Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 248: Forcing Back a Breakdown

Early the next morning, Brandon Sullivan waited outside the detention center. When he saw Rhonda Sullivan being released, tears welled up in his eyes, and he eagerly rushed forward, saying, "My daughter, you’ve suffered."

Brandon Sullivan, with his hair almost entirely gray, wore loose sweatpants and a jacket. His back was hunched, and his face was adorned with an earnest smile. There was no trace of the sharpness he once had in business; he looked just like any old man chatting away in the sun in an alley.

Rhonda Sullivan didn’t like her father appearing this way, seeming like an incompetent old man just waiting for others to take care of him.

She frowned and asked slowly, "How did you manage it?"

Brandon tried to help with the bag in her hand, but she avoided him. He patted her on the shoulder as they walked forward, cheerfully saying, "Ruby is still your sister. When she found out about this, she softened. How could sisters hold a grudge against each other forever?"

Rhonda kept a stern face and did not speak.

The neurological medications made her speak at a slow pace, and most of her facial expressions were wooden.

Brandon knew his daughter wasn’t much of a talker now. Seeing her safely walk out of the detention center made him content. He was happy regardless of how she behaved, and as for his younger daughter Ruby, he didn’t take the harsh words she said that night to heart, simply thinking she was angry and would calm down later. They would always be a loving family.

Of course, Rhonda didn’t see it that way, and she never expected Ruby to drop the charges against her.

They sat in a taxi back to The Sullivan Family’s home, remaining silent the entire way.

From the moment she learned Ruby wasn’t dead, Rhonda thought she’d never have the chance to return to The Sullivan Family again, even if she were lucky enough to be acquitted. She didn’t expect that in the end, destiny would smile upon her.

She stood at the villa’s doorway, silent for a long time, until her father urged her to follow him inside. She knew that from now on, she would embark on a new life, returning to being that radiant Eldest Miss Nash she once was.

In the vast, empty villa, only the two of them were present.

Brandon poured her a glass of hot water as they entered. "It’s good to have you back. Rest for a few days, then get ready to work at The Sullivan Group. It’s our company; we can’t let outsiders take it over."

"Ruby is the largest shareholder," she said with difficulty.

"No problem, she’s already returned all her shares to me. I now hold over eighty percent of The Sullivan Group’s shares, and the rest are just minor shareholders. I have the authority to remove the current CEO and appoint a new one," he explained with a cheerful smile, still clear on some crucial issues despite lacking his former charisma.

"Let’s discuss it later." Rhonda took a sip of water and quickly walked up to the second floor with her bag.

In her current state, even if she returned to The Sullivan Group, it would only make her a laughingstock. She never wanted to be anyone’s joke again!

*

At Mercy Hospital, after all the checks on Honey the previous night, Zane Lawson called one of them into the office with a grave expression, implying that someone needed to stay with Honey, as some things were not suitable to discuss in front of the child.

Before Ethan Sterling could speak, Ruby Sullivan handed Honey over to him and followed Zane into the office.

Honey wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck, leaning on her father’s shoulder. She asked a bit sadly, "Daddy, if I die, will I become a little angel in the sky?"

Ethan frowned, feeling a pang of sourness in his heart, "Honey, just be Daddy’s little angel, don’t go to the sky."

"But..." Honey didn’t finish her sentence.

She had been hiding symptoms of coughing up blood from everyone, including her kindergarten teachers, and since returning from Meridia, her condition seemed to have worsened. But she really didn’t want to go back to the hospital. From a young age, she knew how severe her illness was and that she wouldn’t live long. So, she wanted to spend more time with her parents and not waste days in the hospital.

The only person aware of her grave condition was Seth. Sometimes, when she felt very sad, it was her brother who comforted her.

Now, she was no longer afraid of death. Death was merely becoming a little angel in the sky, and she thought being a little angel might be nice.

But she was somewhat uncertain and wanted her father to give her a definite answer.

Zane Lawson’s office.

He pointed at Honey’s chest X-ray and said, "These shadows here and here are all clots of blood. She must be having a hard time lately, and there are likely symptoms of spitting blood, especially during sleep, making it hard to rest properly. This fever is just the body’s stress response. You should have brought the child to the hospital sooner."

Ruby Sullivan was dumbstruck.

She thought Honey had gotten better after the last hospital discharge. How could it suddenly have become so serious?

She collected herself, knowing that asking pointless questions wouldn’t help, and blankly asked, "So what should we do now?"

Zane shook his head, "If there’s no suitable bone marrow for the surgery, any current treatment is merely increasing her physical burden to extend life. Considering the waiting time and matching probability for bone marrow, I don’t recommend pursuing treatment, as it would cause Honey unnecessary suffering."

Ruby’s eyes reddened as she clung tightly to the edge of the desk, her voice quivering, "Are you saying it’s better to let Honey walk her final path with dignity than to subject her to treatment?"

Zane nodded.

She lowered her head, saying, "I understand." It took her a while to stand up, turning and slowly walking to the door. She swallowed repeatedly, ensuring she quelled the urge to cry before opening the door.

By looking at her mother’s expression, Honey could tell the doctor hadn’t delivered good news. Having been ill for so long, she had learned well how to read her mother’s expressions, "Mommy, have you been crying?"

Ruby immediately shook her head with a smile, "No, the doctor said you’re very healthy now. Let’s go home. Think about what you want for lunch, and Mommy will make it for you."

Honey frowned, "Mommy, you haven’t healed yet. You should rest. Let Mama Bennett do it."

"Okay, Honey is so considerate," Ruby mumbled, walking ahead with her head down, not daring to look at her daughter, fearing that one look would cause her to break down.

Honey pursed her lips and leaned once more on her father’s shoulder, feeling uneasy.

Ethan Sterling, of course, noticed Ruby’s odd behavior, but knowing she was acting, he remained silent and refrained from asking any questions.

Once home, Ethan handed Honey over to Mama Bennett and immediately went into the room with Ruby, shutting the door.

"What did Zane Lawson say?"

Ruby sat down on the bed in a daze, and after a few moments, she raised her tear-streaked face, "Ethan Sterling, could you ask Seth to do a bone marrow test? Could he save Honey?" She knew the chance was small, given their different mothers, but for Honey, it was the only hope left.

"What?" Ethan raised an eyebrow.