CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 89: RACHEL LAWSON’S ADVICE

"Seth was really worried about Honey. He wanted to come and see her, but I wanted to talk to you, so I didn’t bring him." Rachel Lawson said gently as she watched Ruby Sullivan sipping her soup.

Ruby placed the bowl down, looking at her, waiting for her to continue.

"First, I have to apologize. I did a little digging into your situation." Rachel didn’t want to provoke ill feelings, hoping they could have an honest conversation. "I wanted to know your purpose for returning under a different identity."

Ruby sighed, not wanting to hide anything more. "I want Ethan Sterling to donate bone marrow to Honey. I can’t use mine, the doctor said perhaps the father’s might work. Ethan forced me to abort back then, and I’m afraid that if he knows the truth, he won’t agree, or even worse, he might harm Honey. That’s why I concealed my identity."

Rachel was extremely surprised.

Then Ruby recounted her experiences from those years, leaving Rachel feeling mixed emotions. "It seems your personality was exactly like Lana Shaw’s, so unaware of how sinister people’s hearts can be."

Ruby was shocked. She had no idea her mother-in-law knew her own mother.

Rachel smiled at her wide-eyed look. "Back then, both Lana and I were students of Leona Fulton. Leona was Ethan’s grandmother. She took a liking to Lana’s family background, so she wanted her son to marry Lana. Jesse, Ethan’s father, also liked Lana a lot, but once he was diagnosed with an illness and couldn’t find a matching bone marrow donor, he didn’t want to burden Lana, so he proposed a deal to me."

"I would marry him, and he would send me abroad for further studies and continue painting." Rachel recalled Jesse approaching her for the deal with a gentle smile on her face, her eyes full of softness. "My family was very poor. If it weren’t for my talent, I wouldn’t have had the money to learn painting from Leona Fulton. I thought it was a good deal at the time. In my younger days, I was stubborn and single-minded about wanting to paint."

Ruby listened in shock, never expecting that Rachel, who bore three children for the Sterling family, had married for money.

"Jesse was afraid I would back out, so he didn’t dare tell me about his illness. When I found out, I threw a fit and wanted to break up, but by that time, I was already pregnant with Ethan, so I decided to have the child first." She smirked as if all these past events were just yesterday, her mind recalling her fierce demeanor. "I took this opportunity to ask the Sterling family for a lot of money, planning to take the child away after birth. After all, with money, I could raise the child."

Rachel’s expression dimmed as she spoke.

She didn’t mention the following events, but Ruby could already guess. Ethan Sterling was diagnosed at birth, so she couldn’t take the child away and had to continue living with the Sterling family.

Ruby thought of Leon Sterling’s fear of hospitals and came to a realization. "So you had Leon Sterling in order to save Ethan?"

Rachel nodded.

"Leon was conceived through IVF abroad to ensure that his bone marrow could be donated to Ethan. However, the situation wasn’t as optimistic as expected. Although Leon’s umbilical cord blood was usable, after Ethan’s first surgery, he had a severe rejection reaction. Later, both brothers had to undergo various tests. By the time Leon was five, Ethan received a second bone marrow transplant, which fortunately was successful. But after that, Leon became withdrawn because he couldn’t understand why he constantly had to go to the hospital despite not being sick."

Rachel choked up slightly, pausing before continuing. "He followed me abroad for a long period of psychological treatment before gradually improving, but he still couldn’t bear going to hospitals. That’s why yesterday, when he rushed to donate blood to Honey, it took a lot of courage."

"I know." Thinking of the incident yesterday, Ruby lowered her head in guilt. "I was too selfish..."

Rachel held her hand. "I understand how you feel. I’m here to suggest that maybe having another child with Ethan is a better option."

Ruby hadn’t expected her to say this. Could Ethan have sent her?

"Although genetically manipulated IVF has been banned now, having another child is better than having no hope at all." Rachel said, knowing she was speaking for the sake of her younger son, but she couldn’t help it—she was a mother too.

"Ethan won’t agree to this." Her voice turned somber. "When the doctor suggested it yesterday, he immediately rejected it."

"I think he’s afraid your child might become another Leon, but Leon’s case is an exception, caused by various reasons. Also, there’s no guaranteed evidence that Ethan’s and Honey’s illnesses are purely genetic. No medical studies have proven a father’s genes increase the risk of genetic mutation. The most important thing is, he cares about you."

Ruby laughed at herself. "Vivian, if he truly cared about me, how could what happened back then have taken place? And..." She thought about her lost son. If they were together, maybe her son wouldn’t have been lost.

"Although Ethan handles The Sterling Group well, he’s still a beginner in emotional matters. I don’t know what happened back then, but I’ve witnessed the current events. Think it over; if he didn’t care about you, why would he do so many things?"

Ruby felt even more confused inside.

Suddenly, a soft raspy voice called out, "Mom."

Ruby immediately stood up and rushed to the bedside. "Honey, Mommy is here."

Rachel also went over and quickly pressed the call button for the doctor.

After a series of examinations, it was confirmed that Honey’s condition had stabilized, but to avoid surprises, Zane Lawson recommended she remain hospitalized for another week of observation.

Upon hearing she had to stay in the hospital, Honey’s little mouth immediately turned into a wave-like line, snuggling into her mother’s arms. "Honey doesn’t want to stay in the hospital..."

Ruby caught her little hand poking at her stomach. "If you didn’t want to stay in the hospital, why did you climb up to get things? Didn’t Mommy tell you not to do such dangerous things?"

Honey pouted regretfully. "Mommy, don’t be mad. Honey knows she was wrong."

"Mommy isn’t mad; she’s worried about you..."

Honey thought for a moment and explained, "Mommy said Mama Bennett was leaving soon, and I was reluctant to part with her, so I wanted to prepare a gift for her. You weren’t home, and Mama was busy cooking, so I thought I was a big girl and could handle such small things myself, but then..."

The weight of the box exceeded her capacity, and before she realized what was happening, she fell off the chair.

"Alright, don’t blame her anymore." Rachel looked at the poor little child’s face, feeling heartache. "I’ll ask the driver to bring Seth over to keep you company, how about that?"

"That would be wonderful! Vivian, you’re so nice."

"Sweetheart." Rachel patted her head affectionately.

Hearing Honey call her "sister," Ruby couldn’t help feeling a little stirred by the interaction between the grandmother and granddaughter.

She recalled what Rachel had just said and couldn’t help but ask, "Did Ethan go to work?"

Rachel squinted and smiled. "Wait a moment, I’ll call the driver to check and confirm my son’s whereabouts."

Very soon, the answer came back, with Ethan having gone to the company early in the morning.