CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 64: THE STERLING FAMILY MOTHER AND SON

Ruby Sullivan was dumbfounded on the spot, staring blankly at the other party, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Leon Sterling smiled, "Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone, but... I’ve heard a bit about your situation."

Ruby Sullivan took a deep breath and forced a difficult smile, "Mr. Sterling, the ’Ruby’ you mentioned just now, isn’t that Mr. Sterling’s ex-wife, Ruby Sullivan?"

Leon Sterling was puzzled, "You’re not?"

When they last met, was she ten years old? Almost twenty years have passed, how could he possibly recognize her? Ruby Sullivan couldn’t believe it, but she felt a sense of relief.

"Although I’m Ruby Sullivan’s friend, I don’t think I look like her at all. Mr. Sterling, you must have remembered Ruby Sullivan’s face wrong?"

Leon Sterling looked serious as he frowned and carefully observed her eyes and brows.

Ruby Sullivan felt a little embarrassed by how close his face was getting, and she instinctively pulled her neck back.

Leon Sterling suddenly beamed, confidently saying, "You are Ruby Sullivan. Although I haven’t seen you for over twenty years, I always remembered your eyes. You are Ruby Sullivan, no doubt about it."

After he said that, he unexpectedly stepped forward and hugged the completely stunned Ruby Sullivan. "I’m so glad you’re okay." After the hug, seeing the wide-eyed, stunned Ruby Sullivan, he couldn’t help but bend down to look at her, and playfully pinched her cheek like teasing a child, happily asking, "Did I scare you?"

Only then did Ruby Sullivan come back to her senses, feeling a bit bewildered. How could he possibly remember what she looked like?

Leon Sterling explained on his own, "I might have inherited my mom’s excellent genes, so I have a photographic memory for people and things I care about. Back then, at dad’s funeral, the way you laughed, I’ve remembered it until now. I couldn’t have imagined... you would marry my brother."

Ruby Sullivan bit her lower lip, completely at a loss, "Mr. Sterling, you really have the wrong person."

"Okay, I know." Leon Sterling had an all-knowing look, taking out his phone, "Tell me your number."

"Huh?"

"I’ve heard a bit about Wenny’s reputation in Gallia too. I think you probably know my other name." Leon Sterling smiled, "CharlesLee, Lee is my mother’s surname."

The confusion on Ruby Sullivan’s face turned into shock, "The famous new generation artist CharlesLee, that’s you?"

Leon Sterling nodded, "Now can you give me your number? We might have a chance to collaborate on an exhibition."

"Of course!" Ruby Sullivan’s professional instinct kicked in, and she immediately forgot the awkwardness from before. After promptly giving out her number, she suddenly remembered something more important, "Ruby Sullivan... really is just my friend."

"Got it, got it." Leon Sterling affectionately patted her head, "Don’t worry, I understand, everyone has their own hidden stories and struggles, right?" Seeing the difficulty in her gaze, he realized his gesture might have been inappropriate.

"Sorry about that, I just... still see you as that little girl from back then. Well... be careful on your way."

Ruby Sullivan nodded with a smile, then picked up Honey and placed her in the child’s car seat.

It seemed like only then did Leon Sterling notice the adorable little figure beside her, and he couldn’t help but lean over to the car door to ask, "Is she... your daughter?"

Ruby Sullivan nodded, "Yes, Honey, say hello to Uncle."

Honey immediately flashed a flower-like smile, "Hello, Handsome Uncle." Having been unable to find the opportunity to speak since he was chatting with her mom, Honey was most fond of talking to handsome uncles.

A hint of loneliness flashed in Leon Sterling’s eyes, but he quickly smiled and said, "Honey is so cute, just like you when you were little. Next time, how about Uncle treats you to some candy?"

"When?" Honey asked with starry eyes.

Leon Sterling, probably unused to being pressed for a date when teasing little kids before, was momentarily stunned, "How about tomorrow?"

"Honey!" Ruby Sullivan’s face turned half-red with embarrassment, and she gave her daughter a look.

Honey looked at her mom, pouting slightly but saying nothing.

Leon Sterling laughed, "Alright, then tomorrow, Uncle will treat you to some candy."

Ruby Sullivan sighed inwardly, feeling a bit helpless, but she didn’t want to blame Honey for this, "Then thank Uncle."

Honey immediately brightened up, "Thank you, Uncle, see you tomorrow, no backing out."

"Okay." Leon Sterling readily agreed.

Ruby Sullivan closed the car door, feeling a bit embarrassed, "My daughter is a bit of... a face-con, she warms up quickly when she sees a handsome guy." She finished with a helpless sigh, as a mother, there wasn’t much one could do.

"Alright, you head back, drive safely." Leon Sterling, his hands behind his back, wore a beaming smile, like a schoolboy with that kind of handsome charm that makes one think of the sunny smell.

Ruby Sullivan drove away, still finding it unbelievable.

She used to think Ethan Sterling was already overly smart, but she didn’t expect the two children taken away by Mrs. Sterling to be so talented too.

Yet, the most incredible thing must be him recognizing her, right?

Recalling Mrs. Sterling’s gaze, and Leon Sterling’s comment about inheriting his mom’s photographic memory gene, she sighed again, thinking Mrs. Sterling must have recognized her too.

All these people who hadn’t seen her for twenty years recognized her right away, yet the clever Ethan Sterling only assumed by following clues, proving that back then he really wasn’t willing to give her a proper look.

This, in turn, made Ruby Sullivan feel more at ease. Sometimes she was really afraid she might forget her purpose in Ethan Sterling’s sudden gentleness.

*

Not long after Ruby Sullivan left, Rhonda Sullivan also went there. The difference was that Howard had not notified her to attend the funeral.

However, at such an occasion, no one would throw her out.

She stood crying for a long while in front of the mourning hall, before wiping her tears and approaching the family, looking at Ethan Sterling with a tear-streaked face, lips pursed, unsure what to say.

Ethan Sterling couldn’t simply ignore her, so he followed the etiquette, giving her a slight bow.

Seeing this, Rhonda Sullivan became even more upset, "Ethan, are you still mad at me?"

Ethan Sterling frowned, "Do you think this is the time to discuss that?"

Mrs. Sterling sneered, "Are you the child the Sullivan Family picked up?"

Rhonda Sullivan froze, not having heard such things for years, let alone hearing them said to her face.

As rumor had it, the elder Mrs. Sterling and this daughter-in-law had an enmity to the point of holding grudges. She didn’t expect she would return from Gallia.

"Hello, Auntie." Though unwilling a hundred times over inside, she still had to politely greet her.

"Not well." Mrs. Sterling looked at her with contempt, her gaze openly disdainful, "If not for you, I might be at some venue watching an opera or listening to a concert now." She tilted her head to look at her son, "How does your grandmother still have such poor taste?"

"Mom." Ethan Sterling’s eyes tightened, clearly showing displeasure.

Mrs. Sterling raised an eyebrow, "Okay, I misspoke. After all, I was the daughter-in-law she chose back then too." After she finished speaking, she looked at Rhonda Sullivan again, "Listen, a woman like you will never get a chance to marry my son in this life."

After saying that, she curled her lips, her eyes squinting with utmost satisfaction.