Free Web NovelChapter 419: Chapter 419: Adding Fuel to the Fire
When Sean Sutton was younger, he had greatly admired women like Margaret Adler. She came from a good family, was well-spoken and well-educated, gentle and intellectual, quiet and reserved—the perfect matriarch.
And so, Sean Sutton fell in love with her at first sight.
After a whirlwind romance, they finally tied the knot.
Their marriage was a harmonious one. For twenty years, they were devoted to each other, raising two outstanding sons and growing their company together. All of Sean Sutton’s friends and family praised Margaret as a wonderfully supportive wife.
Over the years, no small number of women had tried to seduce Sean Sutton, including some incredibly glamorous A-list celebrities, but the thought of cheating had never once crossed his mind.
He had always believed Margaret was the best choice he could have made. There was no one better.
So, when did things start to change?
The truth was, Sean Sutton himself didn’t know.
Now, the Sutton Family was bankrupt. One of his sons was dead, the other disabled. Just when Joanne White had finally gotten pregnant, Margaret was being unbearably aggressive. Suddenly, Sean Sutton felt utterly exhausted.
’He just wanted a child to carry on the Sutton family line. For the sake of their twenty years of marriage, why couldn’t Margaret be a little more considerate?’
With this in mind, Sean Sutton patted Joanne White’s back, consoling her. "It’s not your fault. She’s just too overbearing."
Joanne White pressed closer to Sean Sutton and whispered in his ear, "Sutton, don’t say that. It’s all my fault. I never should have come between you two... But Sutton, I really do love you... I know I’m not beautiful enough, or young enough. The fact that you chose me makes me so happy."
Joanne White knew her youth and beauty were her greatest assets, but she also knew she could never be the one to bring them up.
’If you flaunt your youth and beauty in front of a man, you’re just reminding him that he’s only with you for your looks. That makes the whole relationship feel shallow and cheap.’
Joanne White wouldn’t make such a rookie mistake. She had been spending all her time trying to brainwash Sean Sutton into believing he had genuine feelings for her—that he hadn’t fallen for her just because she was young and beautiful.
And just as she’d expected, this tactic was highly effective on a man like Sean Sutton.
Sean Sutton looked at Joanne White with pity, his eyes filled with emotion. He said in a low voice, "Joanne, don’t say that. In my eyes, you’re the best... And this has never been a one-sided affair."
Hearing this, Joanne White feigned ecstatic surprise and quickly planted a soft kiss on his ear.
Then, she took Sean Sutton’s hand and placed it on her lower abdomen. "Sutton," she said softly, "this is our child. I’m going to see this pregnancy through, no matter what."
A moment later, as if a sad thought had struck her, she sighed softly. With a mournful expression, she said, "It’s just... Sutton, I so desperately want you to be this child’s father in name, not just in secret. I don’t want it to be Ethan..."
At the mention of Ethan Sutton’s name, an unmistakable flicker of disgust crossed Sean Sutton’s eyes. freewebnσvel.cѳm
Just thinking about his son Ethan made him sick to his stomach.
He had personally groomed Ethan to be the heir to Sutton Enterprises. From the day Ethan was born, he was given the best of everything. Sean Sutton had even donated a fortune to a prestigious foreign university just to ensure Ethan would have an impressive degree.
But Sean Sutton had never imagined that Ethan would turn into... this.
Ever since Ethan was disabled, his personality had changed drastically. Not only was he constantly timid and cowering in front of others, but he had also become extremely sensitive and would burst into tears at the slightest provocation.
Even Joanne White didn’t cry that much!
On top of that, something strange had happened with Ethan a while back. He’d suddenly fallen into a coma for a full day, scaring the entire family half to death. Thankfully, he eventually woke up on his own.
But ever since he woke up, he’d been acting deranged, constantly shouting, "This isn’t right! This isn’t right!"
He started spouting nonsense, saying he should be living in their mansion, that the blizzard was long over. He even claimed he was about to sign deals with Flynn Adler and Raymond Hayes to rebuild the Sutton Family and stage a comeback, just like the Lancaster Family had.
Sean Sutton had been stunned. ’Flynn Adler and Raymond Hayes have been dead for ages! The list of their convicted crimes was endless. How could Ethan dare to say such things? Does he have a death wish?’
Sean Sutton was convinced Ethan had lost his mind.
To stop Ethan from spouting any more of this dangerous nonsense, Sean Sutton had no choice but to lock him in his room.
Thinking of Ethan’s current bloated, pig-like body and the way he looked half-dead after his constant mental breakdowns... Sean Sutton wished to God that Ethan had died with Elias in that volcanic eruption.
Seeing the dark look on Sean Sutton’s face, Joanne White gloated internally.
’He’s starting to despise Ethan,’ she thought. ’To make sure this baby isn’t registered under Ethan’s name, all I need to do is add a little more fuel to the fire.’
So, Joanne White said softly, "Sutton, you’re so capable. In my heart, you’re the only one who’s a true, upstanding man. How wonderful would it be if our child could openly call you ’Father’..."
Then she lowered her gaze, looking as though she were about to burst into tears. In a choked voice, she said, "Sutton, go ahead and scold me. I know I’m being too greedy..."
"Joanne, don’t cry," Sean Sutton said in a heavy voice. "I know what to do. This is our child. Of course he won’t be registered under Ethan’s name. Don’t you worry."
Sean Sutton had come to a decision over the last few days. He couldn’t register the child under Ethan’s name.
For one, it would be unfair to Joanne.
For another, if Ethan were the child’s father in name, he would be a stain on the child’s life.
A flash of delight crossed Joanne White’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of unease. "...Really? But... I’m afraid Margaret won’t agree..."
Sean Sutton snorted. "So what if she doesn’t agree? This is the Sutton Family, and I call the shots!"
A blissful smile returned to Joanne White’s face. She wrapped her arm around Sean Sutton’s shoulders and whispered in his ear, "Then please, talk to Margaret nicely. Don’t fight with her. Sutton, I can’t bear to see you unhappy because of me. It truly breaks my heart."
Sean Sutton patted her back, gratified. "Alright..." he sighed. "If only she were half as understanding as you..."
Joanne White said nothing more, but inside, she was sneering.
’A man like Sean Sutton,’ she thought, ’acts all self-restrained and family-oriented on the surface, but deep down, he’s a complete egoist.’
’He didn’t cheat before because the cost was too high. He was the head of Sutton Enterprises and had two sons with Margaret. If he’d had an affair, he would have had to give Margaret a fortune and would have driven a wedge between himself and his sons.’
’But now?’
’The company is gone. His son is a wreck. The cost of having an affair is so much lower, so he has far fewer reservations.’
Joanne White understood men like Sean Sutton perfectly. She knew she would win this round with ease.
’Next,’ she thought, ’I’ll turn the Sutton Family upside down, one step at a time...’
