Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 307: Public Display of Affection
"How much does he want?" Gideon Yates couldn’t believe the number he had just heard, staring at his daughter, hoping she’d tell him he had simply misheard.
Seventy million, which would smash the Yates Family’s grand plans for market expansion.
Sitting on the sofa, Gwen Yates crossed her legs and gave Gideon Yates a sidelong glance, "Skylar Aldrin says this is the best outcome, Ethan Sterling won’t budge a penny."
If he’s capable, let him come up with a better solution. Even this result was achieved by her sleeping with that idiot Skylar Aldrin. Was it easy for her?
Gideon Yates was so angry that smoke almost came out of his ears, "Impossible, he expects me to cough up so much just like that, does he take me for a fool?"
"Of course we need to get a lawyer to file for out-of-court settlement; what they’re demanding is compensation, not extortion." Gwen Yates was equally annoyed, feeling that Gideon Yates, as a father, only knew how to make a fuss when something happened; no wonder the Yates Family never developed well.
"Anyway, if there’s no money, there’s no money." Gideon Yates waved his hand, looking like a rogue.
Gwen Yates turned to look at him for a few seconds, then stood up, "Fine, then I’ll just go to jail." With that, she walked slowly to her room and locked the door.
Gideon Yates was stunned, "Look at her, what’s she like now!"
"Enough, stop nagging. If it wasn’t for the bad advice you gave her, angering Ethan Sterling, none of this would have happened." Megan Vaughn’s voice wasn’t loud, but her tone was sharp, indicating her anger, unusual for her character.
Gideon Yates frowned, pausing for a long time, "How is Gwen’s relationship with Skylar Aldrin now?"
Megan Vaughn sighed, "Skylar Aldrin fancying her is useless, the Aldrin Family doesn’t acknowledge it, and even if they did, if Ethan Sterling won’t give them face, so what? Since last year, when The Sterling Group partnered with The Sinclair Group, the situation has taken a new turn. Ethan Sterling’s wife is tough; without her nod, nothing works."
Yet their daughter is too stubborn, refusing to apologize to Ruby Sullivan no matter what...
*
Sasha Shaw’s personal brand fashion studio will launch two brands simultaneously, Nirvana and Metamorphosis.
Nirvana will take the high-end fashion route, including bespoke and high-quality ready-to-wear, while Metamorphosis will be more consumer-friendly, mainly adopting an online sales model catering to the 20 to 25 age group.
Taking this step for Sasha Shaw is like a transformation; she doesn’t want to be shackled by the shadows of her past, aiming to live like her good sister, in a different light.
The office location was chosen in the same building as Nirvana, two floors above it, making it convenient for both dining and collaboration in the future.
She is planning a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony, inviting friends from the entertainment and fashion circles to support, with a small press conference before dinner to promote the two brands.
Ruby Sullivan prepared over a dozen questions that gossip journalists might ask, each accompanied by appropriate responses, yet she was still incredibly nervous. When Ethan Sterling finished his shower and entered the room, she quickly tossed the notebook to him to check for any gaps.
It had been a long time since Ruby Sullivan appeared in such gatherings. Even by guessing with her toes, she knew the journalists would focus more on her and Ethan Sterling’s private life; hence, she had to do some homework to avoid embarrassment.
"Why did you leave The Sterling Group, is it due to problems in your relationship with Ethan Sterling?" Ethan glanced over her listed content with amusement, "So how do you plan to answer this one?"
"Of course, flaunt our love! The whole world thinks I’m wearing a green hat, so no matter how exaggerated, it’s seen as acting," Ruby Sullivan explained the planned skit to Ethan Sterling, "How about it?"
"It seems alright..." He hoped no naïve journalist would ask such brainless questions tomorrow.
He skimmed through the amusing questions and paused at one, "What are your views on marriage... why is there no answer for this?"
"Haven’t thought it through yet, let’s skip it." Ruby Sullivan was somewhat flustered, not wanting to face the question.
"Hmm?"
"Such a boring question might not even get asked, right?" Ruby Sullivan tried to brush off Ethan Sterling’s persistence.
"Then I’ll ask."
