CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: GENERATION GAP

Ethan Sterling was awakened by the noise of a servant pushing open the door. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the servant standing awkwardly at the door, not sure whether to come in or leave.

"S-sir, the elder Mrs. Sterling asked me to come in," the servant explained, trembling as she looked at his sleepy appearance.

Ethan Sterling responded with a "Hmm," not fully awake yet, and hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

Every morning he was woken up by the servant for breakfast, so he didn’t find the current situation odd. It was only when he sat up that he realized there was an arm draped across his chest.

Rhonda Sullivan frowned, slowly opened her eyes, met Ethan Sterling’s questioning gaze, and froze for a moment. Then she pulled the covers up, shyly turning away.

The servant swallowed nervously, and mustering up her courage, asked, "Sir, are you getting up now?"

"Hmm." Ethan Sterling replied with a steady voice.

Only then did she quickly close the door and leave.

Outside the door, Mama Bennett, the elder Mrs. Sterling’s personal servant, slipped a few red bills to the maid, all smiles as she went to report the good news to the elder Mrs. Sterling.

Ethan Sterling got out of bed and realized he was scantily clad, not even wearing underwear. He furrowed his brow awkwardly, took a deep breath, put on a dark expression, and marched into the wardrobe.

Rhonda Sullivan got out of bed immediately and followed him, equally under-dressed.

She hugged him from behind, "I know you’ll be mad, but... it was all arranged by grandma. We’re getting married anyway, and I didn’t want to go against her wishes."

Ethan Sterling pulled her arms away, turned around, squinted coldly, tilted his head with a smile, and lifted her chin, "You really are obedient. Tell you to climb into a man’s bed, and you do it. If they tell you to jump off a building tomorrow, you won’t hesitate, will you?"

Rhonda Sullivan, terrified by the anger in his eyes, felt her knees weaken. With a hint of undisguised fear in her mournful eyes, she gasped, "Ethan, you’re... hurting me." She lightly placed her hand on his arm, feeling as if her chin would break, yet not daring to pry his hand away.

Ethan Sterling fiercely furrowed his brow and pushed her away, "Get out!"

Rhonda Sullivan stumbled, a thumb-sized red imprint immediately appearing on her chin. She rubbed it, looking up with pitiable eyes, and said softly, "I love you. I... really love you. I would do anything for you."

While getting dressed, Ethan Sterling casually said, "Alright, since you love me so much, then go die."

Rhonda Sullivan froze, not expecting such words. She stood there blankly for a while, then found a way down for herself, "I know you’re angry, but I really had no choice. I don’t dare let grandma hate me."

Once dressed, Ethan Sterling turned to her side and stopped, but he didn’t even look at her with disdain, staring straight ahead. With a faint smile, he said softly, "Rest assured, I’ll never marry you." Then he slowly walked out of the wardrobe.

Rhonda Sullivan suddenly lost strength, crouched down on the ground, hugging herself tightly out of grievance. She truly loved him, she really did!

Seeing him sitting alone at the dining table, the elder Mrs. Sterling asked with a smile, "Where’s Rhonda?"

Ethan Sterling frowned, not wanting to indulge his grandmother’s whims for the first time. He deliberately avoided looking at her, responding with a cold voice, "She’s grandma’s dog. Shouldn’t grandma know better than me where she is?"

The elder Mrs. Sterling’s face changed instantly, throwing her spoon down on her plate, "Do you now think you can ignore your grandmother?"

Ethan Sterling pursed his lips and remained silent for a while. Then he shifted his gaze towards her, "Grandma, is it so hard to respect someone? You didn’t respect mom, which is why she would rather leave her son behind than see you again. Years ago, you forced me to marry Ruby Sullivan, and now, to achieve your goals, you want to force me to marry Rhonda Sullivan. Grandma, do you need a puppet or a grandson?"

After saying this, he stood up, not wanting to stay a moment longer.

