Chapter 278: Am I in Your Future?
Anne Sutton stared at his face, which was darker than a thundercloud. ’And he calls that not caring?’
Nathan Fawcett snorted. "Why would I argue with a drunk?"
Then, he went upstairs. "I’m going to bed!"
Ian watched him go upstairs and said to Anne Sutton, "Daddy seems angry."
Anne Sutton looked at her son. "You can tell, too?"
Even Ian could see he was upset!
And he was still being stubborn about it!
Anne Sutton gave Ian a bath and read him a bedtime story for a while before coming out of his room.
She saw that Nathan Fawcett was already asleep.
He was lying on the sofa, covered with a blanket, his cold, grim face exposed.
Even in his sleep, he looked unhappy.
Anne Sutton looked at him and felt a pang of sympathy...
’People...’
’Happiness is all alike; unhappiness is unique to each person.’
Even someone like him had his own sorrows.
Anne Sutton didn’t disturb him. She took a shower and went to bed.
She hadn’t been asleep for long when she suddenly felt a man get into bed and wrap his arms around her.
She instantly became more awake.
She realized the person beside her was none other than Nathan Fawcett.
He held her tightly.
The lights were off, and he didn’t speak.
There was only the sound of his breathing beside her ear...
Anne Sutton asked, "What are you doing?"
Nathan Fawcett held her and said, "Anne."
His voice sounded clingy.
Anne Sutton was a little speechless.
"What is it?"
Nathan Fawcett said, "In this whole world, you’re the only one who’s best to me."
As he spoke, he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
Anne Sutton had originally promised herself she wouldn’t have any physical contact with this man.
But now, hearing his words, she couldn’t help but glance at him again...
’This...’
’With him acting like this, she felt too embarrassed to reject him.’
’It would seem a bit heartless to push him away now!’
’He really was cunning.’
Anne Sutton said, "Is that so? I haven’t been that good to you!"
Her relationship with Nathan Fawcett was just one of convenience, where each took what they needed.
It was nothing like what he was describing.
Nathan Fawcett said, "You are very good to me. From now on, just stay by my side, okay? Without you, I really don’t know what I’d do."
Anne Sutton listened to him, knowing he was upset. ’But for him to say these things now... it’s a little manipulative, isn’t it?’
Anne Sutton said, "Sure! Give up everything with the Linden Family, and we’ll take Ian back to Westhaven!"
After all, the Fawcett Group was in her hands.
Even if Nathan Fawcett and Ian went back with her, they wouldn’t have to worry about their livelihood.
Although she said that, Anne Sutton felt that Nathan Fawcett would never agree.
He loved his mother very much, and besides, no one would be willing to refuse everything the Linden Family had to offer.
Hearing Anne Sutton’s words, however, Nathan Fawcett asked, "Really?"
Anne Sutton smiled. "You really want to go back with me?"
"Why not?" Nathan Fawcett said. "I used to dislike it there, but now, you’re there! Going back with Ian and living together sounds like a good option."
"Alright!" Anne Sutton said. "So when are we leaving?"
Nathan Fawcett sighed.
Seeing his troubled expression, Anne Sutton said, "You agree even though you can’t do it! I know you can’t bear to leave now that you can be with your mother. I was just saying it offhandedly."
Nathan Fawcett said, "To be honest, I feel so tired sometimes. If I had been the one given to my mother back then, maybe... maybe everything would be different?"
"..." Listening to him, Anne Sutton realized this issue was truly a knot that had been tied in his heart for years.
’That’s just how people are...’
’Even after you’ve grown up, even after you can stand on your own two feet, those unhappy memories from the past can still make your heart ache when you think of them.’
Anne Sutton said, "Don’t think about it. There are no ’what ifs’ in this world. Besides, things aren’t so bad right now. Nathan, you have to look forward. You do, and so do I. We all do!"
Nathan Fawcett asked, "Then... is there a place for me in your future?"
His question silenced Anne Sutton.
Nathan Fawcett’s face was right in front of her. She was so close to him, she felt as if his very presence had taken hold of her heart.
She had thought about being with him before, about having him by her side always...
But right now, their respective positions made it clearly unsuitable.
She disliked everything about the Linden Family!
Anne Sutton didn’t want to endure everything here just for his sake.
She felt that if she agreed to be with him, she would be trapped in this cage right alongside him.
Nathan Fawcett said, "So it seems there isn’t?"
He sounded a little disappointed.
Anne Sutton said, "I don’t know either."
Hearing her words, Nathan Fawcett said, "I understand."
After saying that, Nathan Fawcett fell silent.
He just lay beside her. Of course, he didn’t leave either.
He loved being with Anne Sutton!
When he wasn’t by her side, he felt like a cold, heartless machine.
But when he was with her, only then did he feel like a living, breathing person!
He was Ethan Linden now, his health restored. Everyone only knew his perfect, flawless side. But only Anne Sutton... she had been with him through his most humiliating days.
In front of her, he didn’t even need to hide his true self.
...
In the morning, Anne Sutton glanced at the man still sleeping beside her. He was holding her and hadn’t let go.
The sight of him like this reminded her of their days together in Westhaven...
Anne Sutton looked at the man and, for reasons she couldn’t explain, felt an urge to kiss him.
But looking at his sleeping face, she desperately held back.
She raised her hand and gently traced the line of his eyebrow...
Nathan Fawcett opened his eyes, looked at her, and said, "If you keep that up, I won’t hold back."
"What was I doing?" Anne Sutton was speechless.
Nathan Fawcett said, "Why are you messing with me?"
He caught her hand, held it in his palm, and looked at her small, fair hand.
Anne Sutton said, "Well, you’re holding me so tight I can’t even get out of bed. Am I not allowed to poke you a couple of times?"
Nathan Fawcett stared at her. "Woman, you’re trying to get my attention."
"..." Anne Sutton laughed. "I wonder who was the one who crawled into my bed! How do you explain suddenly running over here last night? And who was it that said they wouldn’t touch me?"
"I didn’t do anything to you!" He had only held her while they slept for a night.
Anne Sutton said, "Fine! Then you can let go now."
Nathan Fawcett said, "Fine, I’ll let go."
Despite his words, his arms remained around her, with no intention of letting go.
Nathan Fawcett had beautiful eyes, and he gazed at her with deep affection.
He leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead.
The kiss was like a spell, freezing Anne Sutton in his embrace, unable to move.
Her dark eyes stared at him. Looking at his face up close, she felt her heart beginning to race uncontrollably.
After knowing him for so many years, it was impossible for Anne Sutton to have no feelings for him at all, especially given how close they were.
Although she hated him to death because of what happened with Ian...
But...
That seed named Nathan Fawcett, hidden deep in her heart, needed only a little bit of sunlight from him to desperately sprout and break through the soil.