Free Web NovelChapter 141: Chapter 141: That’s His Sister-in-Law
Nathan Fawcett hung up the phone. He felt much better seeing his mother was no longer so angry.
He sat down and opened a drawer, where he saw his and Anne Sutton’s marriage certificate. It had been kept there ever since they registered their marriage.
He flipped it open for a look. The man in the photo—himself—looked different from how he did now.
Anne Sutton, however, hadn’t changed much.
He brushed his thumb over her photo. ’I can’t believe it’s still here in the study, perfectly preserved.’
He had discovered that after his return, many things in the study were unchanged. All his old belongings had been left just for him.
’She lived here for years, and she didn’t throw any of it away.’
...
Anne Sutton woke up from her sleep to find herself alone in bed.
It was just like all the nights before, when she would wake up alone in the middle of the night.
Without even putting on shoes, she left the room and saw that the light in the study was on.
The sight left her in a daze. She walked over and saw Nathan Fawcett at the desk, dealing with company business.
She stood in the doorway, staring at him, feeling as though she were in a trance.
’He’s clearly Ethan Linden, but I still see him as Nathan Fawcett.’
Nathan Fawcett looked up and saw Anne Sutton standing there barefoot. "What are you doing?" he asked.
The moment he spoke, his cool, detached words brought Anne Sutton back to her senses.
"You’re still up?"
Hearing her, Nathan Fawcett glanced at the time and realized how late it was.
He stood up, walked over to her, and looked down. "Why aren’t you wearing any shoes?"
There was a faint hint of reproach in his voice.
"I forgot," Anne Sutton said.
She was used to doing as she pleased from when she lived here alone.
She would often run around barefoot.
Nathan Fawcett looked at her. "Go to bed."
He stepped out and closed the study door behind him.
Anne Sutton gazed at him, then wrapped her arms around his neck, rose onto her toes, and kissed him on the lips.
Her forwardness took Nathan Fawcett by surprise.
With his eyes wide open, he watched her trembling eyelashes as she kissed him.
’The woman who was so shy before is being so forward now. I’m not used to this.’
’Back when he was Nathan Fawcett, when they were together, why was she never this proactive?’
’Every time she was with him, it was like she was serving a prison sentence!’
’So, is this "Ethan Linden" persona more likable?’
But this feeling... it was as if Nathan Fawcett was cuckolding himself.
He pushed her away. "Go back to bed!"
Anne Sutton was speechless.
She looked at the man before her, admitting to herself that just now, she had seen him as Nathan Fawcett.
’Even though he’s actually Ethan Linden!’
That’s why when he spoke, she immediately felt a pang of guilt.
In silence, Anne Sutton returned to the bedroom and lay back down.
Nathan Fawcett had already showered earlier when he was helping Ian with his bath.
Now, he got into bed as well.
As he lay down, Anne Sutton felt the mattress dip beside her.
But she was too embarrassed to say anything after he had just scolded her.
Lying in bed, Nathan Fawcett frowned when he saw how she had rolled to the far edge, putting as much distance between them as possible.
"What’s this? You were so eager to seduce me a moment ago, and now you’re playing the virtuous maiden?"
"I wasn’t," Anne Sutton denied. "I was just groggy from sleep."
’That’s why, on some strange impulse, I got so bold.’
’And kissed him!’
’If I’d known he would get this angry, I never would have done it!’
’So embarrassing!’
"Get over here," Nathan Fawcett said. "I’ll allow you to hold me."
’He’d been away for the past few days, and he hadn’t slept well without her by his side.’
’Who was she putting on this show for, staying so far away?’
’So naturally, he wanted her closer.’
Anne Sutton looked at this cold man, completely unable to figure out whether he liked her or not.
’Otherwise, why would he always be so cold when he spoke to her, as if they were mortal enemies!’
"You’re not angry anymore?" Anne Sutton asked.
Nathan Fawcett just stared at her.
As he kept staring at her, Anne Sutton moved closer and wrapped her arms around him.
’Well, he’s the one who told me to hug him,’ she thought. ’So this isn’t my fault!’
Seeing her stare, Nathan Fawcett said, "Anne Sutton, let me be clear. Now that you’re with me, I can give you anything. But I will never love you."
’The only thing he could never give her in this lifetime was his heart.’
Anne Sutton heard his words, but in her mind, it was Ethan Linden who was speaking.
She cleared her throat. "That’s fine. I don’t mind."
’Him not loving me is perfect.’
’After all, she was just using him as a substitute for Nathan Fawcett—a means to an end.’
’If he actually developed feelings for her, she wouldn’t know how to face him!’
Now that everything was out in the open, Anne Sutton felt relieved.
She asked him, "Can I touch you?"
Nathan Fawcett was at a loss for words.
’What kind of question was that?’
’He never expected this woman to be so shameless with him.’
When he didn’t object, Anne Sutton grew bold and slipped her hand inside his pajama top.
Compared to Nathan Fawcett’s previously sickly physique, the "Ethan Linden" before her was much more robust.
As Anne Sutton’s hand roamed over his chest, she felt a scar. She froze. "Why do you have a scar here? It looks like it’s from surgery. Did you have an operation?"
Her question made Nathan Fawcett stiffen.
Nathan Fawcett grabbed her hand, pulled it out from under his shirt, and switched off the lamp. "Time to sleep."
’His sudden coldness unsettled Anne. He’d just let her touch him freely a moment ago. She was only asking out of curiosity, and now...’
’...he wouldn’t let her touch him at all!’
...
The next morning, Stella Shields parked her car at the entrance and walked in. Henry Underwood saw her. "Ms. Shields."
Stella Shields glanced at Henry Underwood. They were old acquaintances.
In fact, Henry Underwood had been the one to pick her up when she first came to the Fawcett family.
"Why is Charles Prescott looking for me?" she asked.
Charles Prescott had called her last night. Since she happened to be coming over today anyway, she decided to see him.
"This way, please," said Henry Underwood.
He led Stella Shields to the gym. Charles Prescott was already up and working out. When he saw Stella Shields walk in, he picked up a towel and wiped his face.
Stella Shields stood to the side. "You wanted to see me?"
Charles Prescott stepped off the treadmill. "I hear you’ve been with the Linden family these past few years and that things have been going well for you."
"They’ve been fine," Stella Shields replied.
"You had a child with Ethan Linden?" He had seen Ian before.
He had also heard that Stella Shields was Ian’s mother.
Stella Shields didn’t deny it. She simply nodded. "You’re well-informed, Mr. Prescott."
"So, will you and Ethan Linden be getting married? What’s his deal? Why did he come all this way just to be with Anne Sutton?"
He knew that all of this had started because of Anne Sutton.
If it weren’t for her, Ethan Linden probably wouldn’t have come to meddle in the Fawcett family’s messes.
Stella Shields looked at Charles Prescott. "Anne Sutton is his sister-in-law. It’s only natural for him to show some concern, isn’t it?"