Mrs. Sutton’s face turned pale with anger, unable to speak for a long time. Mama Bennett hurried over to help her calm down, finally stabilizing Mrs. Sutton’s emotions.

As Ethan Sterling was going upstairs, he happened to see Seth Sterling coming downstairs.

He glanced at his son and instructed coldly, "Check on grandma’s situation and report to me in the study."

Seth Sterling felt a bit confused but immediately agreed and quickly headed downstairs.

Dad said that great-grandma has always been in good health. Coupled with her passion for exercise, getting a little emotional is not a problem. However, usually speaking, one should be cautious. Yet, seeing dad’s expression just now, it seemed he forgot to hold back a bit too much.

Seth Sterling thought for a while as he descended the stairs, then put on the most invincible silly smile of little kids and quickly walked over, "Good morning, great-grandma."

*

The current villa of The Sterling Family was bought by the elder Mrs. Sterling.

That year, Mr. Sterling passed away. Mrs. Sterling left The Sterling Family with her second son and third daughter. Unable to stay at the former place, the elder Mrs. Sterling bought the current villa and moved in with her eldest grandson, Ethan Sterling. After Ruby Sullivan and Ethan Sterling married, the elder Mrs. Sterling felt she had completed her mission and went alone to Crestfall.

Ruby Sullivan once thought that this place would be the home she would try hard to manage for the rest of her life.

She stepped out of the car, looked up at the white wall and red-roofed European-style building in front of her, as if looking at the first half of her life.

Every time she came back before, she was accompanied by someone, never having the chance to look at it closely like this. Today... perhaps it would witness her new beginning.

Not far away, Howard, who had been ordered to pick her up outside, quickly approached, "Mr. Wallace."

Ruby Sullivan smiled slightly, "The elder Mrs. Sterling hasn’t issued an eviction order against me, has she?"

Howard smiled apologetically, placing his arm bent at the waist, "Not at all, just afraid of someone making trouble. The entrance is checking invitation cards strictly. Mr. Sterling was worried about accidents and asked me to pick you up."

Ruby Sullivan nodded, politely lifting her hand to latch onto his arm.

The particularly ornate drawing room was resplendent, with well-dressed guests who were well-known figures in the country, all here for The Sterling Family.

Ethan Sterling, holding a glass of champagne, was greeting guests. Beside him, in a long dress, was Rhonda Sullivan, holding his arm with one hand and a glass of wine in the other. It was unknown what the guest said, but she suddenly lowered her head with a faint smile, then turned to glance at Ethan Sterling, her eyes full of love.

Ruby Sullivan took a deep breath and curved her lips.

Howard also appropriately let go of his arm, "Shall I inform Mr. Sterling?"

Ruby Sullivan then took a glass of champagne from a waiter’s tray and looked straight at Ethan Sterling’s back, "No, I’ll go over myself."

Today, she wasn’t wearing a dress but had chosen a simple and sharp round-neck sleeveless shirt paired with a pale green A-line skirt printed with palm trees that reached her knees. Her deliberately straightened hair was styled with a small inward curl at the ends, giving her a youthful and vibrant look. Her long legs were strikingly lovely.

She stood to Edwin Sterling’s right, making Rhonda Sullivan, dressed in a sky-blue mermaid dress, look several years older.

When Ruby Sullivan assumed a fake identity, she deliberately reduced her age by three years and now intentionally, with a cheerful smile, said, "Happy birthday, Mr. Sullivan. I always thought Mr. Sullivan looked like a younger sister with her antics. It turns out you’re three years older than me. I should call you sister, right?"

Rhonda Sullivan’s temple twitched, and her charming smile instantly became like holding in a fart, finding it extremely difficult.

Before she could think of a rebuttal, Ethan Sterling lightly smiled and said, "Wenny, you really know how to joke. At three years, there’s already a generation gap. Now I understand why you never agree."

Ruby Sullivan raised her eyebrows, biting her lip to hold back her laughter, raised her glass to clink with his, her eyes expressing: Nice assist.