CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: SURPRISE

Honey was scared by Sasha Shaw’s yelling, gripping Ruby Sullivan’s arm, "Mom, is Mrs. Shaw arguing with someone?"

"No, it was someone else talking earlier." Ruby Sullivan reassured Honey.

Honey was still tangled in the little scene from before, poking the bed gently with her soft fingers, hesitating, "Mom, Honey kind of wants a dad." She knows mom doesn’t like talking about this, so she only wants a dad a little bit and doesn’t want mom to know she really wants one.

Thinking about Honey’s reaction after seeing Ethan Sterling last time, Ruby Sullivan guessed the little one might have been bewitched by that man again, and intentionally teased her, "What kind of dad do you want?"

Honey furrowed her eyebrows and thought for a long time, "Of course Honey wants a handsome dad like Mr. Sterling, but as long as it’s Honey’s dad, Honey will be very happy." She sighed heavily, "Mom, do you know? Today, Brother Sterling asked me about my dad, and when I said I didn’t have one, it felt a bit sad here." She was patting her chest, as if the sadness was still lingering in her belly.

Ruby Sullivan suddenly became sensitive, "Why did Seth Sterling ask you about your dad?"

Honey shook her head, "Just casually asking, maybe because... Brother Sterling doesn’t have a mom."

Ruby Sullivan’s tension hadn’t subsided before being hit by this bombshell, "Seth doesn’t have a mom?"

Honey nodded, "That’s what he said."

"Then what about the woman in the hospital? The one who hit you?"

Honey thought for a moment, "I heard Brother Sterling call her Auntie."

Ruby Sullivan was completely bewildered, Seth Sterling isn’t Rhonda Sullivan’s son? But with Seth’s face, she’d never believe he has no relation to Ethan Sterling.

So... apart from Rhonda, was Ethan Sterling hiding someone else in a mansion back then?

Ruby Sullivan felt like a hammer had struck her chest, demanding she give up the baby and step aside, without even knowing who the real rival was. Yes, this has to be Ethan Sterling’s way, right? He wouldn’t expose someone truly dear to him to the disgraceful title of the other woman, would he?

"Mom?" Honey saw her mom daydreaming and couldn’t help but call her.

Ruby Sullivan took a deep breath, "If anyone asks again, just say dad is abroad."

"Mom doesn’t want Honey to lie, right?" Honey was a bit reluctant.

Ruby Sullivan helplessly said, "It’s not a lie, Honey does have a dad, just hasn’t met him yet."

Honey didn’t really know what dads were like in other families, but hearing mom’s words made her instantly joyful, "Turns out Honey has a dad! When will Honey get to see him? Is he handsome?"

Ruby Sullivan pinched her little nose, "Be a good girl Honey, and you’ll meet your dad when you grow up."

"Then Honey will grow up well!" Honey believed her wholeheartedly, thinking she would tell Seth tomorrow, but also considering he doesn’t have a mom and might be sad, so she resolved to not let Seth know she has a dad even if it means lying.

On the other side, heading home, Ethan Sterling felt agitated.

His mind drifted back to that night five years ago, her grievance and timid appearance.

It seemed like in front of him, she was always cautious, except for that night, when her face was filled with vibrant colors.

Yet, the reason was one he least wished to hear—she was pregnant.

Thinking about it, they only had that one encounter, yet it resulted in a life.

Then he told her to abort the child, she disobeyed and ran away.

He initially thought it was just a simple tantrum, but he hadn’t imagined she’d leave so completely.

Coming as she pleased, leaving as she pleased, Ethan Sterling lifted the corners of his mouth, he must have spoiled her, to the point where she became reckless, doing whatever she liked without asking him, Ethan Sterling, for permission! Five years, he had been looking for her for five whole years.

Seth heard his sigh, tilted his head, "Are you worried about Mrs. Wallace?"

Ethan Sterling glanced at him, "Do you like Wenny very much?"

Seth’s face reddened, as if someone had caught onto his secret, feeling a bit embarrassed, he tried to remain calm, "I just find her quite endearing." He glanced back, "Don’t you like her?"

"She’s an important employee at my company, I value her greatly."

