Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 128: Self-Hypnosis

Ruby hesitated for a moment and said with a bitter smile, "Got it, I appreciate your concern."

Seth shyly giggle, "Mom, I’m really happy you married Dad."

Ruby was swept up in maternal affection by his words, and gave him a strong hug before reluctantly letting go to find Honey.

However, looking back, she truly felt a bit incompetent lately. Her daughter—she hadn’t paid much attention to her daughter, her husband... well, at least outwardly was her husband, she hadn’t looked at him properly either. Not to mention, she didn’t know Ethan had been out drinking, she didn’t even know what time he got home last night.

Coming out of Seth’s room, Ruby felt the person she needed to reflect on most was herself.

Perhaps because she was a little tired from the evening’s activities, after just a few words, she was so sleepy that she couldn’t keep her eyes open. Ruby placed the book on her little desk, quietly walked out of the room. Tomorrow, during the day, she would probably cling to Seth for him to explain it.

After returning to her room, afraid she’d forget, Ruby immediately called Ethan. Hearing his voice, however, she felt a bit lost for words. Her fingers traced circles on the bedspread as she asked somewhat languidly, "When are you coming back? Are you still drinking?"

Classical music faintly emanated from the earpiece, so it didn’t sound like a dinner party, but rather a banquet. She knew Ethan rarely drank at such events.

"Probably in a little while, is there something wrong?" Ethan was somewhat surprised by her call.

Before Ruby could speak, a purposely raised female voice came through the receiver, "Isn’t it Ruby urging you to come home?"

She froze, though she couldn’t hear clearly, the familiarity of the tone left her ninety percent sure she wasn’t mistaken.

Ruby took a deep breath, mentally telling herself repeatedly, not to get angry—that would only play into her hands.

Just then Ethan called her name somewhat anxiously, "Ruby?"

"Oh, nothing, just worried you might forget about your stomach illness. I’ll hang up." She forced herself to quickly say in a calm tone before hanging up the phone.

On the other end, Ethan paused for a moment, his lips curving involuntarily; someone still worried about his stomach condition.

"Isn’t Mr. Sterling worried about kneeling on the washboard when he gets back?" Naomi cheekily tilted her head to look at him, her eyes full of insinuation.

"Miss Sinclair sure knows how to joke." Ethan chuckled softly, yet his gaze remained calm.

There are too many women around him, Naomi’s gaze was one he did not often encounter. Too many women pretend to be innocent around him, but Naomi’s gaze was like a wolf’s; in her eyes, men were prey, something to be possessed, even just a tool of her revelry.

Ethan found it odd given that during his youthful days, such a gaze would have intrigued him, yet now all he could think of was the reminder from the call.

Naomi giggled and handed him the champagne from her hand, "It’s well known, I never meddle in any company matters; everything is managed by my brother. What Mr. Sterling says, I really don’t quite understand, even if I did, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to assist." Her words ended with a seductive lilt in her tail tone.

"Then...such a shame." Ethan passed the champagne to a passing waiter, bowed slightly, and then began walking towards the banquet hall exit.

Unbeknownst to him, Naomi watched his back with keen interest, simply wanting to meet his reportedly formidable wife. It wasn’t out of anything else; she genuinely just wanted to know what kind of woman could tie a man like this down.

It was the third time Ethan met Naomi, seemingly she had him pegged. Being too handsome surely wasn’t a good thing.

Ethan genuinely felt vexed, if Naomi wouldn’t help, The Sterling Group might indeed face some troubles. Recently, the sales of Dreamland had entered a slump; once The Lawson Group formally enters the Celestian Market, they could be crushed by the brand "Dr•".

Before Rhonda could open up relationships, he must stabilize several key partners.

Howard hadn’t anticipated he’d come out so early, believing there to be good news, "Settled things with Miss Sinclair?"

"There’s still a long road ahead." He leaned back in the car seat, closed his eyes, feeling somewhat weary but thinking only of those who worried.

When Ethan got home, Ruby was still awake, applying a face mask and soaking her feet in the living room.

The foot bath was strongly recommended by Rachel Lawson, who had to stand for long hours in the lab each day, indeed, soaking felt comfortable. Reportedly, the herbs were also beneficial for pregnancy, though uncertain. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Ruby seemed somewhat surprised to see him come in, "Didn’t you say it would be a while longer?"

Ethan approached her and whispered, "Afraid you might miss me."

Ruby blinked, feeling slightly abashed even through the mask, "Had too much to drink again?" She was sensitive to the smell and found it hard to gauge how much he’d consumed.

"Just a few glasses of champagne, I’ll go shower now." He pinched her shoulder softly, his lips curved upwards, evidently in a great mood.

Never before had he thought about how a family should feel; today he realized this was the feeling of family, seeing her this way at home.

After soaking enough, Ruby tidied up and went upstairs, hearing Ethan singing in the bathroom on her way past.

Ethan, a man whose looks and physique were of perfect idol status, yet when it came to singing, it was best left unsaid. Ruby paused, imagining his happy looks, curious about the reason.

She bit her lower lip and quickly returned to the room.

When Ethan came into the room, she was lying sideways watching a launch by a foreign fashion brand, suddenly realizing she hadn’t called Sasha Shaw in a while, feeling a bit nostalgic.

Ethan took her phone and turned off the video, exaggeratedly wiggling his brows, "Every moment of a night is worth its weight in gold."

Looking at him, Ruby suddenly recalled a rather clichéd saying, when a man becomes excessively initiative at home, mostly he’s done something guilty.

"Has the company encountered an issue?" She was not entirely aware of the truth, but with Claire around, she’d pick up some rumors herself, naturally, she worried.

He froze, seemingly surprised she cared about such matters, smiled, "Not bad." Then lay in bed, pulling the covers tightly.

Fresh from his shower, his body was still cool, careful not to touch her, wanting to warm up himself quickly.

Ruby hummed briefly, hesitated long enough, before swallowing the question back.

She only wished for a child to save Honey, whatever that woman’s relationship to Rhonda was irrelevant, she told herself so.

"You haven’t been coming home for dinner every night, Seth is a little worried about you, chat with him when you have time."

Ethan turned over, his eyes twinkling mischievously, "Do you, though?" He then tried to edge closer to her when suddenly someone knocked on the door.

"Mom, I..." it was Honey’s voice, tinged with sobs.