"Don’t cause trouble, check if there’s anything I might have missed."
Ethan Sterling chuckled with resignation, setting the notebook aside, and embraced her shoulders reassuringly, "Ms. Sullivan, please calm down, these are just minor interview segments. The journalists might focus on the big stars and Sasha Shaw’s brand; they may not even want to ask you questions. Besides, even if they ask, you can just tell the truth; between us, as long as it’s not a divorce, everything else is fine to mention."
Ruby Sullivan nestled against him, playfully poking his chest, muttering, "If they ask about your affairs, can I say it casually too?"
"As long as you know I haven’t, let’s sleep, otherwise, lacking energy tomorrow might lead to easier mistakes."
"You’re right." Ruby Sullivan obediently lay down, still somewhat excited.
She knew she’d have to face such matters in the future; this was just testing the waters, and she wasn’t unfamiliar with the world.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at a large hotel, with a renowned fashion magazine, VS’s editor, Dragon Girl, also attending to lend support. The event was truly lively, occupying several trending topics without effort.
Ruby Sullivan, who hadn’t appeared publicly for a long time, also attracted the attending journalists’ attention. Appearing alongside Ethan Sterling, the duo’s striking looks and mysterious relationship made the journalists snap pictures as if they’d taken a stimulant.
After embracing Ruby Sullivan, Dragon Girl inquired about her perfume brand, half-jokingly and half-seriously asking for an exclusive interview.
No matter what, the "Dr. L’s only protégé" label on Ruby Sullivan’s head remained hotly discussed.
Ever since Ruby Sullivan joined The Sterling Group with a high profile last year and stirred up various tabloid stories, she had gone quiet. People knew more about her relationship gossip with Ethan Sterling than her perfumes; it was more thrilling than a scandalous novel.
During the open Q&A, besides two A-list celebrities, Dragon Girl, Sasha Shaw, and Ruby Sullivan were seated on the guest panel, allowing free questioning.
The two stars were Sasha Shaw’s friends, so after briefly promoting their new works, they redirected questions to Sasha Shaw’s studio.
"Miss Shaw mentioned in an interview three years ago that being independent suits her well and she had no intention of creating her own brand. What made her suddenly decide?"
"One reason is that my friend Wenny decided to leave The Sterling Group to create her brand, Nirvana, which inspired me." Sasha Shaw smiled, tilting her head towards Ruby Sullivan.
The journalist caught on quickly, immediately asking Ruby Sullivan, "So why did Miss Wenny leave her husband’s company to start her own, was it due to issues in her relationship with Mr. Sterling?" The journalist’s easygoing tone sounded like a joke, yet it was slightly obnoxious, though Ruby Sullivan had already anticipated that this would be the focal point for those interested in gossip.
Ruby Sullivan smiled faintly, pouting at Ethan Sterling below the stage, "Husband, how should I answer this question?"
Though this was a rehearsed skit between the couple, seeing her ask so nonchalantly made Ethan Sterling find it both amusing and frustrating; was such a clear performance appropriate?
Seeing her speak up, the journalists immediately turned their cameras towards Ethan Sterling.
Feigning a troubled look, he pinched his forehead, then smiled, raising his arm to make a big love heart gesture towards Ruby Sullivan on the stage. Since his wife adored it, he accepted the embarrassment.
Though he didn’t utter a word, everyone could read his lips forming the words "I love you."
His movie-star-like looks combined with his glittering financial stature instantly made all the women present envy Ruby Sullivan immensely.
Of course, some remain skeptical since Ethan Sterling was notorious for his misdeeds, with a laundry list of tabloid scandals.
So, a journalist sharply asked, "Mr. Sterling and Miss Sullivan’s display of affection was indeed full-on earlier. I’d like to ask, considering how excellent Mr. Sterling is, does Miss Sullivan feel insecure as his wife? What’s your secret to maintaining the marriage?"
Everyone knows about Ethan Sterling’s countless affairs and cheating, so what’s the point of flaunting affection? 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Following a chorus of whispers among the audience, everyone looked to see how Ruby Sullivan would respond, even Ethan Sterling was somewhat expectant down below.
