CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63: FUNERAL

For a moment, Ruby Sullivan just felt as if someone punched her hard in the chest.

Perhaps her grandmother’s passing reminded her of many past events. During those three years they spent every day together, if he had ever once shown her gentleness, perhaps she would have had some comfort back then?

He gave her nothing but winter, and now, she returned spring to him, which was already an act of ultimate kindness.

She subconsciously exhaled deeply, feeling only exhaustion.

Ruby Sullivan gently pulled his hand away and said softly as she looked ahead, "You’re welcome."

Ethan Sterling watched her slowly walk out of the room. Until she closed the door, he couldn’t look away. The room was filled with the scent of the witch’s brew. He wondered if he was intoxicated, feeling as though something was missing from his heart, a sensation too unreal.

At the same time, Rhonda Sullivan received a call and stomped her feet in anger. She paced back and forth in the living room, biting her thumbnail, frowning as she tried to think.

She knew she wasn’t born lucky, or else she wouldn’t have been abandoned by her family at the police station.

In the past, she knew Ethan Sterling didn’t like Ruby Sullivan, which gave her an opportunity, but now...

She glanced at Gemma Joyce, who was slumped on the sofa playing on her phone, and suddenly felt a surge of anger, "It’s all your fault! If it weren’t for your impulsiveness yesterday, the old lady wouldn’t have died of anger!" Growing more upset as she spoke, she grabbed the phone from her hands and slapped it onto the coffee table, "What do we do now?"

Gemma Joyce, who was reading her idol’s news, was annoyed and secretly rolled her eyes. Yesterday, she was directly thrown onto the street by the Sterling Family’s security, twisting her ankle, and she wasn’t happy about it! But she couldn’t afford to lose Rhonda Sullivan, her wealthy friend, so she had to smile and comfort her, "I think Ethan Sterling might just be momentarily captivated by that little vixen. Why not have someone scratch her face?"

Rhonda Sullivan glared at her, "You do it?"

Actually, she was saying this to the brainless pig Gemma. The person she placed beside Wenny reported that she had bodyguards secretly following her 24/7, making it difficult to do anything.

Gemma Joyce suddenly thought of someone, beckoned her over with a finger, and whispered, "That Young Master Aldrin isn’t..."

Rhonda Sullivan looked at her with satisfaction, "If you get this done, I’ll give you that necklace you fancied at the auction."

Gemma Joyce was overjoyed, hugging Rhonda Sullivan’s arm, leaning on her shoulder playfully, "Don’t worry, darling, I’ll make sure Ethan Sterling is shocked!"

*

The elder Mrs. Sterling’s funeral was scheduled for Monday. Ruby Sullivan initially didn’t want Honey to attend such an occasion, but thinking of her unchangeable blood ties with the Sterling Family, she decided to take Honey along, at least to bow in respect at the mortuary.

At four years old, Honey had no concept of death. Upon hearing she was to bow to the fierce great-grandmother, she was immediately reluctant, frowning and trying to back out.

"Mom, Honey is a little scared of that grandma; can I not go?"

Ruby Sullivan squatted down and tidied her hair, "Honey, passing away is like someone falling asleep and never waking up again."

Honey didn’t understand, "Then we shouldn’t disturb her even more." She had never met such a fierce old lady, leaving a shadow in her heart.

Ruby Sullivan sighed, wishing she had the skills of a fairy tale storyteller; she could only awkwardly say, "But Mom has to go, and you know that grandma doesn’t like Mom either. Will you keep Mom company?"

This time Honey hesitated only for a moment, then firmly nodded, "Mom, don’t be afraid; I’ll go with you."

Ruby Sullivan felt sweetness in her heart from her little ’down jacket’s’ words and smiled, "Thank you, Honey."

Honey also smiled, "You’re welcome."

The elder Mrs. Sterling’s sudden passing, along with the spectacle at the birthday banquet the day before that guests witnessed, led them to snicker privately despite not daring to overtly gossip due to the Sterling Family’s influence. So when they saw Wenny appear at the funeral with a child, they couldn’t help but whisper to each other.

Ruby Sullivan ignored these whispers. As she entered the mortuary, she took off her sunglasses and softly instructed Honey, "When you go up, bow and try not to smile, because today Mr. Sterling’s family is very sad."

Honey looked around at the people, a bit frightened, she softly asked, "Then why are some people smiling? It seems... they’re looking at us."

"Ignore them." Ruby Sullivan patted her head, "Alright, let’s go inside." With Honey’s nod, she headed in.

In the mortuary stood a large black-and-white photo of the elder Mrs. Sterling, her face was beaming with the smile she often wore when speaking to Ruby Sullivan years ago.

Looking at that photograph, Ruby Sullivan felt a mix of emotions and earnestly bowed three times, silently hoping that she could understand her difficulties from above and bless Honey to overcome her challenges.

"Mourners give thanks." The officiant instructed her to move aside.

Having not paid attention when she first entered, Ruby Sullivan now noticed that, standing alongside Ethan Sterling, were Seth Sterling, a glamorous woman, a tall man, and... Emma?!

She froze, frowning as she stared at the impassively-faced girl, confirming she was not mistaken.

As if sensing her gaze, the girl also looked up at her, nodding slightly after a moment of difference.

Ruby Sullivan momentarily set aside her confusion and shock, guiding Honey over, "Mr. Sterling, please accept my condolences." She said this in a very formal tone.

Ethan Sterling nodded.

Honey then held Seth Sterling’s hand, comforting him, "Brother Sterling, don’t be sad. I’ll have mom make you braised ribs."

Seth Sterling awkwardly murmured, "Okay."

After hearing her words, Ethan Sterling couldn’t help but think of Ruby Sullivan from the past, noting how Honey was indeed like her mother.

Ruby Sullivan felt the eyes from beside her. Tilting her head, she saw both the woman and the tall man intently watching her.

It’s said that Ethan Sterling’s mother strongly objected to the marriage his grandmother arranged for him back then, so when they got married, the mother-in-law did not appear, as she was in Gallia. Therefore, Ruby Sullivan only knew Ethan Sterling had a mother, a brother, and a sister, but aside from seeing them once at their father’s funeral, she had basically no impression and hadn’t even seen a photo of them.

So Emma...

Ruby Sullivan instantly understood Ethan Sterling’s reaction during the meeting that day. No wonder he would actively resolve such a problem.

"This is Mrs. Sterling, right? Hello, I’m Wenny, the perfumer from The Sterling Group." Seeing the other party continuously staring at her, she introduced herself.

Mrs. Sterling nodded, her gaze was somewhat peculiar, yet she said nothing.

Ruby Sullivan saw Emma smile at her and squeezed her eyes in response, then bid Ethan Sterling farewell, "Mr. Sterling, I’ll be leaving now."

Ethan Sterling nodded.

As she passed by Emma, she whispered, "I’ll visit you at the company tomorrow."

Ruby Sullivan gave a polite smile, "Alright."

Guiding Honey out as they approached the car, she suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice, "Wait a minute."

Ruby Sullivan looked up and saw Ethan Sterling’s brother running after them. She struggled to recall his name, though she had been the sister-in-law once.

Leon Sterling rushed over, slightly out of breath when he reached her side. After catching his breath, he hesitantly asked, "Are you... Ruby?"