CHAPTER 486: CHAPTER 486: NO ESCAPE FROM CALAMITY

The night was deep, and Ruby Sullivan was still working overtime on the plan for Nirvana’s expansion into Caelus. Ethan Sterling couldn’t bear to watch any longer and directly took away the notebook in front of her, "Ms. Sullivan, you should get some sleep."

Ruby frowned, "I must develop a perfume that will astonish Gallia and time is tight with tasks heavy. Don’t make trouble for me." She said, reaching for the notebook, but he raised it higher.

"Hey!" Ruby was somewhat angry.

"The original plan for entering Gallia was for next year. Although Nirvana performed well in Bellaza, advancing the plan by this much without a clear reason is blind decision-making and prone to loss," Ethan said, not willing to give her the notebook, even adopting a teaching posture.

Actually, Ruby was quite willing to learn from Ethan,

but lately, she’s been so restless that she didn’t want to listen.

"Mr. Sterling, this is a commercial decision for Nirvana, and I don’t think I have a reason to discuss it with you."

"What are you afraid of?" He placed the notebook on the bedside table and asked softly.

The press conference was indeed successful, and it achieved exactly the effect they wanted, even surprisingly well.

However, Ruby did not feel relaxed because of this, secretly entering into a frenzy of work, as if... only work could calm her down.

Ethan had been waiting for her to find him and clear things up, then obediently ask for help—whereupon he would tell her that with him there, those things aren’t so bad.

But, she not only said nothing but kept pushing herself harder. He was really afraid that one day she would suddenly collapse in front of the experiment bench. Ethan decided he couldn’t let her continue to overthink.

"What are you afraid of?" Seeing her stunned, he repeated, quite impolitely, seemingly knowing these words would directly pierce her heart like a talisman that could calm her.

Ruby lowered her head, curled up under the covers, and didn’t want to talk to him. Didn’t he know what she was afraid of?

Holding press conferences was never the difficult part; the hard part was how they were going to face themselves. They certainly knew what the reporters were most interested in, but it’s something they absolutely cannot take the initiative to explain.

Now, Ethan Sterling was admired by everyone as a good man, but if that matter was made public, on the surface Ethan would still be seen as an indisputably good man, but secretly it would turn into a sarcastic jab at his heart.

After the press conference ended, Ruby had been tense, closely monitoring the latest news online. Not knowing when Rhonda Sullivan would use her trump card, but at least hoping Nirvana could remain safe.

She lowered her head, biting her lip without speaking.

Ethan gently pulled her closer to himself, "I said I would face it with you. Do you think I am just bluffing?"

Ruby shook her head, "I really don’t want to hurt..."

Ethan said nothing more, just holding her and kissing her forehead. He even hoped a bit that this would happen quickly so Ruby wouldn’t have to worry more.

*

Three days later, Rhonda Sullivan calmly signed the divorce agreement with Jack. After meeting, they didn’t say anything extra, just took a photo of the divorce certificate at the photographer’s request, without uttering another word.

Jack was somewhat grateful because he consulted a lawyer. Since they hadn’t counted each other’s property before marriage, even though the legal marriage lasted only a short period, many others had messy disputes.

Therefore, before going to Rhonda Sullivan that day, he was prepared for a deadlock.

Rhonda Sullivan’s calmness was purely superficial. She returned home without saying a word, wandering back to

her room, looking like a lost soul from afar, without any expression on her face.

She didn’t care about what new perfumes Nirvana released lately, nor did she know how Miss should face this financial debacle. Instead, she placed her final chip on the foreign media platform.

The video was like a depth bomb, putting Nirvana in the spotlight. Although it was forcibly taken down in just five minutes, the captivating scenes between Ruby and L were preserved by many netizens.

No reporters dared provoke L, but the reporters from the mainland were shocked by the video.

She and Ethan Sterling had just publicly displayed their affection to the world’s people when such a dramatic affair broke out. Could all Ruby’s deep sentiments before Ethan be false? Were their feelings just an act?

Even though similar things happen every day, can netizens accept being fooled this way?

Ruby’s social media was bombarded by netizens, and both The Sterling Group’s and Nirvana’s official blogs were demanding answers. Even the usually open Vivian immediately called her son privately upon seeing the news, asking him to clarify the matter.

Ethan felt there was nothing to explain.

This was a scenario he and Ruby had anticipated, and it was the reason why Ruby worked frantically. She hoped Nirvana could achieve more before this day arrived, withstand greater challenges. Unexpectedly, when she thought she was about to avoid disaster, the event didn’t occur, thinking she might have luckily dodged a bullet. Now, finally, the calamity arrived, unstoppable.

Ruby’s house was surrounded by reporters, watertight, even though The Sterling Group had dispatched bodyguards, they couldn’t completely prevent those intrusive reporters. Ruby’s greatest concern was the impact on their children’s lives, but this truly was unavoidable.

Honey didn’t understand what happened, only becoming annoyed when teased by classmates, while Seth knew what happened yet continued to trust his mom, though the filth online tied a knot in his heart, not knowing what mindset to face his beloved mom.

This time, both Ruby and Ethan chose to refuse answering.

They continued their normal life together, eating when they had time, not even driving together when they didn’t, as if the affair hadn’t impacted their businesses.

This was their established strategy, pretending to know nothing, but Ruby knew Ethan faced immense pressure, far beyond hers. After all, not every man dares admit being betrayed, yet still clinging to this woman.

However, after a week, although the matter didn’t expand, Ethan was pushed to the altar by people’s ridicule.

Unparalleled good man, none other than him.

Meanwhile, L avoided people’s eye lines, coming to Celestia.