Free Web NovelChapter 165: Chapter 165: The Flowers He Sent Were Given to Someone Else
Justin Shields glanced at his sister. "Alright, stop thinking about it. He’s just a man. I’ll find you a better one. Are you really afraid you won’t get married?"
"If it’s not him, what’s the point?" Stella said. "I used to think I liked Ethan Linden, but that was just a holdover from my childhood. After spending time with Nathan Fawcett, I realized I truly like him. He’s a wonderful person. It’s not just that he looks like Ethan; he’s also very capable... But why did he have to have a child with Anne Sutton?"
All she could do now was regret not having a child with him back then, like Anne Sutton did.
If she’d had his child, maybe things wouldn’t be like this!
...
The butler drove the car through the gates. Anne Sutton, sitting in the back, was nearly asleep.
She’d been working all afternoon, and on top of that, she’d been running all over the place.
The butler noticed her and said, "Ma’am, we’re home."
She opened her eyes, glanced at the butler’s cautious expression, and opened the car door to get out herself.
The butler handed her back the car keys.
She glanced at him and asked, "Are you going back to the hospital?"
"I’ll head over in a bit."
"Let me know if anything happens with Ian. I hope he drinks the soup I made for him."
The butler said, "I will remind Mr. Fawcett."
...
Anne Sutton went inside.
The butler returned to the hospital and walked into the room to see Nathan Fawcett sitting there alone, holding a bowl. He was drinking the soup with great concentration.
The butler: "..."
He looked at Nathan Fawcett and cautiously reminded him, "Sir, Ma’am made this soup for Ian."
Nathan Fawcett raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "What, I can’t drink it?"
’Ian isn’t awake yet, and there’s so much soup.’
’He used to love Anne’s cooking so much, but he hadn’t had the chance to taste it for years.’
’And now, he had to piggyback off Ian just to get a bite? Since when?’
Seeing his domineering look, the butler nervously wiped his brow. ’Alright then!’
’If he wanted to drink it, there was nothing I could do to stop him.’
He stood to the side, watching Nathan Fawcett. Nathan rarely drank soup. The butler had always reminded him to drink more, that it was good for his stomach, but he never listened.
But now he’d finished a whole bowl.
The butler said, "I didn’t realize you still enjoyed Ma’am’s cooking, sir."
"It’s about her only good quality," Nathan Fawcett said, but his tone softened, a result of enjoying her food. "How is she?"
The butler said, "I’ve already taken her home. She’s a little angry with you."
"What could she possibly be angry at me for?" Nathan Fawcett retorted. "It’s the truth. She doesn’t care about Ian at all. And now he’s sick again. She’s his own mother, for crying out loud!"
"Ma’am seemed to have something on her mind today," the butler said. "She’s usually very good to Ian. Something must have happened. I heard she went to see her father this morning."
Hearing this, Nathan Fawcett asked, "How are things with Sean Sutton?"
"The Sutton Group is fine for now. But... his company is outdated and can’t keep up with the times. If it continues like this, it will start losing money again. He makes auto parts. Charles Prescott was interested in acquiring his company before, but he didn’t agree."
Nathan Fawcett fell silent.
The butler added, "Also, Ma’am is very upset about how you defended Ms. Shields today."
Nathan Fawcett raised an eyebrow. "She’s the one with the big mouth, insisting on lumping me and Stella Shields together. You of all people should know there’s nothing between us."
The butler said, "Yes, I know that, of course. But... Ma’am doesn’t necessarily know that. A lot can happen in four years. You should try to explain it to her clearly next time, to keep her from getting upset."
"Why should I care if she’s upset?" Nathan Fawcett said stubbornly. "What am I supposed to do, coddle her? Is she a child?"
"She’s not a child," the butler said. "But all women need to be coaxed. And besides, it’s not as if you can live without her now, is it, sir?"
"Who says I can’t live without her?" Nathan Fawcett retorted indignantly. "Without her, I could find someone else in a heartbeat. If she wants to leave, let her. I can’t be bothered to coax her!"
He spoke with a fearless bravado.
Not a hint of fear.
The butler glanced at the bowl in Nathan Fawcett’s hands. In the middle of his defiant speech, he’d ladled himself another half-bowl.
It was proof that Anne’s soup was cooked exactly to his taste.
The butler’s gaze made Nathan Fawcett very uncomfortable. "Keep staring and I’ll gouge your eyes out."
"Yes, sir!" the butler said. "You haven’t had a single woman by your side for years. You’ve met so many, but not one has caught your eye. It must be because your standards are too high."
Nathan Fawcett: "..."
He was silent for a moment. Thinking of Anne Sutton, he realized the butler was right—he couldn’t live without her.
’It was only after getting together with her that he broke his celibacy and started living a life with a woman again.’
’Without her, he’d probably have to go back to that ascetic, monk-like life he’d been living before!’
He looked at the butler. "You talk like you’re such an expert. Then tell me, how am I supposed to coax her?"
"Just buy her something she likes." The butler had the air of a seasoned veteran; if you didn’t look closely, you’d never imagine he’d been single for all his years with the Fawcett Family. "And sweet-talk her a little! With women, you know... be a bit more gentle, and they’ll forget whatever was making them unhappy."
Nathan Fawcett finished his soup, handed the bowl to the butler, and decided to believe him for the time being.
...
「The next morning.」
Anne Sutton had just walked into her office when she saw a large bouquet of fresh blue roses on her desk.
She paused, taken aback. "Where did these come from?"
"I don’t know."
Anne Sutton walked over and found a card that read, "Good morning."
’How strange.’ Her assistant came over. "Maybe they’re from a patient?"
"No name was left," Anne Sutton said. "Whatever, they’re yours."
Hearing Anne Sutton’s words, the assistant smiled. "Thank you, Dr. Sutton. These flowers are gorgeous!"
With that, the assistant left, cradling the flowers.
Nathan Fawcett stood by the window. When the butler came in, he asked smugly, "So? Did she like the flowers I sent her?"
He’d even had those flowers specially flown in.
The butler’s mouth twitched. "Ma’am gave the flowers you sent to her assistant."
Nathan Fawcett: "..."
’Of course she did!’
’That woman!’
’How could she just stomp all over his thoughtful gesture like that!’
Seeing Nathan Fawcett’s dark expression, the butler said, "Maybe she doesn’t like flowers. Let’s send something else!"
Nathan Fawcett frowned, deciding to give her one more chance.
「At noon.」
Anne Sutton had been so busy all morning that she hadn’t had a chance to eat.
When she returned to her office, she saw a lavish lunch spread out on her desk.
Her assistant was rubbing her stomach. "Dr. Sutton, your lunch looks amazing!"
Anne Sutton asked, "Where did this come from?"
’So weird.’
Her assistant said, "I don’t know. Could it be from a patient?"
Anne Sutton: "...You can have it."
Anne Sutton added, "I need to step out for a bit."
