Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 166: Leaving

When Ruby Sullivan opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the familiar white ceiling. The faint scent of disinfectant in the air instantly revealed her location.

The hospital room, she really had some connection with this place lately.

"You’re awake?" Ethan Sterling, who was keeping watch by the bedside, asked softly when he saw her open her eyes, afraid of startling her.

About two hours ago, Ruby Sullivan had fainted while crying in his arms. The doctor said it was a temporary syncope caused by extreme grief coupled with physical weakness.

Extreme grief.

Ethan Sterling, recalling these four words, still dared not dwell on them much, fearing that envisioning the real effect of these words would leave him even more uncertain about how to face her.

Ruby Sullivan blinked and slowly sat up. "Did I... faint?" Her mind was somewhat muddled, as if she had dreamt a highly unrealistic dream.

Rhonda Sullivan’s child was actually not Ethan Sterling’s—how could it not be?

"How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?" Ethan Sterling looked at her dazed expression, feeling very worried.

Ruby Sullivan shook her head, looked at Ethan Sterling, steadied her mind, and her thoughts gradually cleared. It wasn’t a dream; it was all real. Honey could not be saved.

Her heart wrenched, and she quickly looked away, pulled the thin quilt aside, and got out of bed, "Let’s go home."

Ethan Sterling stepped forward trying to hold her hand but she gently pulled it away. Seeing her frown, he did not insist and quickly walked ahead.

On the way back, Ruby Sullivan remained very quiet. Ethan Sterling stole glances at her several times, but she kept staring straight ahead, lost in thought. When they were close to home, Ruby Sullivan finally spoke, "Please book a flight for me."

Ethan Sterling paused for a moment, and eventually replied with resigned reluctance, "Okay."

Ruby Sullivan washed her face at home and upon seeing her gloomy reflection in the mirror, applied some light makeup to appear a bit happier. She called her two children over to tell them about leaving in three days, asking them to start thinking about packing their luggage.

"Try to fit everything into one suitcase. Toys and such can be bought in Meridia," she said smilingly to the two kids.

Seth and Honey already knew about leaving, and although the set date seemed sudden, they weren’t too surprised. After listening to their mother, they obediently went to select their luggage.

After speaking to the kids, she went to the garden.

Vivian disliked the temporarily vacated studio, preferring to paint in the garden. She painted everything—sometimes the garden’s flowers, sometimes Honey’s teddy bear. Today she was painting a field of poppies, the spread of red oil paint looking slightly dazzling.

Her style was completely opposite of her son’s. She always liked using heavy colors to express emotions while painting—wild or desolate—choosing the most extreme means to portray them.

Ruby Sullivan watched from afar, finding the clashing colors on the canvas discomforting.

"Vivian," Ruby Sullivan called out when she was a few steps away. Seeing her look up, Ruby then walked over, "I plan to leave the day after tomorrow."

Vivian nodded.

Disliking somber matters, she intentionally smiled, wanting the conversation to be lighter. "Do you need me to help take care of your two children?"

Ruby Sullivan shook her head, "I’m sorry."

Vivian put down her paintbrush, stiffly opened her arms to hug her, wary of staining Ruby with paint.

She smiled, "Silly child, the one who should say sorry is us. Over there, be a bit happier. If there’s anything you don’t want to discuss with Ethan Sterling, feel free to call me."

Ethan Sterling stayed in the study all afternoon.

Ruby Sullivan was holed up in her room packing. The house over there was already arranged, so she only needed to take some clothes. Standing in front of a line of dresses, she hesitated for a long time, sorting through them, and finally picked only two simply cut short party dresses.

Having no plans for her future days, she didn’t know if these clothes would even be useful.

Mulling this over, she hung even those two back on the rack, packing only the clothes she usually wore. As for shoes... she took only two pairs of versatile high heels and two pairs of sneakers.

After packing, she called Mama Bennett over and instructed her to pack her belongings after she left. Since most were clothes, she especially asked Mama Bennett to ensure the boxes were properly sealed to avoid the clothing being unwearable if she wanted them upon her return someday.

The servants were unaware of her divorce from Ethan Sterling, so Mama Bennett was greatly shocked by her words, "Miss Ruby, what are you..."

"I’ve divorced Ethan Sterling and plan to take the children to Meridia. After I leave, Ethan will send my things to my friend."

Just realizing now that she had no place to stay domestically, she had to entrust these items to Sasha Shaw. There weren’t many things, so once packed, Sasha should have space to store them.

"Divorce?" Mama Bennett was even more astonished, finding it hard to believe her own ears.

Ruby Sullivan nodded.

Previously she had assumed Rhonda Sullivan would surely marry but now that Ethan Sterling knew the child in Rhonda’s belly had nothing to do with him, that dream of being Mrs. Sterling was likely shattered. However, a new mistress would eventually arrive here.

Mama Bennett frowned in worry, gazed at her for a long while, and sighed, saying, "I understand, Miss Ruby. Rest assured, I will make sure everything is properly packed."

"Thank you." Upon finishing, Ruby Sullivan couldn’t help but move forward and hugged her, "Mama Bennett, I truly thank you."

"Miss Ruby, you don’t have to say such things," Mama Bennett smiled, eyes a bit murky but gleamed, glistening with tears.

Feeling somewhat tired and lacking appetite, she went to bed without dinner. Groggily, she was awakened by Ethan Sterling climbing into bed.

There was something she originally intended to discuss with him in the afternoon but hesitated since he was in the study not wanting disturbances, thus saving it for now.

Ethan Sterling saw her turn towards him, slightly surprised, "What’s wrong?" He assumed her willingness to share the room was merely to avoid worrying the kids.

"It’s about Seth," Ruby Sullivan steadied her mind and sat up, "Previously, Seth wanted to come with me because he didn’t wish to live with Rhonda. Now... I think, you two are still father and son, maybe you should talk again."

Ethan Sterling chuckled bitterly, "We’ve talked, he’s thought it through. Perhaps I’m too much of a failure as a dad." Reflecting on himself, indeed he rarely paid attention to Seth. His recent concerns for Seth were influenced by Ruby Sullivan. If the child wanted to leave, it wasn’t particularly unexpected.

Not pushing the matter further, Ruby Sullivan listened to him.

Seth was a child Ethan Sterling had adopted, and he’d remarry sooner or later. If he had children of his own, Seth might become an obstacle, better she took him away.

Between them, nothing more was said.

After turning off the lights, Ruby Sullivan was about to turn to sleep on the other side when he suddenly held her hand.

"Only a few days left...," he said.

Ruby Sullivan furrowed her brows, slightly raised her arm, and then let it down, quit struggling.