Chapter 257: She Can Eat Spicy Food?
Although Caleb Summers and Ethan Linden were as close as brothers, Caleb had grown to prefer Nathan Fawcett’s personality after spending time with him. That’s why he hadn’t exposed him all this time.
Nathan Fawcett heard Caleb’s words and said, "Is that how little you think of Ethan Linden?"
Caleb Summers was taken aback. "Of course not! It’s just... he’s my brother, and so are you! I don’t want to see you do something rash."
"I’m not being rash," Nathan Fawcett said. "I’m getting off work now."
’If I don’t go now, I’ll be late.’
Caleb Summers said, "Since you’re off work, let’s go grab dinner. I want to have a proper chat with you."
"Not interested. I’m going back to be with Ian."
Caleb Summers grabbed his arm. "Are you going to be with Ian, or are you going to be with that woman?"
Nathan Fawcett fell silent, having been seen right through.
Caleb Summers said, "You’re blowing me off for her? Is one woman really that important? If you’re looking for company, I can find you plenty of women! Is a woman who’s good for nothing but bearing children really worth your attention?"
"Watch what you say," Nathan Fawcett said, his tone stern.
Caleb Summers froze for a moment. He looked at Nathan Fawcett. Although Nathan’s expression was still mild, Caleb had a feeling that he was actually angry.
He let go of Nathan’s arm and stopped blocking his way. "Fine! Just go!"
’Seeing how much Nathan cared, Caleb grew curious. What kind of woman had him so captivated?’
’Doesn’t he usually keep his distance from women?’
Since Nathan Fawcett still hadn’t arrived and the movie was about to start, Anne Sutton and Justin Shields took Ian inside.
It was dark in the theater. Anne Sutton checked her phone and saw a message from Nathan Fawcett saying he would be late.
’They’d arrived over half an hour early just to wait for him.’
’And now, he still wasn’t here!’
’It would have been fine if he’d just said he couldn’t make it from the start!’
’But...’
’He said he’d come, and then he just doesn’t show up!’
Justin Shields, sitting beside her, noticed her looking at her phone. "Hasn’t Ethan arrived yet?" he asked.
"...No," Anne Sutton said. "He said something came up."
"Is he still coming, then?"
Anne Sutton replied, "I don’t know. Let’s not worry about him."
Despite her words, she mentally branded Nathan Fawcett as unreliable.
Nathan Fawcett’s failure to keep his word had put Anne Sutton in a bad mood.
Ian, on the other hand...
It was his first time in a movie theater, and he was amazed to see so many people watching a movie together.
He watched intently.
During the exciting parts, he even clapped his little hands furiously.
...
By the time the movie ended, Nathan Fawcett still hadn’t arrived.
His meeting had run long, delaying him.
Then he got stuck in traffic, so by the time he finally arrived, Anne Sutton and the others had already finished the movie.
Justin Shields suggested they get something to eat, and Anne Sutton agreed.
They had just sat down at a restaurant when a message came from Nathan Fawcett. "Where are you?"
Anne Sutton glanced at his message and typed back, "The movie’s over. We’re at dinner."
"Sorry," Nathan Fawcett replied. "I got stuck in traffic."
’He was so frustrated.’
’But it was true that he’d lost track of time because of the meeting today.’
’He’d gone to Westhaven for a bit, and now that he was back, the company was a complete mess.’
Anne Sutton typed, "We’re eating dinner."
She sent the location to Nathan Fawcett. "If you don’t want to eat, you can just go home."
"I’m coming over now." Nathan Fawcett felt quite guilty for breaking his promise.
So, he followed the address Anne had sent and quickly found them.
When he arrived, he saw Anne Sutton and Ian sitting together, with Justin Shields there as well.
Justin Shields was sitting beside Anne, his eyes fixed on her as he spoke.
’When he looked at Anne, his face was all smiles, and his eyes... they were completely fixed on her!’
’As a man himself, Nathan Fawcett knew exactly what that look in Justin Shields’s eyes meant!’
’Even though Anne had come back to the Linden Family with him, Justin Shields was still trying to make a move?’
Nathan Fawcett took a deep breath, reining in his temper as he walked over.
’In the past, if anyone dared to make a move on his woman, he would never have let them off so easily.’
’But now...’
’It felt as though he no longer had the right!’
’As far as Anne was concerned, he was completely unwelcome.’
Ian saw him and grinned. "Daddy."
Nathan Fawcett sat down in an empty seat.
He glanced at Justin Shields and said, "You seem to have a lot of free time."
’Enough time to come looking for Anne Sutton, apparently!’
Justin Shields smiled. "Of course, not as much as you, Ethan. You’re so busy. Unlike me, I’m just an idle man."
Nathan Fawcett shot him a look, then turned his gaze to Ian and Anne Sutton.
Ian said, "Daddy, why are you so late? We already finished the movie!"
"Was it good?" Nathan Fawcett asked.
Ian nodded. "It was good! It was really, really good! Daddy, can you take me to the movies next time, please?"
Hearing this, the corners of Nathan Fawcett’s mouth lifted into a smile. "Of course! Anything you like."
Anne Sutton glanced at the man and ignored him.
Justin Shields said, "The food’s coming right up. Ethan, what would you like to eat? Do you want to take a look at the menu?"
"No need," Nathan Fawcett said. "I’ll just share with Anne."
’He said it as if they were so close!’
Justin Shields looked at him. "Are you sure?"
Nathan Fawcett said, "Anne is living at my place now. We’re a family. What’s there to be unsure about?"
’Even though he and Anne were already divorced!’
’But in front of Justin Shields, he still wanted to assert his claim!’
Anne Sutton sat to the side, still annoyed with him, and didn’t say a word, treating him as if he were invisible.
A few moments later, the food arrived.
Ian had a kids’ meal, which was themed after the movie they had just seen. He absolutely loved it!
As for Anne Sutton...
She had ordered several extra-spicy dishes.
As soon as the dishes were served, Justin Shields said, "Anne and I ordered all of these. You should see what you want to eat."
Nathan Fawcett was left speechless.
’He couldn’t handle spicy food at all!’
’Eating spicy food was the death of him.’
He had been living with the Lindens for the past few years. Anna Linden had a typical Veridian palate and loved spicy food.
But because of Nathan Fawcett’s poor health, she never forced him to eat it.
Now, staring at the sea of bright red dishes, the corner of Nathan Fawcett’s mouth twitched.
He looked at Anne Sutton and said, "Don’t you usually prefer plain food? Why today..."
Anne Sutton replied, "Not at all. I actually like strong flavors. I only ate bland food to accommodate you all. Now that I’m out, I’m naturally going to eat what I want, right?"
Nathan Fawcett was at a loss for words.
He looked at Anne Sutton and asked, "Are you really going to eat that?"
’It’s not like she grew up in Veridia.’
Anne Sutton shot him a mocking glance and, right in front of him, took several bites of a spicy dish.
Justin Shields asked, "How is it?"
Anne Sutton said, "It’s pretty good."
When they were heading out earlier, Justin Shields had mentioned a place that served exceptionally good Veridian cuisine, which was why they had come here.
’And the food was indeed pretty good.’