Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 131: Princess Flora

After getting into the car, Ethan Sterling added Rhonda Sullivan’s phone number to the blacklist and set his WeChat to do not disturb. He sat quietly for a few minutes before stepping on the gas and speeding all the way to the hospital.

Honey was very weak. After having lunch with Seth Sterling at noon, she began to doze off as he spoke and quickly fell asleep. By the time Ethan arrived, Ruby Sullivan was sitting quietly beside Honey, occasionally turning a page of the book she was reading.

He gently pushed the door open and saw her look up with a smile on her face.

Ruby Sullivan made a shushing gesture with her finger over her lips, put down her book, and slowly stood up. He immediately understood and quietly turned around to step out.

The two, not wanting to disturb Honey, went to the small garden of the hospital to sit. It was the time most people took naps, so the garden was exceptionally quiet, with only a few patients in hospital gowns sitting under the trees for shade.

Ruby and Ethan chose a stone bench with some shade by the lake to sit down on.

"How is Honey’s condition?" Ethan looked at the lotus leaves on the lake, frowning slightly.

"Same as before. Once her condition stabilizes, it’s rest, observation, and waiting for discharge." Ruby paused, worry filling her eyes. "Only this time, it’s more serious than before. Honey’s very weak, so she might have to stay in the hospital longer."

He held her hand, "It’s okay, she’ll get better."

In the evening, Mama Bennett stayed at the hospital to accompany Honey. Ruby and Ethan returned home for the sake of the child.

Although Ruby had long been accustomed to intimacy with Ethan, tonight’s entanglement felt exceptionally exhilarating, different from before. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but it seemed he was more ardent than usual too.

Afterwards, both lay on the bed, somewhat drowsy, and Ruby, for the first time, actively held Ethan’s hand.

She lay on her back, eyes closed, and spoke from the heart for the first time, "During my first pregnancy, I was so overweight that the doctor recommended a Caesarean section. But I wanted a healthier baby and insisted on exercising. I exercised vigorously before the due date, not expecting it would lead to premature birth."

Her hand suddenly clenched, and she bit her lip, tears rolling from the corners of her eyes.

Ethan froze for a moment, then withdrew his hand and pulled her into his embrace, "It’s my fault."

Ruby wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, unable to hide what lay in her heart any longer. "Afterwards, I suffered massive bleeding, and my uterus was severely damaged. I barely survived, but the doctor said I might never be able to have children again."

She felt Ethan’s grip tighten significantly, which made her laugh. "I didn’t feel sad at the time because I already had Honey. If I couldn’t have more children, so be it." However, when a doctor in Bellaza first suggested another child might save Honey, she felt distressed.

She feared that even if Ethan agreed, she couldn’t do it, so she dared not entertain the thought, scared that her body would crush that hope.

Yet, back home, when the doctor mentioned it again, she wanted to try. She was afraid to get examined, fearing the disappointment she might not bear, and for once, she proved right not to fully trust the doctors.

"Today, after you left, I specifically went to confirm with the doctor. She said my uterus had recovered well, and I didn’t need to worry at all." She exhaled a long breath as if a stone had been lifted from her heart.

"I think it’s because I’ve consistently maintained an active and healthy lifestyle afterwards. Heaven hasn’t let my efforts go to waste." She finished and couldn’t help but giggle foolishly in delight.

Ethan couldn’t help but laugh with her, picturing that silly girl who’d smile at a funeral, rubbing her head gently. "Silly girl," he thought, but his heart ached.

*

The Sterling Group was still facing a severe test, unchanged by the meal Ethan had with Rhonda. In truth, Ethan never expected Rhonda could help him much. Though she was occasionally foolish, she was after all personally trained by Brandon Sullivan, and didn’t falter on serious matters.

Ethan spent an afternoon at the golf course but still couldn’t get a satisfactory answer. Yet, he didn’t seem as panicked or desperate as his opponents thought he would be.

Ruby devoted herself to the launch of a new series of products. She spent mornings at the hospital with Honey, afternoons at the company, and worked late into the night, hoping she could help Ethan with her own power this time.

Ethan became even busier, often having no time to eat lunch with her and sometimes not even going to the company with her in the morning. Their meeting times became less frequent, but she didn’t doubt him anymore.

Even if she couldn’t trust his feelings for her, she couldn’t distrust his feelings for Honey.

That morning, with some time before lunch break, he sent a WeChat message to invite her to lunch.

They hadn’t had lunch together for a week, so Ruby agreed happily.

Though they called it lunch, Ethan had an appointment for tea with someone in the afternoon, so they just had a simple meal that was quickly finished.

He mainly brought her out to hand her an invitation card, "Naomi Sinclair, the daughter of the chairman of Stellaron Group. Their primary business is in Euronia and Meridia. Have you heard of her?"

Ruby thought for a moment, "The world-famous BlueStar shopping centers are owned by their family, right?"

Ethan nodded, "The Sinclair Family started in the real estate industry, besides shopping centers, they also have resorts, hotels, and more. President Sinclair Sr. has retired from the front lines in recent years, and all group affairs are managed by his eldest son, Aidan Sinclair. This Sinclair heiress seems like a useless trust fund brat on the surface, but I have reliable information that she’s been the Sinclair Family’s hidden strategist all along, making waves in the secondary market since her early teens."

He laid out all this information, leading to the result, "I plan to win her over, but this woman has a nickname — Princess Flora." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Ruby, who had been frowning all along, upon hearing this, immediately understood why he was telling her all this, and her expression became serious. She swiveled her head, swore under her breath, and then turned back to Ethan with a cold smile, summarizing, "So, you’re going to get involved with this woman?" She raised an eyebrow, "Okay, I get it."

She stood up as soon as she finished, unwilling to look at his face any longer.

She thought their relationship had changed, thought Ethan had changed; unexpectedly, such a big surprise awaited her. She couldn’t help but snicker. Then again, she thought, at least Ethan had changed in that he was upfront about these things now, instead of hiding them, right?

She took a deep breath, trying to find all sorts of reasonable explanations to convince herself for him, yet nothing could ease the stabbing pain in her heart. She speedily walked forward, clutching her chest with her hand, from a pain worse than when she saw Rhonda wearing his pajamas.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm tight, spun her around, almost making her fall, startling a small cry from her as she closed her eyes.

When she reopened her eyes, she found herself in Ethan’s embrace.

"When are you going to quit this habit of running off at the drop of a hat?" Ethan slightly puffed, frowning tightly.