Free Web NovelChapter 98: Chapter 98: Do You Want Me to Come and Get You?
Nathan Fawcett glanced at Stella Shields. "People these days are getting more and more ridiculous! To think they’re saying you’re my fiancée and that Ian is your son!"
Stella Shields stiffened and looked at Nathan Fawcett. "Is it really necessary to get so upset?"
"Why wouldn’t I be angry?" Nathan Fawcett said. "It’s a complete fabrication! I’m sure you don’t want these kinds of rumors spreading about you, either!"
He knew she had always been in love with Ethan.
Stella Shields gazed at Nathan Fawcett’s face, which was identical to Ethan’s...
’It was true, she used to be in love with Ethan Linden.’
’But Ethan Linden was gone now.’
’The man standing before her now was Nathan Fawcett...’
’He might be short-tempered, but he treated her well.’
’Her heart wasn’t made of stone.’
’If it were possible, she wouldn’t even be against being with him.’
’It was just that Nathan Fawcett seemed completely clueless!’
’She didn’t even mind that he had a child with Anne Sutton.’
’But he wasn’t interested in her at all?’
...
Nathan Fawcett asked, "How’s Ian?"
"He’s playing by himself! Oh, right, your mother is back. Let’s head downstairs!"
After she spoke, she and Nathan Fawcett went downstairs together.
...
Just as Anne Sutton finished changing, Ian came and knocked on her door.
Seeing the little one at her door, Anne Sutton smiled. "What brings you here?"
She was as fond of Ian as she was wary of Nathan Fawcett.
Sigh...
’I really envy Stella Shields!’
Ian looked up at Anne Sutton. "I have something to tell you."
"Come on in!"
Anne Sutton let him in.
Ian walked over, sat on the sofa, and said to Anne Sutton, "Just now, Stella said I can call her ’Mom’ now."
Anne Sutton was surprised but also happy for him. "That’s wonderful!"
"But for some reason, I can’t bring myself to say it," Ian said.
"..." Anne Sutton looked at Ian, at a loss for words on his behalf. She gently stroked his head. "Is it just that you’re not used to it yet? A little shy? People are often like that. Sometimes you want something so badly, but when you finally get it, you feel scared."
"Oh, I see!" Ian nodded, though he didn’t seem to fully understand. He looked at Anne Sutton. "Are you ready? Let’s go downstairs!"
"Oh, right," Anne Sutton said. "I bought you a present."
She took the gift she had bought the day before out of her suitcase.
It was a 3D pop-up book.
She didn’t have much experience with kids his age and wasn’t sure what to give, so she had settled on this.
"Thank you," Ian said.
"Happy birthday, Ian," Anne Sutton said.
Ian looked at her. "I’ll read it carefully. I’ll ask my dad to read it with me later."
"I’m glad you like it," said Anne Sutton.
Soon, the two of them came downstairs.
Anne Sutton was with Ian.
Anna Linden and Nathan Fawcett were in the living room, along with Stella Shields.
Seeing them all there, Anne Sutton almost felt like she was back at the dinner Anna Linden had invited her to.
It had been the three of them then, too.
’Except, back then, it had been Nathan with them, not Ethan Linden.’
When Anna Linden saw Anne Sutton, her expression darkened. "Why are you here?" she asked.
All eyes turned to Anne Sutton.
"I..." Anne Sutton began.
Nathan Fawcett spoke up. "I brought her. She’s my guest."
Anna Linden shot him a look, shocked that he would so brazenly bring Anne Sutton home.
For the past few years, Anna Linden had treated Nathan Fawcett as her own son, Ethan Linden, and so their mother-son relationship had been quite harmonious.
But his current actions brought back unpleasant memories for Anna Linden.
However, she didn’t say anything in front of everyone.
After all, making a scene would have unpleasant consequences.
’Anne Sutton might even discover Nathan Fawcett’s true identity.’
Anna Linden said to Anne Sutton, "Come and sit down. Since you’re here, you’re our guest."
Anne Sutton came over. "How have you been, Dr. Linden?"
"I’ve been well enough," Anna Linden said. "What brings you to Veridia?"
"I’m on vacation and decided to visit Veridia for a bit," Anne Sutton said. "I hope I’m not imposing, Dr. Linden."
"Not at all!" Anna Linden said. "Even though Nathan is gone, we’re still family, in a sense."
She then turned to Nathan Fawcett. "She is your sister-in-law. We really should take better care of her. I’m usually too busy; it’s good that our Ethan is so considerate!"
The single term "sister-in-law," spoken in front of everyone, immediately drew a line between them.
Hearing his mother’s words, Nathan Fawcett faltered. freёwebnoѵel.com
He looked at Anne Sutton, knowing she believed the same thing.
’It was one thing for him to tell Anne Sutton this himself, but for his mother to say it, the meaning was completely different!’
’He knew his mother was warning him.’
’She really didn’t want him to be with Anne Sutton.’
’After all, if Nathan Fawcett were to get together with Anne Sutton, his whole charade of being Ethan Linden would become a joke.’
Anne Sutton wasn’t a fool; she could sense Anna Linden’s dislike for her.
’It must be because of Chairman Fawcett.’
’It was only natural that she didn’t like me.’
Anna Linden asked, "Anne, where are you staying?"
"She was sick last night, so I had her stay here," Nathan Fawcett said. "You said it yourself, Mom. We’re family, so we should take care of her."
Anna Linden looked at Nathan Fawcett. She couldn’t believe he’d not only brought Anne Sutton home but had even...
’He couldn’t possibly want to be with Anne Sutton, could he?’
"I’ve already bought my plane ticket," Anne Sutton said. "As soon as Ian’s birthday party is over, I’m heading to the airport to fly straight back to Westhaven."
Hearing this, Ian looked at Anne Sutton. "You’re leaving so soon?"
Nathan Fawcett hadn’t expected her to be leaving so soon either.
Seeing that she was leaving, Anna Linden didn’t say anything further.
’Good. At least she knows her place.’
...
There weren’t too many guests for Ian’s birthday, but not too few either—enough to fill about three tables. They were all part of the Linden Family’s inner circle.
As a guest, Anne Sutton didn’t sit with Nathan Fawcett; she was seated at an adjacent table.
After a little while, her phone buzzed with a sudden message: "Come to the garden."
She glanced at the screen and saw it was from Nathan Fawcett. Her hand trembled.
She looked over at Nathan Fawcett’s seat, only to find that he had already slipped out at some point.
She felt as if the people nearby were watching her. Although they were all focused on their own food and conversations, paying her no real attention, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being caught in the act.
Naturally, Anne Sutton didn’t want to go.
Nathan Fawcett sent another message. "Do you want me to come and get you?"
Left with no choice, Anne Sutton had to excuse herself and walk out the door.
Outside, she saw Nathan Fawcett standing by a flowerbed to the side.
She walked over, her eyes on his tall, straight back. The man just stood there, solid as a mountain. Her Nathan had always been frail and sickly; everything about this man was a constant reminder that he and Nathan were not the same person.
"What are you doing?" Anne Sutton protested. "Calling me out here at a time like this!"
’There are so many people inside!’
’Everyone knows I’m his sister-in-law. If he calls me out here like this, what are people going to think?’
’The gossip will be endless!’
’He really isn’t afraid of any of it!’
