Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 295: Rumors Around Town

Ruby Sullivan and Howard discussed at the manufacturing plant, but the outcome was not very optimistic.

One of the raw extracts listed in the ingredients requires not only a high level of extraction technology but is also difficult to preserve, and can only be bought at the place of origin.

According to the plant manager, local suppliers capable of providing the quality Ruby Sullivan desires are extremely rare.

Moreover, large companies like The Lawson Group would surely preorder adequate stock to ensure their sales aren’t affected. So even if Ruby Sullivan went all the way to Crestfall to find suitable purchase channels, she may not be able to buy any.

Not to mention that the current Nirvana is neither big nor well-known, and has no competitiveness among buyers.

When Ruby Sullivan worked at The Lawson Group or even at The Sterling Group, she never had to worry about such situations. Even if the raw materials would increase costs, she would at most have to discuss with the procurement department to renegotiate the price.

And when she was at The Lawson Group, because of L’s artistic stance, they never imposed time constraints on project research and development. So even in the worst-case scenario, Ruby Sullivan had time to modify the formula and never had to worry about raw material issues.

She walked out of the factory with a troubled expression, feeling reality had taught her another harsh lesson.

"If we don’t modify the formula... there’s only one solution left," Howard subtly reminded the despondent boss, acknowledging it wasn’t a dead end though it wasn’t promising either.

Ruby Sullivan didn’t reply, just walked towards where the car was parked.

Howard was far too optimistic. There was really no "if"—if she wanted to launch this perfume, she could only shamelessly cling to Ethan Sterling once again...

During the formulation process, Ruby Sullivan had listed many methods. If she could remove this ingredient, she wouldn’t use it—even knowing it’s difficult to procure domestically. That tiny component would greatly increase costs, making it a very poor choice for Nirvana.

But to ensure Nirvana’s first product made a stunning debut, she had to make this choice.

*

Half an hour later, Howard parked the car at the entrance of The Sterling Group’s Building A. Seeing Ruby Sullivan unmoving, he wasn’t in a hurry to get out of the car, "Mr. Sullivan?"

Ruby Sullivan tilted her head, looking at that familiar tall building, its green exterior glass glittering brightly in the sunlight, almost blinding her.

Howard seemed to understand her thoughts and smiled, "Mr. Sullivan, every successful entrepreneur in history grabbed their first opportunity under certain circumstances."

Ruby Sullivan let out a long breath, "Thank you." Indeed, if she regarded Ethan Sterling as just any other investor, her psychological pressure would instantly lessen a great deal.

Both got out of the car and had only taken a few steps when Ruby Sullivan’s attention was caught by a gaze. Squinting against the light, she saw it was someone quite familiar looking at her.

She immediately retracted her gaze, pretending not to see anything.

At noon, she received a call from her lawyer and learned that Julian Lowe had already recanted, the lawsuit was formally filed and had entered the investigative phase. Any plaintiff turned defendant would be anxious, yet this woman still pinned her hopes on Ethan Sterling. Foolish or naive?

Just as they were about to enter the lobby, Ruby Sullivan was suddenly grabbed by the arm.

"Wenny!" Gwen Yates looked at her earnestly, her eyes a bit evasive. Seeing Ruby Sullivan glance at her hand, she quickly let go.

She made her choice at the last moment, and encountering Ruby Sullivan here was sheer accident, which she regarded as a God-given opportunity not to be wasted.

"Wenny..."

"Call me Mrs. Sterling," Ruby Sullivan interrupted her rudely, having corrected her before.

Gwen Yates faltered, quickly changing her address, "Mrs. Sterling, could you give me a few minutes?"

Ruby Sullivan smiled, "No." Without hesitating a moment, she walked away.

Gwen Yates, in desperation, tried to grab again, but Howard intercepted her quickly, "Miss, didn’t you hear what Mr. Sullivan just said?"

Gwen Yates had no choice but to shout at Ruby Sullivan’s retreating silhouette, "Mrs. Sterling, I realize I was wrong, please forgive me..." Before finishing the last few words, the grievances surged in, making her nose tingle and eyes blur.

She helplessly watched Ruby Sullivan disappear from view, as if witnessing the last lifeboat sink in the ocean, stripping away her hope for survival.

She mumbled desolately, "If the case stands, my life will be over..."

It was Howard who conducted a secret investigation with the lawyer, knowing even more about the whole incident than Ruby Sullivan did. Hence, facing Gwen Yates’s belated regret, he had no sympathy whatsoever.

Only twenty years old and already so ruthless, setting traps to frame others. With more experience, she’ll just get more unscrupulous. Such a person has no right to ask for forgiveness.

He glanced at the security guards, signaling them to block her, then turned around to walk inside.

This time, Gwen Yates didn’t act rashly. Almost simultaneously, she turned away, choosing to abandon meek compromise.

This woman would never let her go!

Megan Vaughn, in recent days, had been attending various exclusive socialite gatherings, picking up bits and pieces about Ruby Sullivan. Though rumors said Mr. Sterling treated his wife poorly and lived quite a promiscuous life, none of the women linked to him ever met a good end.

Rhonda Sullivan, Ruby Sullivan’s sister, supposedly remained by his side for five years. As the head of the esteemed Sullivan Group, she was forced to sever ties with Mr. Sterling, and even drove herself insane.

If not for President Sullivan Sr., who awoke from a vegetative state to rescue his eldest daughter, who knows how much more she would have suffered.

Later, it was said that the Sinclair family’s high-born daughter openly pursued Mr. Sterling. The Sinclair Family could shake Ariston with a mere stomp. Yet Mrs. Sterling brought braised pork as a gift to Miss Sinclair’s birthday banquet.

Subsequently, Miss Sinclair met a tragic end at a friend’s wedding, with Mr. and Mrs. Sterling present. No one knows if they had any involvement in her death.

Even more grim, Mr. Sinclair Jr., now heading The Sinclair Group, and Mr. Sterling have entered business together. It’s rumored Azure Hollis from the Aldrin Family once spoke disrespectfully to Ruby Sullivan.

Not only was the Hollis Family’s business assailed in various ways, but The Sterling Group even moved into real estate, snatching several plots from the Aldrin Clan, halving their total assets.

All these rumors flying around confirm one thing: although Mr. Sterling doesn’t love his wife, this woman’s tough and ruthless nature cannot be trifled with.

Because Ruby Sullivan is a perfumer, there’s even a rumor that she possesses the ability to bewitch, causing such a womanizer like Mr. Sterling to act so willingly.

Anyway, the more Megan Vaughn heard about Ruby Sullivan, the more anxious she became, further complicating Gwen Yates’s reception to her lawyer’s analysis.

If The Sterling Family is determined to destroy her, how can she survive?

She wiped away her tears, pulled out her phone, and dialed a number she had been avoiding, "Brother Skylar, I have some time today and want to see you. Are you still at the hospital?"