Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 180: She Has Changed

Ruby Sullivan had been in the lab until Mama Bennett came to call her for dinner, yet she still couldn’t solve the problem.

She adjusted the formula again, making sure her prescription was correct, but why did it fail over there? She could only send Young an email, pointing out several possible issues for her to pay attention to.

Ruby left the lab, and Leon Sterling was already seated at the table with the kids. She remembered he rented an apartment in the neighborhood, feeling a headache and blurting out, "Shouldn’t you be tidying up your place?"

"I’m staying at yours tonight and will tidy it up tomorrow morning," Leon said matter-of-factly.

"I don’t have time to help. I have to take Seth for an elementary school interview early tomorrow morning." Ruby’s expression was rather cold. Seeing Leon pouting pathetically, she quickly averted her gaze, fearing her resolve might waver.

Leon sighed, "Ah, Ruby Sullivan, is this how you treat friends?"

Ruby raised her eyebrows, "That’s right, so you better stay away from bad company."

Seth, being sharp, couldn’t fully understand but sensed certain tensions, so he focused on eating silently.

But Honey couldn’t. Uncle Don needed help; how could she just stand by?

"Mom, I think you could help Uncle Don when you and my brother return. Plus, I can help after school." She felt her suggestion was very good.

Ruby managed a smile that was awkward yet polite, tilting her head at her daughter, "Honey, hurry and eat. You have school tomorrow, so you need to go to bed early tonight."

"Yes, I know." Honey nodded.

Seth seized the chance to change the subject, "I discovered a new cartoon this afternoon that was really fun. Let’s watch it together later."

"Okay!" Honey promptly forgot about the previous grievance.

Leon assessed the situation, realizing forcing the issue might backfire, so he quietly ate without speaking further.

In the evening, Honey clamored for Uncle to tell her a story, which Leon was happy to do. He quickly picked her up and carried her to her room, taking on the duty of lulling her to sleep.

Ruby went to Seth’s room, "Are your clothes ready for tomorrow?" Seth and Honey always paired their own clothes. As long as it wasn’t too much of an issue, she wouldn’t interfere.

Seth nodded, opened his wardrobe, and got out the clothes he had prepared.

A brown suit, a white shirt, and a red-green striped tie. Hmm, this tie undoubtedly reminded anyone of Christmas.

"I’m planning to wear leather shoes, as a match," Seth said, looking at his ensemble and couldn’t help but laugh.

He had recently become a fan of ’Young Sheldon,’ really liking his sense of style.

Ruby looked at the outfit, hesitated for a moment, rubbed her chin, and after deliberation, smiled, "As long as you like it." After speaking, she helped him pack the clothes away and arranged the bed, "Then let’s sleep early."

Seth obediently burrowed into his blanket, after settling, he shyly said, "Mom, I’m a bit nervous."

Ruby thought about it, probably similar to her childhood experiences—final exams, or entrance exams for middle and high school. She sat at the bedside, "Just relax. If the interview doesn’t go well, we can choose another school. Or, you could attend preschool with your sister."

"But... I want to succeed. I really like that school."

"Then sleep well and think about other things after the results are out." Ruby kissed his forehead, "Would you like me to tell you a story to relieve stress?"

Seth hesitated for a while, yet shook his head, "No need, I think... I can fall asleep." After tonight, he was about to become an elementary school kid. Uh, though not yet successful, but at least, he shouldn’t depend on his mom for small matters like sleeping.

She left Seth’s room and sat in the living room, watching TV with Mama Bennett, waiting for Leon.

All rooms in the house were occupied; the study and lab had no beds, and the remaining four rooms were taken by each of them. If Leon wanted to stay over, he’d have to sleep in the living room.

After a long while, he finally came out of Honey’s room, Mama Bennett saw him and then turned off the TV, saying she was going to bed, and left the living room.

"Honey’s asleep," Leon stated the obvious.

Ruby got up, "I’ll find you a blanket; you can only sleep on the couch tonight." Thinking about Leon’s long legs possibly dangling on the couch back all night, she sighed, feeling he was really naive.

Even if he didn’t fancy young and pretty girls like Vivian, he shouldn’t still have any strange thoughts about her.

With that thought, she suddenly recalled the familiarity of Vivian, Naomi Sinclair. Didn’t Leon act defensively upon seeing Naomi too?

Seeing her smiling to herself with her back to him, Leon couldn’t help but be curious, "Are you... secretly happy?"

Ruby was startled, quickly turning to rebut, "You’re overthinking. I suddenly remembered how similar you act when you see Vivian and Naomi."

Leon instantly scowled halfway, "Please don’t mention those two; I still hope not to have nightmares tonight."

Ruby shook her head, "Then if I imitate their enthusiasm, can I scare you away?"

Leon looked at her, his face slightly flushed, "I’d be thrilled."

Ruby froze, quickly fetched him a blanket, soon came out holding it, and directly threw it on the sofa, "Don’t push it to the point where we can’t even be friends."

"You’re stingy." He pouted, "Are you going to attend the wedding with my brother?"

Ruby initially planned to say it’s not confirmed, but seeing his probing expression, intentionally said, "Yes, might take the kids too."

"Then I will too." After speaking, he flared the blanket and lay on the sofa, "Turn off the light for me, thanks."

Ruby puffed her cheeks, fuming at his unreasonable nature; can he not have a bit of an artist’s cold demeanor?

When she turned off the lights, Leon sneaked a glance at her silhouette, suddenly realizing her transformation.

She had relaxed. Previously, when at The Sterling Family’s, she always seemed tightly wound, speaking and acting with a strong sense of purpose, struggling to prove herself. But now, she had discarded all that.

She lived a bit leisurely, seeming like wasting time to many; but like a fish swimming aimlessly in the ocean, joy and ease were written all over her face.

"Lights out," Ruby said, pressing the switch before returning to her room with her phone’s flashlight on.

Leon closed his eyes, thinking he should tidy up his place, it was time for him to retreat and paint, after all. Financially, he couldn’t yet compete with his elder brother, still needing to paint more.

He never intended to disturb her life.

Ruby sat on the bed, looking at the series of messages from Ethan Sterling, contemplating how to reply when he called again.