Chapter 221: Absolutely Shameless
She picked up her chopsticks and put some food on Ian’s plate.
Ian said, "I want to eat my mommy’s food. Nothing you make tastes good."
The corner of Anna Linden’s mouth twitched. She knew the "mommy" Ian was referring to was Anne Sutton.
She’d heard all about what happened from Stella Shields.
Nathan Fawcett had made Ian acknowledge Anne Sutton as his mother.
Anna Linden had been furious when she heard about it.
But Ian was just a child.
She let it slide, seeing as he was just a child.
Ian was back now. As long as he didn’t see Anne Sutton and was taught properly, he would eventually come around.
’That woman wanted to abort him before he was even born. She doesn’t deserve to be his mother!’
Anna Linden said, "You haven’t been back to see your grandma in so long. When you talk like that, you make Grandma very sad! And didn’t you used to love the food I make?"
Ian glanced at Anna Linden and asked, "When is my dad coming back?"
Anna Linden said, "He’s busy! He should be back in a couple of days."
While they were speaking, a car pulled up to the gates of the Linden family estate, and Anne Sutton stepped out.
The security guard at the gate saw her. "Who are you looking for?"
Anne Sutton said, "I’m looking for Ethan Linden."
The security guard sized up the woman before saying, "You have the wrong place!"
’Tons of people come here every day looking for Ethan Linden!’
’It’s not like just anyone can get in to see him!’
The security guard was long used to it.
He just assumed Anne Sutton was another one of those infatuated women.
Anne Sutton said, "I’m his sister-in-law. His older brother sent me with a message for him. You’d better go and ask. Don’t make a mistake."
Hearing her claim to be his sister-in-law caught the butler’s attention.
After all, every other woman who’d shown up had wanted to call Ethan their husband!
This was the first time anyone had claimed to be Ethan Linden’s sister-in-law.
So, the security guard had no choice but to make a call to announce the visitor.
...
Anna Linden was still trying to coax Ian when a maid entered and said, "Eldest Miss, there’s someone outside looking for the Young Master."
"Who is it?" Anna Linden asked.
The maid replied, "She says she’s the Young Master’s sister-in-law."
Hearing this, Stella Shields looked up. ’Could it be her?’
’It has to be Anne Sutton!’
Seeing her reaction, Anna Linden understood as well. "Go take a look," she said.
At that, Stella Shields nodded and stood up.
Anne Sutton waited at the gate for a little while. She had come here to see Ian.
She had rushed a paternity test overnight and confirmed that Ian was her son. Now she wanted to come and demand what right Nathan Fawcett had—what right did he possibly have to steal her child!
Before long, the gate opened.
Anne Sutton looked toward the entrance and saw Stella Shields walk out.
Anne Sutton paused for a moment when she saw who it was.
’Even though Stella wasn’t a Linden by name, she acted like a member of the family, coming and going from this place as she pleased.’
’Remembering how this woman had once so brazenly claimed Ian was her child, Anne found the whole thing ridiculous.’
Stella Shields said, "Well, if it isn’t Ms. Sutton. What are you doing here?"
Anne Sutton said, "Where’s Ethan Linden? Tell him to come out."
Stella Shields replied, "He doesn’t want to see you. Anne Sutton, things are over between you and Ethan Linden. Have you no shame, chasing him all the way here to pester him?"
"I have no shame?" Anne Sutton stared at Stella Shields. "He’s the one who owes me!"
"What could he possibly owe you?"
"Tell him to get out here. I need to ask him about Ian," Anne Sutton said. "And for that matter, I’d like to ask you—since when was Ian your child? How did you have the nerve to say all that to my face?"
Stella Shields froze, staring at Anne. "You know?"
Anne Sutton retorted, "Was I not supposed to find out? Did you all plan on keeping me in the dark forever? Where is Ethan Linden?"
As she spoke, Anne Sutton started to walk past her.
Stella Shields blocked her path. "Ethan Linden isn’t here!"
"Then where’s Ian?" ’It doesn’t matter if Nathan isn’t here; I have to see Ian.’
’That’s my son!’
’Not even the law has the right to take away my maternal rights!’
’What right do they have?’
Stella Shields said, "Ian is a Linden. What does he have to do with you? Don’t you dare go too far!"
’There’s no way I’m letting her inside.’
"Are you sure you won’t let me in?" Anne Sutton looked at Stella Shields. "I’m doing him the courtesy of calling him Ethan Linden. If you stop me again, I’ll make sure everyone knows his real identity."
Anne Sutton knew that Nathan Fawcett was using the alias "Ethan Linden" with the Linden family.
If his cover was blown and people found out that the real Ethan Linden had died long ago—and that the man currently in the Linden household was actually Nathan Fawcett—it would cause a serious uproar.
Stella Shields hadn’t expected Anne Sutton to actually threaten her with this. She snapped, "What are you trying to pull? He’s been more than generous with you! The entire Fawcett family is in your hands now, so what more do you want? Don’t be so greedy! Offending him won’t do you any good."
Anne Sutton said coldly, "Do you think I’m afraid of offending him?"
’Before, when I didn’t know about Ian, I thought I had wronged him. That’s why I put up with it, no matter how terribly he treated me.’
’But now...’
’All I want is to get to the bottom of what happened with my child!’
Stella Shields looked at her and said, "Ian doesn’t want to see you."
"I’m seeing him whether he wants to or not! Let me in. Otherwise... I’ll let everyone know the truth about ’Ethan Linden.’ You wouldn’t want that secret getting out, would you?"
’Anna Linden went to such great lengths to create this lie, all to turn Nathan Fawcett into Ethan Linden.’
’She played her part in this lie perfectly!’
’Anne refused to believe she wouldn’t care about it being exposed!’
’Looking at Anne’s reckless, nothing-to-lose attitude, Stella realized the woman was completely unhinged.’
She said to Anne, "Let me ask."
’This is about Nathan’s identity. The stakes are too high for me to make the call on my own.’
’She had come out here to teach Anne a lesson, but instead, Anne had completely turned the tables on her.’
Stella Shields took out her phone and called Anna Linden.
"What’s going on?" Anna Linden asked.
Stella Shields whispered, "She insists on coming inside to find Ian. I said no, and now she’s threatening to expose Ethan’s identity to everyone. What do I do?"
Anna Linden was silent for a moment before saying, "Let her in."
’It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Anne Sutton. As it happens, I’d like to see her as well.’
...
Ian was still at the table, and seeing that he had little appetite, Anna Linden asked, "Not eating anymore?"
Ian nodded. "I’m full."
"Then go upstairs and rest," she said, then turned to a nearby attendant. "Take Ian up to his room."
Ian climbed down from his chair and followed the attendant upstairs.
Stella Shields led Anne Sutton inside, looked at her sternly, and said, "Anne Sutton, don’t push your luck. This is the Linden estate; you can’t just come in here and cause a scene. Even if Ian is your son, you’ve already been given everything you were owed! Don’t tell me you still want to marry Ethan Linden?"
’She claims this is for the child, but I don’t believe that for a second!’ Stella thought.
’She’s clearly here for Nathan Fawcett!’
’This woman is so scheming. Before, she claimed all she wanted was the Fawcett family, and now look at her...’
’She’s already got the Fawcett family, and she still comes all the way out here to harass him!’
’She’s absolutely shameless!’