seth, perceptive of the atmosphere, thought it wise not to let greed mess things up now. After quickly finishing a bowl and serving another, he made an excuse, "Dad, I want to go out and watch TV while drinking this." Once Ethan nodded, he carried the soup out and even closed the door deliberately for them.

Ruby Sullivan understood the boy’s thoughts. Thinking of her purpose, she silently whispered an apology to Seth in her heart.

Ethan Sterling saw her lost in thought, put down his bowl, and took the initiative to say, "Yesterday’s incident wasn’t your fault."

If it hadn’t been for his attempt to use this opportunity to force her to tell the truth and explain things to his grandmother, there wouldn’t have been so many unexpected events.

Ruby Sullivan lowered her head, "If I were you, I’d hate myself too. Even if you blame me, I deserve it." She smiled bitterly. The pain of losing loved ones couldn’t be alleviated, no matter how much anger one harbored.

Because she understood, she had come.

Ethan Sterling looked at her, unsure of what to say.

After a while, Ruby Sullivan looked up again, "It’s said that Witch’s Brew Soup was invented by a Brittonian living among The Romani. Brittonians couldn’t stand the dry cold Mistletoe Winds of winter, so they came up with this brew. Drinking it makes one feel as if imbued with magic, sensing the warmth of spring." She stood up, "I just wanted to see you. Well then... I’ll be leaving."

As she finished her sentence, she slowly walked towards the door, only to be suddenly embraced from behind by Ethan Sterling.

His chin rested on her shoulder, and he softly said, "Thank you."