CHAPTER 385: CHAPTER 385: IN A FOUL MOOD

When they got home, the two kids still insisted on taking their dad’s car. Ruby watched as Ethan Sterling’s car drove away, not in a hurry to start the engine, and instead called Howard to ask about today’s sales situation.

If there wasn’t much improvement during the Christmas promotion, next year would probably be tough.

She called Howard twice before the phone was picked up. He said the physical store was having a good response, and "Metamorphosis" was being sold for the first time, attracting many customers. Following the in-store fragrance plan Ruby had set up the day before, it had a very good effect, with many customers being drawn in by the store’s subtle scent as soon as they stepped in.

Ruby breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, "Thank you all for your hard work."

"Rest assured and spend time with your kids; we’ve got this. At times like this, you need to carry yourself like the boss," Howard said jokingly to reassure her.

Hearing his words made Ruby feel half at ease. She understood the reasoning, but she always felt uneasy about having taken everyone from The Sterling Group and painted a big picture for them to advance together. If her personal issues dragged everyone down, she’d feel guilty.

In this regard, she was too much of a saint, which really didn’t befit a boss.

Ruby composed herself, then started the car and hit the road.

Ethan’s car was lively inside. Honey’s check-up results were quite good, and the siblings were in an even better mood than on the way to the hospital, constantly teasing their dad about staying over for the night.

Ethan pretended not to hear and didn’t know how to respond to the children’s mood.

He thought of his own childhood, being frequently ill, which led to a distorted relationship with his brother. When he finally got better and things started to improve between them, his little sister came, and their father passed away.

His mom left with his younger siblings, and he could only stay with his grandmother, being groomed as a successor. In his heart, he still felt it was more fitting to call himself a successor machine. Gradually, he shut down his emotions. Looking back now, his childhood self seemed rather pitiable.

And now, looking at Honey and Seth, their situation didn’t seem much better than his.

He really wanted to give them a complete family, but he didn’t want them to be the sole reason to keep it together.

When they got out of the car, he held his son’s hand with his left and his daughter’s with his right, saying seriously, "As for your dad and mom, I’ll do my best, but it’ll take some time."

Upon reflection, it seemed to be an empty promise with essentially no substantial content, but for Honey and Seth, it was immense hope. It was as if, by saying this, their dad gave them something to look forward to, instantly lifting their spirits.

When Ruby entered, Mama Bennett and Owen were already preparing dinner. Ethan was in the living room playing with the kids and Lego blocks. Honey, hearing the noise, was the first to run to the entryway to welcome her mom.

"Mom, are you cooking something delicious for us today?"

Despite being preoccupied with her thoughts, Ruby mustered up the energy to ask, "What does Honey want to eat today?"

"I haven’t had your braised pork for a long time."

At this moment, Seth, who rarely voiced his wants, also smiled, "I would like some lotus root rib soup."

Ruby didn’t expect her usually undemanding son to be requesting something today, so she naturally couldn’t refuse, "Alright, I’ll change clothes and start cooking. Think about what else you’d like to eat and tell me quickly."

Honey let go of her hand happily, turned around, and shouted for "Dad," asking innocently, "Dad, is there anything you want to eat? It’s not often that Mom cooks herself!"

Ruby quickly went inside to change, not wanting to overhear the father-and-daughter chat, lest she be tempted to "flavor" Ethan’s food later. However, his presence today was beneficial to her, at least this provided her an opportunity to ask him why he was suppressing "Nirvana."

Once dressed and in the kitchen, Honey quickly came running, smiling, and asked, "Mom, can we also have some porridge and stir-fried greens tonight?"

This certainly wasn’t something meat-loving Honey would have thought of, so it was naturally for her dad.

But Ruby asked knowingly, "You want to eat vegetables?"

"Dad does," Honey sighed worriedly after saying this, "Dad said his stomach has been upset lately, so he can’t eat oily things. It’s a pity that Dad can’t eat meat."

Ruby chuckled at Honey’s expression, "Got it, go play."

After Honey left, Mama Bennett couldn’t help but suggest, "Actually, it’s better for the kids to live with their parents."

Ruby didn’t want to hear such remarks, which only added to her worries, nor did she intend to explain anything to Mama Bennett. Even if her biological mother were alive today, she wouldn’t speak of such things.

Therefore, upon hearing this, she was immediately displeased and replied with a faint smile, "Of course, but aren’t there many ’left-behind’ children in Celestia who live quite well?"

"That’s true..." Mama Bennett understood she didn’t want to listen and softened her tone.

Remembering what happened to Honey, Ruby continued, "Did Honey fall off the chair and have a nosebleed last night?"

Hearing this, Mama Bennett recalled, "Yes, it scared me to death. Mr. Sterling said he would take her for a check-up today. How did it go? Everything okay?" Although she saw Honey lively as ever, she still anxiously asked.

"If something had happened, it would have been too late," Ruby said while cutting pork belly, suddenly pausing her hand to glance at her with a frown, "With something like this, you should at least inform me."

Mama Bennett had been with the family for a long time and had never overstepped or acted improperly before, nor had she ever been criticized by Ruby.

She knew in her heart that she truly cared for the two kids, and hearing Ruby say this made her feel a tinge of bitterness. She quietly replied, "I intended to tell you last night, but I forgot by morning."

Ruby frowned, let out a long sigh, "For this kind of thing, you should notify me at the earliest opportunity. Luckily, Honey is alright. If we missed anything because we didn’t do a timely check-up, then nothing could make up for it."

Mama Bennett knew that her stress from work, along with worrying about her daughter, was affecting her mood.

Having watched Ruby grow up, even if she didn’t understand her difficulties fully, she tried to empathize; after all, how could a mother and her daughter be at odds?

So she didn’t explain further, merely murmuring, "I’ll remember."

While picking vegetables, Owen couldn’t hold back, saying, "Miss Ruby, last night Mama Bennett tried calling you several times, but no one answered. It was only once Mr. Sterling came that she stopped calling."

Ruby paused upon hearing this, suddenly recalling the few missed calls from Mama Bennett on her phone, remembering that she was at a karaoke bar at the time. Her face flushed, feeling even more uncomfortable inside.

Mama Bennett glanced over, hurriedly turning her head to shoot Owen a look, meaning she should’ve kept quiet.

In such matters, speaking about it doesn’t change anything, and also puts Ruby in a bad mood. Why bother?