Chubby Mommy: Scheming Daddy, Surrender Now!-Chapter 424: I’m Not Your Girlfriend

Tobias Townsend smiled, his eyes gleaming with deep affection, "What’s wrong?"

Even Ruby Sullivan almost believed he was gazing at a lover cradled in his hands, so how could others not think the same?

She instinctively glanced at Ethan Sterling’s face, her mind a chaotic mess, forgetting how to respond.

"Wenny?" Tobias Townsend softly called her name.

Only then did Ruby Sullivan snap back to reality, her lips curling into a stiff smile as she gently pulled down his hand, "I’m going to the restroom."

She practically fled from the banquet table, hurrying toward the restroom, nearly bumping into someone on the way. The restroom should be around here, but why couldn’t she find it no matter how she turned around? Suddenly, she felt someone grab her wrist. She spun around sharply, meeting Ethan Sterling’s fiery eyes.

Ruby Sullivan frowned, not having the chance to say anything before he pulled her to the side. His grip was strong enough to hurt, but she didn’t resist, inexplicably wanting to just keep walking with him like this.

Everyone in the hall was preoccupied with their own matters, almost no one noticing them. Ethan Sterling walked quickly, suddenly opening a door, propping one hand against the wall, trapping Ruby Sullivan under him.

They were in the stairwell of an emergency exit, the music from the banquet hall shut outside, making it feel like another world.

Ruby Sullivan felt a moment of cowardice, but quickly raised her head, staring straight into his eyes, the fury in her not much less than his.

This man who showed up with a girlfriend, what right did he have to look at her like this?

Ethan Sterling frowned, "Ruby Sullivan, have you grown bold?"

Ruby Sullivan scoffed coldly, "Not as bold as you, breaking up when you want, making up when you want, your girlfriend sure is obedient."

"I’d say you’re far ahead of me."

"Mr. Sterling, is this really what you want to tell me? Aren’t you being childish?" Ruby Sullivan took a deep breath, cutting him off before he spoke again, "Go have your romance, that’s your business, as for who I’m with, it’s none of your concern." She finished, threw his arm off, and turned to leave.

Ethan Sterling, losing his cool at her words, yanked her back by the arm, pushing her against the wall again, and kissed her unceremoniously.

In the first second, all Ruby Sullivan felt was the sharp pain of her lips being bitten; this violent kiss was laden with too much negative emotion, unbearable for her. Ethan Sterling’s strength was frightening, her arms pinned and immobile, as if with a bit more force, her bones would break.

In the second second, she remembered his brilliant smile when he unexpectedly appeared in Veridia, saw the provocation in Hannah Jennings’s eyes, along with disdain, and then thought of Aidan Sinclair’s words, turning her anger into grievance and heartache.

In a sudden move, she kneed him hard where it hurt most, making Ethan Sterling step back in pain.

Breathing steady again, Ruby Sullivan glared at him, fuming, "Sorry, I’m not your girlfriend," she said, leaving the stairwell with an answer to Tobias Townsend’s proposal.

*

Hannah Jennings noted Ethan Sterling and Ruby Sullivan were both gone for a while, somewhat worried, but felt it inappropriate to search for them, so she turned her attention to Tobias Townsend, though the distance made conversation difficult.

She had seen Tobias Townsend once at another gathering before, remembering he had a girlfriend. Just as she pondered a pretext to speak, people began to arrive at the table, and a glance at the time revealed it was nearly time for dinner to start.

Tonight’s charity gala was split into an outer and inner portion, with a self-service bar and dance floor outside, and the banquet hall inside. Once the donation began, guests were expected to seat themselves inside, eating while donating.

Aidan Sinclair found his seat, nodded at Tobias Townsend’s smile, though his mood had been poor lately, making him unusually aloof towards people and matters.

"Mr. Sinclair, hello." Hannah Jennings greeted him across Ethan Sterling’s seat.

Aidan Sinclair merely nodded symbolically, pouring himself some tea to drink.

Though he knew Ethan Sterling was dating Hannah Jennings, they were unacquainted, leaving him with nothing much to say.

Before long, Ruby Sullivan returned, fuming, and Aidan Sinclair finally smiled a little, "Wenny, long time no see."

"Hmm." Ruby Sullivan, seeing him, thought of Ethan Sterling, felt angered, and responded coolly.

Aidan Sinclair felt a bit hurt, wondering why she seemed offended, despite his lack of recent contact beyond that phone call. He was still mulling it over when Ethan Sterling also returned, sitting down with an even gloomier expression than Ruby Sullivan’s.

Aidan Sinclair sensed some hidden tension, yet said nothing due to the presence of others at the table.

The banquet began quickly, with Dragon Girl hosting, a short documentary showing on the big screen about the difficult existence of marine animals like turtles, dolphins, and whales, followed by a speech from the Celestian Region representative of the charity organization receiving the donations.

The representative was a girl with a single ponytail, in jeans and a white T-shirt with the organization’s logo, speaking softly, but possessing a pair of remarkably beautiful eyes.

The donations started at a minimum of one hundred thousand, with a target of fifty million. Ethan Sterling and Aidan Sinclair’s participation attracted numerous business magnates; donating too little might be embarrassing, while donating too much risked offense, prompting many to confer a little beforehand, as many came for networking rather than altruism, feeling the pinch in parting with too much money.

Ruby Sullivan turned to Tobias Townsend, "How much do you plan to donate this time?"

"Three million." Tobias Townsend replied without reservation.

Ruby Sullivan didn’t expect such generosity from him on this matter and gave a faint smile, "If you increase to five million, I’ll agree to your terms."

"Alright." Tobias Townsend agreed without hesitation.

At the time, Ruby Sullivan thought he was genuinely philanthropic, only later realizing it was love extended through association.

In truth, she had already decided to cooperate with him, only casually leveraging for the marine animals.

Ruby Sullivan’s initial budget was five hundred thousand, but moved to increase by another fifty thousand, having been touched to tears by the turtle video. Checking income yesterday revealed Nirvana, despite its struggles, had earned her considerable profit.

In a short moment, Dragon Girl’s close-up appeared on the big screen, "Alright, dear friends, let’s start the donation. Please raise your love number cards to signal your intent."

Upon her words, many cards were raised, yet at the table where Ruby Sullivan sat, aside from her and two accompanying ladies, sat some of the wealthiest individuals present, typically abstaining at the start.

Despite Dragon Girl’s hope for a role model, she expected little from this table, until Tobias Townsend raised his card.

Dragon Girl’s eyes lit up, "Number twenty-seven."

The host approached to inquire about Tobias Townsend’s donation amount, confirming the figure before saying with a smile, "Mr. Tobias Townsend, number twenty-seven, donates five million. Thank you, Mr. Townsend, for your generous support."