Chapter 658 - 654: This Place Is Ours

Lily Sterling had the highest odds for the "Best Newcomer Award." Considering her industry reputation, online popularity, and the general sentiment, she was the most likely candidate to win.

And because she was so likely to win "Best Newcomer," her chances of also bagging "Best Supporting Actress" were drastically reduced. The competition for the supporting role was fierce, and the odds of a newcomer like Lily Sterling winning on her first nomination were low. As a result, her betting odds for Best Supporting Actress were the lowest.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone, Cecilia Sterling had already secretly placed her bet.

That day, her cousin, Ronald Harris, came to Lorcain from Veridia for his school break, and Cecilia Sterling went with Ethan Sterling to pick him up.

This was the first time Ronald Harris had ever been to Lorcain. Even though he had bought warm clothes in advance, he was still shivering uncontrollably the moment he stepped out of the airport.

However, the cold was instantly forgotten when he saw the luxury car Ethan Sterling was driving. He jumped in excitement. "Holy shit, Ethan! Is this your car?"

"What do you think? Cool, right?" Ethan Sterling patted the hood. "My reward for passing the college entrance exams. Sis bought it for me."

"It’s gorgeous!"

Guys have a natural love for cars, especially luxury cars and sports cars. Ronald couldn’t get enough of it. He circled the car, running his hands over the frame, oblivious to the freezing touch of the metal.

"Sis, did you really buy my dad a Range Rover?" Ronald suddenly turned to ask Cecilia.

Cecilia Sterling raised an eyebrow. "I did. Why? You want one too?"

Ronald rubbed his head sheepishly. "Nah, not me. My mom said my score on the college entrance exam wasn’t even as high as my dad’s blood pressure. I’m too ashamed to ask for a reward."

"But you’re well-behaved and considerate. That’s more important than good grades." Cecilia Sterling opened the car door, gesturing for her two younger brothers to get in.

She let Ronald take the passenger seat to enjoy the ride, while she sat in the back. "Ronald, is there anything you’re particularly passionate about?"

"Me?" Ronald hesitated, then shook his head. "Not really. I like playing video games, but I have no talent for it, not like Ethan. Everything else... I lose interest after five minutes."

Yvonne Sterling had been focused on her children’s development since they were little. Ronald and Sarah had taken dance, drums, and even painting lessons. A fortune was spent, but it seemed neither of them had a knack for learning new things. Their grades were poor, and their attempts to cultivate hobbies never bore any fruit.

Eventually, Yvonne Sterling gave up.

Cecilia didn’t press him further. She just felt that her cousin’s associate’s degree would be of little use. In today’s world, even a bachelor’s degree wasn’t always enough, let alone an associate’s, which was practically the same as having no degree at all.

"Sis, are we going to my new house? I may have been in Veridia, but my heart’s been in Lorcain for a while now. I get so antsy every time I see that huge house when I video chat with my parents. Sis, the house must be really expensive, right? I’ll definitely pay you back once I start earning money, though I don’t know if I’ll ever make that much. My sister and I will work to pay you back..."

Ronald was clearly excited. Perhaps it was his first time in Lorcain, or maybe it was the anticipation of seeing his new home, but he chattered on endlessly.

Cecilia quickly cut him off. "The house is a gift for my aunt and uncle. It has nothing to do with you and Sarah, so neither of you needs to pay me back. We’re not going home just yet. We’re going to get something to eat first. Your mom is in the hospital, so there’s no one at home to cook for you."

Ronald fell silent instantly, his head drooping. A moment later, tears began to fall. PLOP. PLOP.

Cecilia, who saw the huge teardrops falling one by one from the back seat, was startled. She quickly patted his shoulder. "Ronald, why are you crying?"

"Sis, I just..." Ronald looked up, and as soon as he spoke, the floodgates opened, and tears streamed down his face. "I just..."

"Stop crying!"

Cecilia summoned the same authority she used to wrangle her younger siblings as a child, and her sharp command stopped Ronald in his tracks.

Among the cousins, Ronald, despite being six-foot-three, was the biggest crybaby. He had inherited his sensitive nature completely from his mother.

Ethan, suppressing a laugh, pulled out a couple of tissues and handed them to him. "Clean up that snot. Don’t get it on my car."

Ronald obediently wiped his tears. Cecilia then patted his head. "You’re too old to be crying at the drop of a hat. If your mom saw this, she’d get all worked up."

"I’m not crying anymore." Ronald sniffled, ever the obedient one.

The car drove on, eventually pulling into the outdoor parking lot of Aetherium.

"Miss Sterling, you’ve arrived. Shall I inform the general manager?"

The lobby manager greeted Cecilia as soon as he saw her. She waved a hand dismissively. "I’m just taking my brothers to lunch, then we’ll be leaving."

"Of course." The manager spoke into the internal microphone on his collar. "To the Chinese restaurant: Miss Sterling has arrived. Greet her at the elevator."

’My cousin is so badass!’ Ronald’s eyes went wide with awe.

’This is Lorcain, and in a place this high-end and luxurious, she acts like she owns it. She has a personal escort everywhere she goes, and they even have to notify the general manager?’

"Sis, you must be a VIP member here, right?" Ronald asked reflexively inside the elevator.

Cecilia just smiled. "I’m the owner."

Ronald: "!!"

Ethan slung an arm around Ronald’s shoulders. "So, order whatever you want later. This place is ours."

Ronald was still reeling from the shock. As the elevator doors opened, he was greeted by a perfectly professional smile. "Good afternoon, Miss Sterling. Will you be taking a private room or a table in the main hall today?"

"The main hall is fine."

"Very good. Please follow me."

As they stepped out of the elevator and walked past the counter, Ethan was in the middle of a conversation with Ronald when a familiar face caught his eye.

Helen White!

She was at the counter, apparently in some kind of trouble and arguing with a server.

"How is that possible? Try running it again. This is my dad’s supplementary card. As long as his primary card is active, there’s no way mine can be declined."

"I’m sorry, miss, but the primary cardholder can request to have a supplementary card suspended at any time. This card has indeed been deactivated."

"That’s impossible. You must be mistaken. He’s my own father. Why would he cancel my card?"

"Senior?"

Just as Helen White was speaking with the staff, Ethan suddenly appeared behind her and called out her title tentatively.

An expression of petulant anger still on her face, Helen White froze when she turned and saw Ethan. "Ethan?"

Ethan looked at her, then turned to the staff member. "Is something wrong?"

"Mr. Sterling, it’s like this," the staff member explained in a gentle tone. "This young lady was using a supplementary card from a parent, but the primary cardholder has suspended it. She may not have been aware, so the charge for her bill today cannot go through on this card."

Helen White’s eyes widened in shock. ’Mr. Sterling?’

’The staff called Ethan Mr. Sterling? How old is he? Why are they using such a formal title for him?’

But Ethan was long accustomed to it. He just nodded and turned to his sister.

Seeing the situation, Cecilia raised an eyebrow. "In that case, just comp her bill."