CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 97: A NEW HOME

Ethan Sterling also let out a "hmm," but his mouth stayed subdued out of restraint, while his heart felt sincerely sweet.

Having someone around really makes a difference.

Seth Sterling and Honey finished lunch and were taking a walk in the hospital. To cheer Honey up, Seth had brought a bubble gun. Of course, he found playing with such childish things disdainful, but Honey liked it. Just blowing bubbles with her could make her laugh non-stop, so he had to begrudgingly join in.

Ruby Sullivan spotted Honey from afar and couldn’t help but quicken her pace.

Although they had been apart for just one day and night, she missed her daughter more than ever.

"Mom!" Honey saw Ruby and ran over with abandon.

"Slow down, slow down!" Ruby’s heart instantly leapt to her throat as she hurried to keep pace, afraid Honey might fall.

Watching her tightly hold Honey, Seth couldn’t help but feel a bit envious. If he had a mother, wouldn’t she hug him like this too?

Ruby picked up Honey, first nuzzling her neck and tickling her deliberately to make her laugh, then feigned anger and scolded, "Did Mommy tell you not to rush around, to walk slowly, otherwise you’d trip?"

Honey nodded.

"So why did you run just now?"

Honey hugged Ruby’s neck, leaned on her shoulder, and snuggled, "Honey just really missed Mommy."

Ruby’s heart was filled with sweetness, "Mommy missed you too."

Ethan Sterling walked over, "Let me hold her." He thought for a moment, imitating others, he opened his arms and clapped his hands twice, trying hard to amplify the smile on his face, hoping to appear more friendly.

Ruby stared at him, a bit dumbfounded.

Isn’t this method used only to attract the attention of toddlers who can’t talk? The awkward gesture was one thing, but the most conflicting image was associating such behavior and expression with Ethan Sterling, no?

Even Seth couldn’t help but stare. When has Dad ever been this gentle with kids?

Ruby glanced at the stunned Seth, realizing they were all children and shouldn’t be treated unfairly. "Why don’t you go hug Seth?"

Only then did Ethan remember he had another son.

Seth responded first, walking ahead with his chest out, "I don’t need a hug."

Ethan turned his earnest gaze back to Honey, "Come on?"

Honey also realized that Mr. Sterling’s smile was a bit odd today, but no matter how strange, he was still handsome. She smiled and nodded immediately, "Okay." Then she stretched out her little arms, going into Ethan Sterling’s embrace.

Holding the soft little one in his arms, Ethan instantly felt an indescribable joy blooming inside. As they walked forward, he softly inquired about Honey’s health, truly feeling a sense of father-daughter bond.

Ruby watched his back, opening her heart a little. If heaven really intends to take away her little angel, then at least, during her last days here she can experience the longed-for fatherly love. For Honey, that would be the greatest blessing, wouldn’t it?

Mama Bennett came up beside her, smiling, "You can tell, sir genuinely likes Honey." She was unaware of the couple’s remarriage, merely taking the opportunity to persuade Ruby Sullivan.

But Ruby found those words comforting, like an affirmation for all the decisions she had to make.

She smiled, holding Mama Bennett’s hand, "Let’s go. We have an announcement to make."

Honey and Seth sat side by side on the bed while Ethan Sterling and Ruby Sullivan pulled up chairs to sit in front of them. Mama Bennett sat by the bed against the wall, making the setting look quite formal.

Ethan Sterling and Ruby Sullivan exchanged glances, surprisingly nervous facing the two children.

He took a deep breath, looking at Seth, then at Honey, and solemnly stated, "Wenny and I got married. Honey, from now on, you can’t call me Mr. Sterling anymore; you have to call me Dad."

Honey looked at her mom and, seeing her nod, her eyes immediately lit up, "Yeah, now I have a handsome dad." But after raising her arms in cheer, she became hesitant, looking at Ruby Sullivan with furrowed brows, "What about my original dad? Can I still see him when I grow up?"

Ruby hadn’t expected her daughter to be so sharp regarding matters of her father. Patiently she explained, "What Mommy told you about the dad you’d meet when you grew up is actually Mr. Sterling. There were reasons, but back then, I couldn’t tell you the truth."

Honey scrunched her brow, seemingly unable to understand the complicated relationship.

Ethan Sterling smiled and ruffled her hair, saying, "Honey, for now, you only need to remember that I’m your dad."

"Dad!" Honey shouted the word with the greatest loudness, sweetening Ethan’s heart to the core.

She giggled, clearly satisfied with this dad, and tilted her head to look at Seth, "So, Brother Sterling will be my real brother from now on?"

"Yes, Seth is your big brother from now on." Ruby Sullivan picked up her daughter’s words and felt somewhat relieved seeing the smile on Seth’s face.

Seth was a mature little adult with many mature thoughts. Even though from Honey, he seemed to have always liked Ruby Sullivan, she was still worried he wouldn’t accept her as his stepmother.

Isn’t this how TV portrays it? Auntie is a good auntie, but being a mom is another story.

Then Ethan Sterling turned to Seth, "Seth, you won’t need to call her Auntie anymore in the future..."

Ruby pulled on Ethan’s arm, interrupting him. She looked at Seth with a smile, "Seth, you can still call me Auntie if you want, but if you like, you can also call me Mom like Honey."

Seth looked at her, opened his mouth, mulled over for quite a while before softly squeezing out the word "Mom," his face already flushed red with shyness before the word even left his mouth.

Ruby Sullivan hadn’t expected Seth to actually call her mom, feeling elated herself. Thinking of her lost son, she couldn’t help but get up and embrace him, "Good boy, Seth."

Honey shifted over, hugging her mom’s arm, laughing joyfully.

Moved by the trio’s emotions, Ethan Sterling, who generally disliked sappy scenes, instinctively got up and encircled the three of them, "From now on, we’re a family."

Family, a word so unfamiliar to him, but at this moment, he felt it filled him with warmth and comfort.

Mama Bennett nearby was already wiping away tears, having awaited this moment for a long time. When Ruby said she was leaving, she thought she’d never see her again, "That’s fate." she choked out softly.

Seth, feeling a bit suffocated, spoke out from the innermost part, "Dad, Mom, I’m... I’m a bit hot."

Ethan Sterling and Ruby Sullivan exchanged looks, both actually feeling a bit shy for no reason. Ethan released them, averting his gaze to hide his embarrassment.

Ruby brushed Seth’s hair, refocusing on her son, calming her smile.

Seth hopped off the bed, seriously glanced at his dad and then the new mom, saying, "I want to have a bone marrow test."