CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: RECRUITING ALLIES

Ruby Sullivan returned to the office and immediately called Levi Joyce, "If you aren’t dead yet, come to the company right away, otherwise don’t bother coming at all." She hung up the phone without giving him a chance to explain.

It is said that Levi’s sick leave was specially permitted by Ethan Sterling.

She didn’t pursue it because she didn’t want to miss the chance to get close to Ethan Sterling, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t concerned about being easily manipulated.

When Levi rushed to the company, he was wearing an oversize T-shirt and big shorts, topped with a bucket hat that looked hot.

Ruby gave him a sideways glance, "Take me home."

"Yes." Levi dared not say anything else, worried about losing this good job he had just landed.

As they were leaving the lab, Ethan Sterling also came out of the office, followed by Howard.

He wore a stern, expressionless face, glanced at Levi, but said nothing.

While waiting for the elevator, Ruby coldly reminded, "Mr. Sterling, Levi is taking me home, that’s all."

Ethan responded with "Hmm" without a change in his expression.

After entering the elevator, Howard glanced at Ethan again, waited for Levi to finish pressing the elevator button, then casually pressed "9" and smiled, saying: "The PR department has shortlisted some candidates for the new product endorsement and needs Mr. Sterling’s opinion."

Ruby looked up at the digital display, pretending not to be awkward.

He just said he would leave work with her, it’s not like she was overthinking!

On the way home, Ruby’s mind was full of Ethan’s words; only when she reached home did she recall she had to go back to the hospital for a review on Saturday, so she directly instructed Levi, "Be at my house at eight tomorrow morning; I need to go to the hospital."

"Tomorrow won’t work..." Levi looked embarrassed, "We have a performance at the livehouse tomorrow night, and we have to rehearse during the day."

Ruby frowned.

The job requirements clearly stated that Levi was to be on call 24/7, including weekends and all holidays; how could rehearsing make that impossible?

Seeing her displeased face, Levi hesitantly explained, "Wenny, to be honest, I just came from the rehearsal space, I’m doing this job to sustain myself while continuing with my band, can you give me some leeway?"

Who hasn’t had a dream or two when they were young? When Ruby was little, she dreamed of becoming a food critic!

She sighed, "Where are you performing at the livehouse?"

Levi immediately brightened up, "I’ll send you the address later. Call me when you get there, and I’ll bring you inside."

Ruby glared at him, "I didn’t say I was going; let’s be clear, I won’t hold this against you this time, but if there’s a work duty you must perform and you delay because of the band again, don’t blame me for finding someone else."

"Okay..." Levi weakly agreed, yet felt uneasy inside; who could say for sure about these things? He could only deal with it when the time came.

Ruby arrived home two hours earlier than usual today. Mama Bennett was watching TV and was surprised to see her.

"Why are you back so early?"

Ruby simply said "Hmm" without explaining further.

Seeing her in a bad mood, Mama Bennett refrained from saying more. She followed Ruby into the room to help her change into casual clothes.

Lately, Mama Bennett had been the one taking care of her. Ruby’s current state made changing clothes on her own indeed quite difficult.

But thinking of Ethan’s words, Ruby frowned and asked Mama Bennett to leave the room.

Could it be that Mama Bennett was indeed a spy placed by him to test her?

Ruby stayed in the room alone for over half an hour before opening the door and going out.

Mama Bennett had made tea for her, already cooled down. The weather had been getting hotter every day, and some green tea helped relieve the heat and fire. As for the jasmine green tea, it was, of course, Ruby’s favorite.

Ruby took a sip and looked at Mama Bennett seriously, "Mama Bennett, I want to tell you something."

If she wanted to dispel Ethan’s suspicions, she had to take a risk and try.

She took a deep breath and told Mama Bennett the full story of her experience at The Sterling Family years ago, and how Rhonda Sullivan had framed her.

Mama Bennett was shocked after hearing it all, wide-eyed and speechless for a while before she could react, reaching her trembling hand to touch Ruby’s face, "Miss, you’ve suffered so much." After all, she’s the child she watched grow up, so knowing the truth, even if just listening, her heart couldn’t help but feel sad.

Seeing the tears in Mama Bennett’s eyes, Ruby also felt her emotions slipping out of control, hastily turning her face to the side and smiling with effort, "It’s okay, it’s all in the past, but now there’s something I need your help with."

"What is it?"

"Don’t let Ethan Sterling know my true identity."

Mama Bennett was puzzled, "Sir has been looking for you all these years, and his relationship with Rhonda is just nominal. Perhaps he feels guilty and wants to apologize to you. Why not give him a chance?"

"I still don’t know if my father’s stroke had anything to do with him. If he helped Rhonda Sullivan take over the company back then, I’m worried he’ll eliminate any loose ends."

Mama Bennett gasped.

In her heart, she felt that although Mr. Sterling seemed cold-hearted, he was actually a decent person, not one with bad intentions like that. But Rhonda Sullivan was a child adopted by The Sullivan Family, so it’s not unreasonable to say you never truly know a person.

"Rest assured, I won’t tell anyone about this, and I’ll keep your secret from Mr. Sterling’s side. However, there are some words I need to tell you." Mama Bennett paused before continuing, "Mr. Sterling asked me about the circumstances of the stroke back then, and he seemed quite unaware of the Sullivan Family’s matters. A few nights ago, Mr. Sterling and Miss Sullivan didn’t return until the early hours, and Mr. Sterling rarely gets that angry, so I remember it well. Miss Sullivan even asked Mr. Sterling if he suspected her involvement in the stroke at that time. I think Mr. Sterling might not have participated."

Ruby nodded, "I understand, Mama Bennett, thank you."

Mama Bennett smiled, "Honey will be released from school soon, I’ll go pick her up."

After speaking with Mama Bennett, Ruby felt relieved, as if a stone suspended in mid-air had finally landed.

Actually, when Faye Truman successfully took her father away, she had thought that Ethan Sterling hadn’t been involved in the Sullivan Family affairs; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let it happen so easily. So the contact at the hospital was him, not Ruby Sullivan — was it because he wanted to protect her dad?

If that’s the case, then Ethan Sterling might have a bit of a conscience.

Only, until dinner time Ethan Sterling never showed up, and Seth Sterling called him saying he had a dinner engagement and wouldn’t be back today.

After hanging up, Seth felt a bit downcast. He was used to freeloading meals, but it was still quite unreasonable for his dad not to notify him and leave him unnoticed.

Honey wanted to cheer him up and proposed, "Brother Sterling, why don’t you stay over tonight? My bed is big enough to fit both of us."

Seth broke out in a cold sweat, "Isn’t that a small single bed in your room? Besides, I don’t want to sleep with a girl; it’s not proper."

Ruby couldn’t help but laugh at his prim and proper demeanor, "Do you want to stay over?"

Seth hesitated for a moment and nodded, "I kind of do."

Ruby mused for a moment and said, "My bed is big enough, why don’t you both sleep with me tonight? I can tell you stories."

"Really?" Seth’s eyes revealed a rare glimpse of childlike innocence.

Ruby nodded, "As true as can be."

Honey clapped and cheered, "That’s great!"