"Oh..." Seth dragged the word out, feeling a bit peculiar.

Ethan Sterling raised an eyebrow, "What’s with the ’Oh’?"

"If I must have a mom, I hope it’s someone like Mrs. Wallace." He pursed his lips, muttering, "And Honey said she doesn’t have a dad, but she really likes you."

Ethan Sterling’s eyes widened, "Did you say Honey doesn’t have a dad?"

*

Sasha Shaw bought back porridge that Ruby Sullivan couldn’t eat, watching her friend several times and wanting to speak but held back.

At Honey’s age, she could fully recall things adults say, and Ruby feared saying something that the little girl would relay to Seth.

Sasha Shaw understood her hesitation and reminded Honey to call if anything happened when she took her away.

Ruby Sullivan lay on the hospital bed, unsettled, thinking that if Seth was checking in on Honey’s dad because of Ethan Sterling, Ethan Sterling already knew she lied.

Knowing is knowing, she wasn’t afraid of him exposing her.

But why?

Why was Ethan Sterling so interested in her private life? Or was Ethan Sterling merely suspicious of her? But she couldn’t think of what would make Ethan Sterling suspicious.

The more Ruby thought, the more confused she became, suddenly recalling Faye Truman, and quickly called him. Fortunately, this time, the call was answered swiftly.

"Nathaniel."

"Thank goodness, I was afraid I’d hear Ethan Sterling’s voice instead. Are you okay?"

"I’m fine, has Ethan Sterling discovered something?"

"He verified your handwriting and then called me, I said I forged it." Faye Truman reassured her, "Don’t worry, I’ve already told him you’re dead."

Ruby Sullivan gripped the thin blanket, still uneasy, "Did he believe it?"

He half-jokingly said sternly, "Why wouldn’t he believe it?"

Faye Truman paused for a moment without hearing anything from the other end of the call, then continued, "When you were in labor back then, you had a massive hemorrhage. If nobody at the time had blood matching yours saved you, you wouldn’t have survived at all. Did I make anything up?"

Indeed, if she hadn’t been so lucky back then, she’d only be a ghost beneath the yellow springs now. Thinking of this made a mocking smile creep onto her lips.

Yes, it’s all perfectly rational.

Ruby Sullivan exhaled deeply, "Maybe I’m being too sensitive."

The door of the ward was suddenly pushed open, the intruder silently stepped inside, unexpectedly seeing Ruby on the phone, hesitating, feeling awkward.

He didn’t intend to sneak around.

Ruby Sullivan was about to inquire about her father’s condition but when she raised her eyes, she saw an unfamiliar face in the ward, startled, she screamed, dropping her phone to the ground.

"Ethan Sterling, when did you come?" She clutched her heaving chest, still scared, forgetting to mind her manner of address.

"Sorry, I thought you were sleeping, so I snuck in quietly. Didn’t realize you were on the phone." He stepped forward a few steps, picked up the phone for her, "Should I excuse myself?"

Ruby Sullivan saw the phone screen already darkened, this finally calmed her. If he found out she knew Faye Truman, she would be helpless to explain.

"Did Mr. Sterling come back for something?"

Ethan Sterling sat by the hospital bed, "I just came to see you." He examined her face closely, but couldn’t decipher anything.

After five years of searching, the woman he remembered had little more remaining in his memory than her round appearance, timorous nature, her features were blurred, her voice forgotten, these were even less memorable than the taste of her cooking.

Still, he just wanted to find her, to ask why she left without a word!

That person couldn’t possibly be this woman before him.

Ethan Sterling once again rejected his somewhat paranoid hypothesis, suddenly standing up, "Then, rest well."

Ruby Sullivan was initially as tense as facing an enemy but seeing him speaking to himself and then leaving without a word of explanation left her with only questions. Yet, she didn’t want to stop him for answers; Ethan Sterling’s stare had made her uneasy, she figured it’s best to avoid seeing him alone for a while.

She thought of Faye Truman, and changed the contact name in her phone to "Big Brother."

Over here, Ethan Sterling had just walked a few steps from the ward when he heard a loud thud from inside, in a hurry, he quickly turned back.