CHAPTER 92: CHAPTER 92: FOR MY DAUGHTER

Ruby Sullivan shook her head and suddenly couldn’t help but ask, "Have you ever been in love?"

Young looked a bit confused but still nodded.

"Then do you think Ethan Sterling likes me?" Ruby Sullivan didn’t even know why she asked this. After the words slipped out, she was stunned and then laughed, "I must be crazy. Go call them in for the meeting."

Young was momentarily taken aback, hesitated, but still answered her question, "I think whether Mr. Sterling likes you or not is something you’ll have to judge for yourself. What I know is just company gossip, and how reliable is gossip? The only thing you can trust is an official statement."

After saying this, she turned and left.

Ruby Sullivan thought about her words and felt there was much truth in them.

When everyone was in the office, she delegated recent work tasks, specifying that if there were any unresolvable issues, they should call her immediately. If there weren’t any mishaps, she would return to work next week.

Then, after hesitating for a moment, she reminded everyone, "Actually, working in the lab shows how much I recognize your work abilities. I hope everyone has a good future, so I don’t want anyone to let trivial matters delay themselves. The office is inherently a place for gossip, but there’s no need to take it to heart—listen to it as a joke, that’s all." She glanced at Levi Joyce with a smile, "Levi is my assistant, so he might not be at the company while I’m on leave. I hired him because he’s good-looking—a love for beauty is something everyone has. I don’t think that’s something that should be misinterpreted, right?"

Claire’s face turned beet red, wishing she could bury her head in the floor.

Ruby Sullivan was satisfied with her reaction, "Alright, that’s all, you’re dismissed."

Everyone left, but Levi Joyce stayed behind, "Boss, do I really not need to come to work these days?"

"If you want to come and make coffee for everyone and pick up mail, that’s fine."

"Actually, I can also help with documenting formulas."

Ruby Sullivan nodded, "Your salary was negotiated as part of my conditions during talks with the Sterling Group, so even though you’re a Sterling employee, it’s not a loss to call me ’Boss.’ So, do what makes you happy, but if I call you, you must come immediately."

"No problem."

Ruby Sullivan lay on the office desk for a bit. When her headache eased, she decided to visit Ethan Sterling’s office once more.

She revisited the conversation she had with Rachel Lawson that morning in her mind, along with the call from Leon Sterling, making some connections. It seemed likely that Rachel Lawson spoke to her about those things because of Leon Sterling as well.

She understood Rachel Lawson’s feelings. Thinking of Leon Sterling’s ashen face in the operating room, nearly in shock, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Mental illness can be such that bystanders, who don’t empathize, might think little of it or dismiss it as pretentious. But such matters could really take his life.

What if Leon Sterling’s bone marrow could be used, but there was an accident during surgery? At that time, Rachel Lawson, Ethan Sterling, and even she herself would find it unbearable to see Honey.

She didn’t want Honey to bear such a heavy burden, so she needed to talk with Ethan Sterling.

She didn’t want the Sullivan Group, nor did she want the bone marrow. She wanted a child.

Ruby Sullivan washed her face in the restroom to refresh herself and reapplied her makeup before heading to Ethan Sterling’s office, only to be told he was out.

She was a bit surprised and quickly called Howard, who soon sent over a location—a famous tea restaurant in Ariston. Though Miles Mona’s ancestral home was in Eastmount, he was born and raised in Vespera.

Ethan Sterling had arranged to meet Miles Mona for a meal.

Miles Mona agreed to relinquish his shares but set very harsh conditions that the Sterling Group couldn’t possibly meet.

Ruby Sullivan was only half-aware of these matters. After getting into the car, she immediately called Howard, "What’s going on?"

Howard briefly explained that recently Ethan Sterling had been using various shell companies to buy The Sullivan Group’s dispersed shares and the holdings of some minor shareholders. His plan was to short The Sullivan Group and then wholly acquire Rhonda Sullivan’s shares, but The Sullivan Group wasn’t just any small business, which required time—Miles Mona was a key player.

If Ethan Sterling was willing to wait, perhaps Miles Mona wouldn’t be as crucial. But if he wanted to shorten the timeline, he had to buy Miles Mona’s shares.

"Miles Mona demanded three times the market price," Howard reluctantly told Ruby Sullivan the truth, "If Mr. Sterling goes all in, it could cause a major crisis for the Sterling Group."

"Understood." Ruby Sullivan hung up the phone, rubbed her aching temples, but still couldn’t think of a solution.

She couldn’t believe Ethan Sterling was doing this for her—the cost was too high; risking so much wasn’t even worth it for a lover.

But she couldn’t find the right answer.

Upon arriving at the tea restaurant, she let Levi Joyce drive away, met Howard in the lobby, and learned Ethan Sterling was in a private room on the second floor, while Miles Mona hadn’t arrived yet.

"Mr. Wallace, you absolutely have to rein in Mr. Sterling," Howard almost pleaded.

Howard was Ethan Sterling’s closest subordinate, second only to Ethan in understanding the company’s situation, so his concern wasn’t without reason.

Ruby Sullivan looked at him, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "If you leave the Sterling Group, won’t you find work elsewhere?"

Howard was momentarily stunned, then replied with a smile, "I have a bit of reputation in the industry; otherwise, I’d be letting down the years spent by Mr. Sterling’s side."

"So you’re purely worried about him?"

Howard exhaled, "Is saying it’s because of money more convincing?" He chuckled, "Mr. Sterling isn’t as cold as the rumors suggest. In my eyes, he values talent and knows what he wants."

Ruby Sullivan nodded. Speaking of valuing talent, she could relate; after all, when the Sterling Group reached out to her, they demonstrated great sincerity.

Howard hesitated for a moment but decided to speak up, "Mr. Sterling, he cares about you."

Ruby Sullivan was surprised, "Are you saying this because you heard rumors as well?"

Cold sweat beaded on Howard’s forehead, "I’ve been the one chauffeuring both of you..."

Ruby Sullivan raised an eyebrow, didn’t comment on his words, and quickly went upstairs to find Ethan Sterling.

Howard hurriedly followed her to stand outside the private room, waiting for Miles Mona to arrive and notify the people inside.

Ethan Sterling was lost in thought, watching the hustle and bustle outside. When he heard someone enter, he immediately turned around with a businesslike smile, only to be surprised to see Ruby Sullivan, "Did Howard send you?"

"Why do you have to acquire The Sullivan Group now?"

"To make Rhonda Sullivan disappear." He put away his smile, cutting straight to the point, "I can’t let anyone have designs on my daughter."

Ruby Sullivan looked at his determined eyes, feeling oddly moved by the latter half of his sentence as if it struck a chord with her heart.

She quickly snapped out of it, "Without the Sterling Group, your daughter wouldn’t even have money for her treatment."