novelraw Chapter 214: A Reassuring Promise
Chapter 214: A Reassuring Promise
The family had dinner at Wonderland before heading to the airport, and on the road, Honey began focusing on the photos, repeatedly asking her mom to print them out because she wanted to show them to Nina. In Honey’s heart, this trip held great ceremonial meaning, not just because she could take pictures with the princesses of Wonderland, but more importantly, because the whole family was together.
After the day’s exhaustive touring, Ruby Sullivan was running low on energy, her eyelids drooping as she sluggishly responded every time Honey spoke.
They were seated in a two-row business van, with Honey and Seth Sterling’s child seats fixed in the single seats, while Ethan Sterling and Ruby Sullivan sat in the back.
Ethan Sterling, noticing her struggling to stay alert, felt a pang of sympathy, moved closer to her, tucked her head onto his shoulder, and said, "There’s still a bit of distance to the airport, take a nap first."
Ruby instinctively wanted to refuse, but he held her hand.
"Later, I need to take a private jet back home and can’t return to Novaniel with you all." Ethan’s voice was low, as if he didn’t want the kids in the front to hear.
Ruby thought about the several phone calls he took at the amusement park today, each leaving him looking uneasy, knowing something important must have happened back home requiring his immediate return.
After listening to him, she found a comfortable position on his shoulder, closed her eyes, and voluntarily held his hand back, "I understand."
Ethan said no more, lightly wrapped his arm around her shoulder, calming his once restless heart. He didn’t know if they had a future but was increasingly clear that he needed her, with no explicit reason, much like how her subtle fragrance brought him peace.
Although the kids had plenty of energy, they eventually succumbed to exhaustion after their excitement. Even Honey, who’d been chatting non-stop, soon fell asleep.
Arriving at the airport, the family moved from the business passage to the boarding hall, where Ethan finally told them he was returning home.
Seth was as composed as ever, wishing his father a safe journey after a hug.
Honey, though aware of her father’s work commitments, was still reluctant. Ethan held her in his arms until the boarding announcement before letting her go.
Ruby looked back at him, wanting to remind him of something, yet unsure of what to say, ultimately only managing a smile before leaving.
Watching the mother and children vanish from sight, Ethan turned and headed to the private jet’s exclusive passage.
When Ruby and the children arrived home, it was already early morning. She said goodbye to Jessica, entered the house, and immediately settled the two little ones for bed, as they had school early the next day.
Thinking of Ethan’s demeanor as he left, she worried about him but quickly dismissed it as unnecessary—she had resolved not to let him disrupt her new life, so why soften now?
She tossed her phone aside, turned off the lights to sleep, tossed and turned for five minutes, but then turned the lights back on, sat up, and called Howard.
Howard stammered, unwilling to speak the truth, and Ruby grew irritated, "Do you want me to call L and ask about these matters?"
"Please don’t!" Howard didn’t know what Ruby was aware of but certainly couldn’t let L, that old fox, catch more information, "The Finn Family took Rhonda Sullivan out of the psychiatric hospital, if this woman talks reckless to the media, it could be very detrimental to The Sterling Family."
Rhonda then thought of what L had mentioned earlier, paused, and hesitantly asked, "How did Rhonda Sullivan go insane?"
Howard was stunned, his tongue tied, "Well...this isn’t something easy to explain in a few words, how about I let Mr. Sterling tell you later?" He felt like crying on the other side.
Of course, he knew Ethan insisted that Rhonda Sullivan’s matters should be kept from Ruby, but he had no choice; Ruby wasn’t someone who would obey his orders, and if she said anything important to L, things would worsen.
Ruby sensed his difficulty and shifted the topic, "If it’s related to L, I might be able to help a bit."
"Dr. L is suspected to be the mastermind behind The Finn Family, we should be able to handle it, but we really need your help with something," Howard sounded very troubled, as if he was about to ask for something difficult.
Ruby was somewhat surprised, not knowing how she could help beyond negotiating with L, "Tell me."
"Actually, it’s not a big deal, we just hope you could persuade Mr. Sterling not to keep flying to Meridia for now. There are some matters here that really require his presence to be resolved." Howard, having said it in one breath, suddenly felt nervous. What he’s doing was part of his duty, but saying it to Ruby felt a bit presumptuous.
The boss’s feelings were certainly not something his assistant should meddle with.
Ruby thoughtfully considered Howard’s request, feeling a bit troubled, "Though...I don’t know when he’s going to Meridia, the last two times, he suddenly appeared, and I was surprised."
Howard sighed, thinking to himself, the boss was truly reckless in delivering surprises.
"Wenny, let me be honest with you, the boss genuinely likes you, he can’t bear to part with you or the children, so whenever there’s any sign of trouble over there, he gets worried and feels he must personally go and check things out."
Ruby listened, feeling innocent, "Any sign of trouble?"
"Mr. Sterling...he’s very afraid someone will pursue you away." Howard awaited Ruby’s response, but as she remained silent, he bravely continued, "Although what I’m about to say might be excessive, I hope you’ll consider it, is there any way...you could temporarily reassure him, even if it’s just a little deception?"
Ruby exhaled deeply, "I understand. Um...if you feel there’s something you can’t explain to him, you can tell me."
"Alright." Howard also exhaled deeply, feeling considerably relieved hearing Ruby’s answer.
After hanging up, Ruby felt chaotic inside, did she really hold weight in Ethan’s heart?
Various versions of Ethan appeared in her mind, each seemingly gazing at her with tenderness.
She foolishly met his gaze, and out of nowhere, a sharp pain struck her heart.
Ruby sighed, rubbed her heart, and decided against indulging in speculative living; it was too tiring.
Though she thought that way, Ruby still messaged Howard, asking him to notify her once Ethan was picked up.
The next day, she summoned enough energy to drag the still sleepy siblings from bed and send them to school, then went back home for a nap, and by afternoon, received news of Ethan returning back home.
Pondering, she directly dialed his phone.