Chapter 275: Charles Prescott’s Old Flame
Most of the people here were the children of Anna Linden’s cousins, so they all called her "Aunt."
Anne Sutton sat to one side, listening to them talk. The things they were saying were awful.
They had clearly been holding it in for a long time, deliberately picking this moment to say it all for her to hear.
After all, with Ethan Linden’s status, he could have any woman he wanted.
Naturally, they couldn’t stand the thought of Anne Sutton being by his side.
Anne Sutton said, "I feel so sorry for him too! But he just happens to like me, and there’s nothing I can do about it."
The moment Anne finished speaking, she felt the atmosphere instantly solidify.
She could feel the women’s glares, like daggers about to run her through.
"Ethan Linden likes you? You must have used some underhanded tricks, didn’t you? What did you do to him back in Westhaven? You were his sister-in-law..."
"I’ve already divorced his brother."
"You still can’t be together even if you’re divorced! People might think you got divorced because of Ethan. That would reflect poorly on the Linden Family."
"Oh, really? In that case, why don’t you say all this to Ethan’s face and tell him to stay away from me."
When Anne said that, they fell silent.
’Good grief. Say that to the head of the Linden Family?’
’Who would have the guts for that?’
’The old Ethan Linden was still approachable.’
’But ever since he became the Family Head, he’s gotten a bit arrogant.’
This was especially true for Lana Langley...
Her husband, Ryan Linden, owed the company money and was racking his brain for a way to pay it back. As his wife, Lana was the one with the biggest headache.
Ryan Linden was even considering selling the house they’d bought!
Lana Langley sat nearby and said to Anne Sutton, "Anne, dear, don’t listen to them. The fact that you’re with Ethan is a credit to you. Stella was buzzing around him for so long, and he never even looked her way! A woman has to be like you... able to marry whoever she wants, even after a divorce. We’re certainly not as blessed as you are."
She laughed as she finished.
Anne Sutton looked at Lana. Even though she was supposedly defending her, Anne could tell her words weren’t sincere.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have called her over and deliberately let these people make fun of her.
Anne looked at her and said, "If you’re interested, you could always get a divorce and remarry."
Lana Langley was speechless.
’This Anne Sutton really has no filter.’
She said, "Listen to you... I’m tied down with kids, I can’t just leave even if I wanted to. I just hope that in the future, when you’re with Ethan, you’ll put in a good word for us."
The corners of Anne Sutton’s mouth lifted, but she said nothing.
Just then, someone walked over. "Cousin."
Anne Sutton looked up and saw it was none other than Mia Shaw.
Mia Shaw had almost married Charles Prescott, so of course, Anne Sutton knew who she was.
’I just never thought she’d have a connection to the Linden Family!’
Lana Langley saw her and waved her over. "Come and sit."
Mia Shaw walked over and took the empty seat beside Lana Langley. Her gaze fell on Anne Sutton. "Ms. Sutton, what are you doing here?"
’She and Anne Sutton went way back.’
They had known each other since Anne was still Charles Prescott’s fiancée.
And now, though Anne was no longer with Charles Prescott, Mia held her at least partially responsible for the failure of her own engagement party.
So, seeing Anne Sutton now, Mia was inwardly fuming.
Before Anne could answer, Lana Langley said, "She came with Ethan Linden."
"Ethan Linden?" Mia looked at Anne Sutton.
She knew Anne Sutton had just recently inherited the Fawcett Group.
And because of it, Charles Prescott had been so busy with his company that he’d been ignoring her.
Lana Langley said, "Yes! She’s Ethan’s woman now, and who knows, she might even marry him. And look... this is Ethan’s son, and he’s already calling her ’Mommy’."
Mia Shaw was stunned to hear this.
She had no idea Anne Sutton and Ethan Linden had become so close.
Today was, for all intents and purposes, a Linden Family dinner.
’For Ethan Linden to bring her to an event like this, to meet his relatives... was he... treating her as one of his own?’
’Don’t tell me Anne Sutton is actually going to marry into the Linden Family?’
’She remembered back when Anne married Nathan Fawcett, Charles Prescott had been a notch below her.’
’Now she’s the chairman of the Fawcett Group, and if she marries Ethan Linden on top of that...’
’Charles Prescott’s life would be a living hell.’
Mia Shaw said, "Ms. Sutton, you’re so incredibly lucky. First, you were with Nathan Fawcett and got the Fawcett Family, and now you’re going to marry Ethan Linden! I’m afraid the whole Linden Family will be yours soon!"
’Anne watched Mia try to sow discord. ’The Linden Family... even if it were to fall to someone, it would hardly be me!’’
But with that one statement, Mia had turned all the resentment onto her.
Anne had no choice but to smile and reply, "Didn’t I learn it from you? You climbed into his bed when you were Charles Prescott’s assistant... and that’s how you got where you are today. Weren’t you two supposed to get engaged? Not planning to get married anymore?"
Anne’s words left Mia with no face to save.
Mia might be more capable and accomplished now, but Anne would never forget the way she had called just to provoke her.
Perhaps she had done it because she was young and immature at the time.
But Anne remembered it crystal clear.
The others looked at Mia Shaw, the corners of their mouths twitching. They only knew she was a relative of Lana Langley’s and weren’t actually familiar with her.
In Veridia, the Shaw Family was just an ordinary, unremarkable family.
They were no match for a wealthy and powerful family like the Lindens.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have run off to become Charles Prescott’s secretary and made her fortune that way.
Mia Shaw said, "Things between Mr. Prescott and me are over."
Anne Sutton said, "Right. Look at my memory, I completely forgot. Charles Prescott has a child, so you definitely wouldn’t marry him, right?"
’How could she not know? Even after the child’s existence was revealed, Mia was still in love with Charles.’
’She’d known about his child for a long time and hadn’t minded at all.’
’But by the looks of it, Charles Prescott had no intention of marrying her!’
Mia stiffened when she heard that, then immediately countered, "That’s right! I’m not like Ms. Sutton, willing to be some kid’s stepmother."
As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at Ian.
Ian was leaning against Anne, peeling a piece of fruit with his small hands. He was being incredibly well-behaved.
It was clear the little one was very attached to her.
Ian heard Mia’s words and glanced over at her.
’Anne looked at her son. As long as she could be with Ian, she didn’t care what anyone else thought.’
She didn’t feel the need to explain anything to Mia Shaw either.
The onlookers sat to the side, and seeing how attached Ian was to Anne Sutton, they seemed to understand something—so that’s how she’d done it! She had won over Ian, which was why Ethan Linden had brought her into the fold!
’Brilliant!’
’This woman’s game is on another level.’
’Unlike Stella Shields, who only knew how to chase after Ethan, she went straight for the child.’
’And since Ethan doted on his son so much, he would naturally give more weight to his child’s feelings.’
...
Just then, Nathan Fawcett walked out.
"Daddy," Ian said when he saw him.