Chapter 123: Chapter 123: I Quite Like You
Nathan Fawcett heard this and looked at her, noticing that she did indeed seem a bit weak.
He was, however, quite surprised that she was offering an explanation.
Nathan Fawcett said, "What’s this? Had a change of heart?"
Not long ago, she wasn’t the least bit interested in him.
He’d had to resort to threats and coercion.
Anne Sutton nodded. "Mhm."
Anne Sutton said, "I thought about it all night. Since you’re not involved with Ms. Shields, I feel no burden being with you. To be honest, I kind of like you."
’Even though she knew Ethan Linden couldn’t possibly have any genuine feelings for her.’
’She even suspected he was just looking for a fling.’
’But she really, truly liked him!’
Ever since he came into her life, she had felt a profound sense of security. It was almost as if Nathan Fawcett himself were by her side.
Nathan Fawcett stared at her. Her "I kind of like you" had caught him completely off guard.
An indescribable feeling surged through his heart.
’How ridiculous!’
’Who knew how much of what this woman said was true? She probably just liked his power, acting all friendly now that she’d seen he could stand up to the Prescotts.’
’But what was even more absurd was that her words actually made him happy.’
...
"Let’s get some sleep." Nathan Fawcett glanced at her, suppressing the heady feeling that was rushing to him.
He didn’t touch her again.
Anne Sutton watched him, then scooted closer and hugged his arm.
When Nathan Fawcett had been alive, she never once thought she liked him.
Her mind had been consumed with thoughts of how to deliver their child, how to inherit the Fawcett fortune, and how to make Charles Prescott regret everything.
And yet, in the years since, she found herself thinking of him constantly.
It was as if he were someone she had loved deeply for a very long time.
’Human emotions are so complicated. Sometimes she didn’t even understand where this reliance on Nathan came from.’
...
Seeing her actually hug him, Nathan Fawcett grew even more uncomfortable. ’This woman...’
’Give her an inch and she’ll take a mile.’
...
「The next morning」
Henry Underwood, following Charles Prescott’s orders, went to the hospital to visit Mrs. Sutton, bringing food and fresh flowers.
"Good morning, ma’am!"
Seeing it was one of Charles Prescott’s men, Mrs. Sutton’s expression soured. "What are you doing here?"
"Mr. Prescott asked me to come see you. Have you been feeling any better these past couple of days?"
"We’d be just fine as long as you people stay away," Mrs. Sutton said. "Go and tell Charles Prescott to stop disturbing the Sutton family! And to stop harassing my Anne. My Anne is already engaged to someone else and will be leaving the Fawcett family before long. So please, ask your Mr. Prescott to leave her be!"
She truly couldn’t stand Charles Prescott and his constant, annoying schemes.
Henry Underwood asked in surprise, "Engaged?"
"That’s right!" Mrs. Sutton said. "To my best friend’s son."
The whole point of getting Anne Sutton together with Justin Shields was to make Charles Prescott give up.
That’s why Mrs. Sutton didn’t hide it; she couldn’t wait for Charles Prescott to find out.
When Henry Underwood returned, Charles Prescott was just getting up.
He stood to the side, watching Charles Prescott adjust his tie in the mirror, and told him about Anne Sutton’s engagement.
Charles Prescott looked at Henry Underwood. "You’re saying Anne Sutton is engaged to Justin Shields?"
Henry Underwood said, "That’s what I heard. I never would have thought Mrs. Sutton and Mrs. Shields were best friends. Mrs. Shields has been visiting the hospital for the past two days."
Charles Prescott asked, "Did Anne Sutton agree?"
"She did."
Hearing this, Charles Prescott’s face darkened. "She agreed quickly enough."
Henry Underwood said, "Compared to being with Jack Gabe, she would probably prefer Justin Shields. After all, the Shields family has done much better for themselves these past two years after connecting with the Linden family."
Back when Stella Shields first came to them, the Shields family wasn’t doing well at all.
Later, Stella Shields got close to Anna Linden, and with the Linden family’s protection, the Shields family’s situation improved.
This is also why the Shields family was so determined to have Stella Shields marry into the Linden family.
After all, a catch like Ethan Linden isn’t easy to find.
Charles Prescott glanced at Henry Underwood and said, "Go tell them next door that I’ll be over for breakfast."
...
Because she wasn’t feeling well, Anne Sutton woke up rather late.
It was Ian who woke her up.
As soon as Ian came in, he climbed onto her bed and whispered in her ear, "Auntie, time to get up and eat."
Anne Sutton opened her eyes and looked at the little guy. Nathan Fawcett was already up; only Ian was here now.
Anne Sutton said, "You’re up so early?"
Ian said, "Daddy told me to come wake you up for breakfast."
Anne Sutton looked at Ian, remembering how Nathan Fawcett had told her yesterday that he wanted her to be Ian’s mother.
She asked cautiously, "Ian, do you like me?"
Ian nodded. "I do! I like you the most!"
"Why?" Anne Sutton asked with a smile.
Ian said, "I don’t know, I just like you a lot. You’re the prettiest auntie in the whole world."
"Prettier than your mommy?" As soon as she asked, Anne Sutton remembered that Stella Shields wasn’t Ian’s mother.
Ian said, "My daddy told me that Stella isn’t my mommy. He said you are."
"..." Anne Sutton hadn’t expected Nathan Fawcett to have already told Ian about this.
’He certainly moves fast.’
She said to Ian, "Then... would you be willing to let me be your mommy?"
"Of course," Ian said. "Mommy."
He switched to the new name so quickly.
For some reason, when Stella Shields had tried to get him to call her that, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
But seeing Anne Sutton, the title felt completely natural.
Hearing him call her that, Anne Sutton felt inexplicably moved, even though they weren’t related by blood.
She hugged Ian and said, "Mommy will dote on you from now on."
’Perhaps the baby she had lost was reincarnated in him.’
’Otherwise...’
’Why else would she be so fond of Ian?’
Anne Sutton got out of bed and went into the bathroom to wash up.
Ian brought his toothbrush over, and the two of them stood together brushing their teeth.
Seeing his clumsy attempts, Anne Sutton crouched down, took the small toothbrush, and helped him brush his baby teeth.
Anne Sutton asked, "Does your daddy usually help you brush your teeth?"
Ian said, "Sometimes. When he’s busy, he doesn’t look after me, so I just brush them myself."
Anne Sutton looked at him, smiled, and patiently helped him, also teaching him the proper way to brush.
When Nathan Fawcett came in, he saw her crouched there, her gaze fixed on Ian, her eyes filled with adoration for their son.
He watched the scene, unable to bring himself to interrupt.
For all these years, Ian had grown up without a mother’s love.
He had been the one taking care of him all along.
This was probably the happiest moment of Ian’s life.
Nathan Fawcett watched for a little while longer before quietly slipping out.
Breakfast was already prepared downstairs.
Charles Prescott had already arrived. When he saw Ethan Linden, he greeted him proactively, "Second Uncle."
He used to call Nathan Fawcett "Uncle."
Now that Nathan Fawcett was dead and Ethan Linden was his brother, didn’t that make him "Second Uncle"?
Nathan Fawcett stared at him and asked, "What are you doing here?"
