Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 186: A Father Is Always a Father

Ruby Sullivan rubbed her sore wrist from his grasp and continued, "I know you didn’t like me at that time, even disliked me, and felt disgusted just looking at me. I also knew Rhonda Sullivan was constantly flirting with you. But... I was deceiving myself, unwilling to believe that my dear sister would covet my husband, and unwilling to believe that marriage couldn’t bind a man."

She stared straight ahead into the air as if watching scenes of the past, "Ultimately, it was all my fault. That night, I shouldn’t have cowardly run away. Even if there was something between you and Rhonda Sullivan, it’s she who should have shamefully run away. I was the lady of the house. But back then, I didn’t have such courage. I grew up under Dad’s protection and never solved any problems by myself, so when unexpected situations arose, all I could do was escape."

"I hate that version of myself and don’t ever want to go back to the past." She pulled out a tissue and wiped away tears that had unknowingly fallen. "Ethan Sterling, I don’t know your purpose in approaching me again, but it’s impossible for us. I have too many knots in my heart. I can’t trust you again and don’t want to keep falling over a man. So please, can you maintain a proper distance as an ex-husband in the future?"

"No, I won’t." Ethan Sterling flatly refused her suggestion, yet he said each word clearly.

Ruby Sullivan stared at him blankly for a moment, then sneered coldly, exhaled deeply, and slowly said, "I came back this time just to ask you to donate bone marrow for Honey, not to marry you because of feelings. Don’t you... know?" She was not really asking him; her indifferent tone was just trying to pull him back to reality.

Ethan Sterling stood up, looking ahead, "Do you want to go home or visit your dad again?"

"Let’s go home. I don’t want my dad to see me like this." Ruby Sullivan stood up as well.

She had said all she could, believing Ethan Sterling wouldn’t waste more time on her. He didn’t need a man who didn’t love him, and there was no old affection to talk about with this ex-wife. There was really no need to pretend to be a good man in front of her.

After that, neither of them said a word. Mama Bennett noticed their unusual expressions when they returned home. Her habitual mindset as a servant made her pretend she hadn’t seen anything.

When Ruby Sullivan entered the house, she went straight to her room and didn’t eat lunch, only came out for the bathroom.

After Ethan Sterling had lunch with Mama Bennett, he slept on the sofa for a while, then started watching TV to kill time. He never knew time could pass so slowly until it was almost time for Honey to be out of school, he quickly tidied up and drove straight to the school to pick her up.

Honey finished school earlier than Seth, so he could pick up Honey and then go to the slightly farther elementary school to pick up Seth.

In kindergarten, Honey walked out with her friends and saw her dad from afar, immediately excitedly said to Nina, "Look, my dad is coming to pick me up. Divorce isn’t like you said, your dad won’t abandon you."

Nina was very sad because of her parents’ divorce. She glanced at Honey’s dad and frowned, "You don’t understand anything. Parents occasionally stay together just to act in front of you. Over time, they’ll find new partners and form new families, then no one will want you."

Honey felt she was wrong, but she thought of Mrs. Sullivan with her big belly, felt a bit guilty, and didn’t know how to refute. She became a bit flustered and dragged Nina by the hand, "Come with me."

The two of them ran out together, not saying goodbye when passing the teacher.

Ethan Sterling saw his daughter flying over like a little fairy and quickly knelt on one knee to welcome her.

"Daddy." Honey gasped and called out, quickly introducing her friend beside her, "This is Nina, my classmate."

"Hello," Ethan Sterling greeted Nina, then used tissues to wipe the sweat from his daughter’s run, "Didn’t Mommy always remind you not to run around? It’s not good if you fall."

"I was a bit anxious today." Honey explained leisurely. Though she had only been in school for a few days, her ability to express herself had noticeably improved.

Nina, seeing Honey still panting, couldn’t wait and asked, "Uncle, did you and Honey’s mom get divorced?"

Ethan Sterling was taken aback, he didn’t know why she would ask such a sharp question, awkwardly smiled, "Why do you ask that?"

Honey chimed in, "Daddy, quickly tell Nina that divorce isn’t scary at all. You only live separately from Mommy, but you won’t abandon me."

"Yes, Daddy will always be Honey’s daddy." Ethan Sterling squinted with a smile, his eyes filled with tenderness, as he helped tidy his daughter’s messy bangs, clearly a daughter-obsessed dad.

Nina frowned, "If nothing has changed, why do you live apart? When you have a new wife and new kids, you won’t want Honey anymore!"

She angrily glared at Ethan Sterling, as if witnessing everything her mouth predicted.

Honey was so anxious by what she said that she nearly cried, clinging to Ethan Sterling’s sleeve, "Daddy, quickly tell her it’s not like that."

Ethan Sterling sighed, gently looked at Nina, "Even if parents divorce and have to live apart, they will still be your dad and mom, and you will always be their daughter. If you have further doubts, I suggest talking with your dad and mom. I’m sure they will explain it clearly to you."

Nina lowered her head, lost in thought, seemingly not believing Ethan Sterling’s words.

Ethan Sterling glanced at the departing school bus, "Now, young ladies, can you please hop in the car? I still have to pick up my son later."

Nina just realized the bus had left, Honey pulled her into the car, "Come on, my dad will take you. But I think you should meet my brother, he knows more than I do. He’s already in first grade, and he will also tell you that parents’ divorce isn’t scary."

Ethan Sterling listened to his daughter’s earnest words, but he was a bit worried in his heart. If one day she suddenly discovered the difference between her parents’ so-called divorce and her imagination, would she be disappointed?

Seth was also very happy to see Dad picking him up, but he seemed to have something on his mind, not quite like when he left home in the morning.

Ethan Sterling initially wanted to ask a few questions, but Honey immediately dragged Seth to answer questions about divorce, so he felt it inappropriate to interrupt. Although his son’s mood seemed off, his patience with two little girls’ tricky questions did not waver. Although he was telling the truth, it seemed to comfort Nina.

After Nina returned home, Honey immediately clung to Seth’s arm, "Brother, are you unhappy?" She tilted her little head to look at him as if staring longer could show why he was unhappy.

Seth pursed his lips, tried to squeeze out a smile, "No, elementary school is completely different from kindergarten. I really enjoy science classes, all about physics and chemistry, very interesting." He spoke enthusiastically, seeming as though he had a wonderful day.

But Honey’s brows remained furrowed, in her eyes, every expression of her brother indicated he was unhappy, but why didn’t he admit it? This puzzled her.