CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 94: PSYCHOLOGICAL GAME

"Alright." Ethan Sterling nodded, answering with ease, "If Elder Mona insists on doing this, can I discuss something with Ruby first?"

Ruby Sullivan hadn’t yet processed the word "alright" from him, and as she heard the subsequent words, the shock on her face immediately vanished. Ethan Sterling is Ethan Sterling; how could he ever make a losing deal? What was she expecting?

"I’ll give you three days." Miles Mona looked at the two of them, very accommodating.

But Ethan Sterling waved his hand, "Three days is too long, it’s not easy to hear Elder Mona relent, I don’t want to drag this out." He then turned to Ruby Sullivan, "Ruby, how about going with me this afternoon to remarry?"

What? Ruby Sullivan was repeatedly startled, unable to maintain a calm expression, but in front of Miles Mona, she couldn’t say much and could only watch Ethan Sterling continue his act.

"Not afraid of being laughed at by Elder Mona, but back then when I received the one-sided divorce agreement from Ruby, I signed it out of anger, and I thought..."

Miles Mona raised his hand to indicate he needn’t continue, "The matters between the two of you, you solve them yourselves. I’m more concerned about the situation with Sullivan right now. I heard he’s been transferred to Meridia."

Ruby Sullivan nodded, "That’s right, my friend found a better doctor over there. My dad’s doing fine now; the doctor said unless his condition deteriorates, there is hope for recovery."

Miles Mona nodded, then stood up, "I have other things to attend to, today... let’s leave it at that."

Ethan Sterling got up to see him off but was stopped by a gesture. After he watched Elder Mona leave the private room, he sat back down, in an exceptionally good mood, cheerfully picking up the menu and starting to chat more, "What would you like to eat? The owner of this teahouse is a descendant of a famous old brand from Vespera, the porridge and soup here are authentic."

Ruby Sullivan frowned at him, internally filled with countless thoughts but not knowing where to start.

Ethan Sterling ignored her, called the waiter, ordered several dishes, and finally reminded, "No ginger in any of the dishes, not even a bit."

After the waiter left, he looked at her with interest, tilting his head, "You’d better inform Sasha Shaw and Nathaniel Truman not to hide your identity anymore, since Miles Mona left in such a hurry, he’s definitely off to investigate."

Seeing her staring blankly, he had to ask again, "Do you want this whole thing to fall through?"

Ruby Sullivan let out a long breath, asking in a deep voice, "Ethan Sterling, were all my actions today part of your plan?"

Ethan Sterling laughed lightly, but there was undeniable pride in his eyes, "I’m not a mind reader; how would I know your thoughts?" He pouted, "The only thing I know is your situation." He shifted his gaze, "Once we’re done eating, let’s go handle the paperwork."

Ruby Sullivan suppressed her anger, deliberately mocking, "Ethan Sterling, didn’t you say you’d give The Sullivan Group to me? Why ask for something in return now that you have the chance to deliver it?"

Ethan Sterling’s lips curved slightly, "I never said there were no conditions." He continued, changing to a casual tone, "Acquiring The Sullivan Group isn’t urgent for me, but for you, missing this opportunity might mean there’s no next one. Given the current situation, even if your dad wakes up tomorrow, it wouldn’t be easy to reverse the situation."

Ruby Sullivan bit her back teeth, holding back before retorting, "If my dad wakes up, Uncle Mona would definitely help us, and getting the company back from Rhonda Sullivan would be just a matter of speaking."

"Ha." Ethan Sterling chuckled softly, with obvious sarcasm, "Ruby Sullivan, after suffering so much, how can you still be as naive as before? There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

Ruby Sullivan felt she couldn’t best him in words, purely because she was too exhausted right now, her head pounding, leaving her combat strength inadequate, so she stayed silent, internally fuming.

Soon, the food arrived. Ethan Sterling seemed to have quite an appetite, focusing all his attention on eating, ignoring her.

He hadn’t expected the matters today to resolve so smoothly, issues that had frustrated him for some time were suddenly all solved, indeed, a good mood makes everything taste better.

It wasn’t until he was half full that he noticed Ruby Sullivan staring blankly at the table without eating anything, so he got up and served her a bowl of fish congee, "You need to eat to take good care of Honey, or else you might collapse before finding suitable marrow."

Ruby Sullivan, too tired to keep her eyes open, had no appetite, she stirred the congee in the bowl, deliberately using a weary tone to make a harsh statement, "As long as Honey is well, it doesn’t matter whether I have The Sullivan Group or not. I have the ability to earn money to support her and my dad."

"Do you think Rhonda Sullivan will let you live peacefully? You’re still too naive. Ever since you joined The Sterling Group and tried to seduce me, in her eyes, you’re someone who shouldn’t exist."

Listening to his words, laced with pride, thinking of his previous actions, made Ruby Sullivan even more uneasy. The moments that made her doubt, were they genuine emotions, or just easy means to lure her in?

"Why do you want to remarry me?" She stared at his profile, her gaze burning.

Knowing full well he wouldn’t speak the truth, she still couldn’t help but ask.

Ethan Sterling put down his spoon, turned to her with a slight smile, "Ruby Sullivan, you were my wife to begin with; only I can decide not to want you." You can’t just drop a divorce agreement and walk away! His expression darkened, the latter half of his thought left unsaid.

That’s right, the events of that time gnawed at him, he couldn’t accept it!

Ruby Sullivan, looking at his self-righteous demeanor, felt overwhelming emotions surge within her, even forgetting her initial intention to discuss having another child with him. She abruptly stood up, "Ethan Sterling, I married you back then because I loved you. Clearly, I was blind and made a mistake I won’t repeat."

She intended to leave after speaking, but he stood up and blocked her path, pushing her against the wall.

Ethan Sterling placed one hand against the wall, blocking her way, and grabbed her chin, forcing her to face him, "Ruby Sullivan, do you think Rhonda Sullivan will let you go, or that I will?"

Coldly, he looked at her, like a beast staring at its prey, not intending to eat her, but unwilling to let her escape his control.

In these five years, he had expended too much effort in finding her; now, how could he possibly let her go?

Ruby Sullivan pulled away his hand from her chin, despite being somewhat intimidated by his gaze, she didn’t avoid their eyes meeting, "What do you intend to do?"

"You’ve made me search bitterly for five years. Since you’ve shown up on your own, haven’t you prepared for the worst?" He spoke emotionlessly, his presence radiating an immense pressure.

This pressure sent a chill through Ruby Sullivan’s heart.

Ethan Sterling watched her expression, feeling that something was amiss, as if this wasn’t the reaction he desired. But what he truly wanted, he couldn’t articulate.

He took a deep breath, suddenly leaned over and bit her ear, hearing her gasp, "You think you can casually sleep with Ethan Sterling?"