CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: HIDDEN SECRETS

"Thinking for his sake?" Upon hearing this, Ethan Sterling scoffed, putting down his knife and fork, his gaze ice-cold as he looked at Rhonda Sullivan, the chill in his eyes making her involuntarily shiver, "Do you know who you’ve provoked?"

Rhonda Sullivan’s smile stiffened: "Isn’t it just a woman..."

"She’s the perfumer I hired at great expense from abroad. The Sterling Group intends to enter the luxury market, Rhonda Sullivan." Ethan Sterling cast his gaze at her, tinged with sarcasm, "Do you think you can handle that?"

"But Seth..."

"Seth," Ethan Sterling interrupted her coldly, picking up his knife and fork again; a flash of coldness in his eyes flickered off the cutlery, "is your only capital to remain here. Don’t you understand?"

With that, he didn’t spare her another glance, stood up, disdainfully tossed aside the cloth he’d wiped his hands with, and walked upstairs.

Rhonda Sullivan stood there, stunned, her face full of disbelief.

She knew Ethan Sterling didn’t like her, so she spent five years planning, scheming, all to get him to notice her.

Now he bluntly told her that the reason she could stay was all because of Seth’s contribution.

The bastard whose own parents didn’t even know about?

Does he deserve that?

But Ethan Sterling’s words echoed in her mind, reminding her repeatedly.

In Ethan Sterling’s heart, she had no place!

Hatred grew wildly in her heart, slowly enveloping it entirely; she clenched her fists, a metallic taste spreading in her mouth.

...

"President," the secretary knocked on the office door, holding documents as he walked in, "all the information you asked me to find about Wenny is here."

Ethan Sterling put down his work, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses he only donned while working, giving him a cultured demeanor. Yet when he smiled, it was clear he possessed a flamboyant aura.

"Speak."

"Yes." The assistant spoke respectfully, "Wenny’s Chinese name is Winnie. Four years ago, she joined The Lawson Group as a designer’s assistant. A year later, she suddenly became the chief disciple of the elusive DR.L. Soon after, she went to Rochefort University for further study, progressing rapidly, winning dozens of awards during her time there. Two years later, she graduated and returned to The Lawson as the chief perfumer."

"This year, thanks to our high offer, we lured this talent, coupled with Wenny having relatives in the country, prompting her willingness to accept our invitation."

As the secretary explained, Ethan Sterling tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, flipping to the first page, his finger gliding across the top line: "Relatives? What relatives does she have here?"

"Not sure."

Ethan Sterling was dissatisfied with this answer; his brow furrowing further, "Why is there no information from four years ago?"

"Sorry, Mr. Sterling. All of Wenny’s earlier records only show she grew up in an orphanage, with not even a trace of the orphanage she lived in. I think perhaps her past identity was unsavory, and she tampered with her records privately. If she’s returning to search for her roots, then this could explain it."

"I don’t want your speculative results." Ethan Sterling narrowed his eyes.

The secretary wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling the pressure despite the air conditioning being set adequately low: "Yes, Mr. Sterling, I’ll check again."

"Forget it, leave."

Ethan Sterling tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, lost in thought; the sudden emergence four years ago, wiping all traces of the past clean, or... Was there no past at all?

Regardless of the answer, it proved she carried many secrets.

Ethan Sterling thought of recent interactions, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity, some angles surprisingly reminiscent of the person in his memories, and her child was also five years old now.

Five years ago, Ruby Sullivan’s child should also be five.

Ethan Sterling was startled by his bold thought.

Then suppressed it again; in terms of personality and appearance, they’re completely unrelatable. He indeed was becoming increasingly paranoid.

Ruby Sullivan... It’s been five years; are you still not ready to come out?

Wenny, who are you really?

The next day, when Melody Wallace was going to kindergarten as usual, Seth Sterling suddenly pushed a slender box to her. Honey was slightly stunned, a bit slow to shift her gaze onto the long string of English letters on it.

Seth Sterling’s ears turned slightly red, and he awkwardly turned his head to explain, "It’s not for you; it’s for your mom."

"For my mom?" Honey’s large eyes showed a hint of confusion, "Why for my mom?"

"Didn’t your mom sprain her foot? This is the medicine I used for my injuries before; it’s very effective, and it’s imported. You can take it back to your mom to use." Seth Sterling explained while grabbing a pen to cover up, not willing to admit he learned this from eavesdropping on Honey.

Honey indeed didn’t dwell on it, took the medicine box with a big smile, suddenly planted a kiss on Seth Sterling’s cheek: "Brother Sterling, you’re the best! My mom will definitely thank you!"

The soft touch on his face startled Seth Sterling; he hadn’t expected Honey to suddenly kiss him. Yet seeing her so happy, he couldn’t bear to scold her.

He was indeed a bit of a neat freak!

Besides, his dad taught him since childhood that men and women should maintain proper distance, unless truly affectionate, they shouldn’t allow kisses from other girls!

But then again, Melody Wallace shouldn’t count as other girls.

After all, the two were considered life-and-death friends; such small gestures wouldn’t be minded by a little girl, so why should he as a boy make a fuss?

Thinking this way, Seth Sterling indeed relaxed a lot.

When he looked up, he happened to notice the bandage on Honey’s head.

Guilt swelled in him, recalling the wound was entirely his fault: "Honey, does it still... hurt you now?"

Honey was initially slow to grasp what he meant, patted the wound on her head, making Seth Sterling gasp, "It doesn’t hurt anymore!"

"Are you dumb!" Seth Sterling immediately pulled her hand away, his eyes showing concern, "It’s a bad wound; you’re just going to pat it?"

"Hehe," Honey laughed silly, then tiptoed again, kissing Seth Sterling on the cheek, before straightening up and earnestly looking at him, "See, it really doesn’t hurt."

Seth Sterling sighed, seeing her mature demeanor, vowing not to let her endure a bit more harm in the future!

In the evening, as soon as Honey got home, she eagerly handed the medicine Seth had given her to Ruby Sullivan. Ruby took it curiously and asked, "What’s this?"

"This is the medicine Brother Sterling asked me to bring for mom!" Honey repeated Seth’s words seriously, "This medicine is imported, specifically for injuries, just spray once, and it’ll heal!"

Ruby couldn’t help but smile, opened the box, sprayed some on her ankle, and her mind instinctively returned to Seth’s little grown-up demeanor.

"Mom, does it work well!" Honey asked after her mom applied the medicine.

"Silly," Ruby reached out to scratch Honey’s nose, saying dotingly, "Tomorrow, mommy will bring two meals, one for you and one for Seth. How about it?"

"Alright!" Honey nodded vigorously with a smile, clapping her hands happily, "Brother Sterling will definitely be very happy!"

"Mom, can I call Brother Sterling?"