Chapter 240: Nathan Fawcett’s Engagement Is Called Off
"..."
Anne Sutton led Faye Yorke to see Anna Linden. On the way, Faye looked at Anne and said, "Actually, I came today because I wanted to talk to Ms. Linden about Ethan and me."
Anne froze when she heard that. She looked at Faye, wondering how things were going between her and Nathan Fawcett. "Are you two together now?"
Faye immediately denied it. "No, no. It’s just... Ms. Linden has always wanted me to get together with Ethan. But now... I’m not quite sure how to turn her down. That’s why I thought I’d come see her in person today to explain things clearly."
Anne looked at Faye. "What’s wrong? You don’t like Ethan? Or did he do something to make you mad?"
’Knowing Nathan Fawcett’s temper, it would be perfectly normal for him to piss someone off.’
Faye said, "We’re both women here, so I’ll just tell you. The thing is... Ethan... he can’t perform."
"You’re right, he’s totally useless!"
"You know that too?" Faye asked, surprised. "Thankfully, he’s a decent guy and was upfront with me about it. Otherwise, if I married him, I’d be trapped in a sexless marriage! I’m still young. I don’t want to marry a husband who’s completely useless in bed."
"...A sexless marriage?" Anne looked at Faye, not understanding what she meant at first.
Faye said, "I mean... he can’t perform... you know."
As she spoke, she gave a suggestive glance downward.
Anne was at a loss for words.
’So, the reason Faye ran here to call things off... was because she thought Nathan Fawcett couldn’t get it up?’
Anne thought back to when she and Nathan had been together...
Back when he was sick, she had indeed worried he wouldn’t make it and could die at any moment.
But now that he was healthy again, he was more than normal in *that* department!
’She had no idea why Faye had gotten such a mistaken impression.’
Just as Anne led Faye to Anna Linden’s office door, they saw Anna approaching, dressed in a white lab coat and accompanied by Chloe Chase.
Anna seemed a little surprised to see Faye.
"Ms. Linden," Faye said.
With that, she hurried over to Anna Linden’s side.
Anna smiled when she saw her. "What brings you here?"
Then, she glanced at Anne, her expression complicated.
It was a loaded look.
Feeling her gaze, Anne said, "I’ll get back to work."
As she was about to leave, Faye said, "Assistant Sutton, could you wait for me, please?"
She was a little scared to do this alone.
She had come to turn down Anna Linden’s offer, and she felt awkward about it. Having Anne with her would make her feel a little more secure.
Seeing that Faye wanted to keep Anne there, Anna said to her, "Why don’t you come in too?"
Anne had no choice but to follow them into Anna Linden’s office.
Inside the office, Faye sat in the chair across from Anna, looking awkward as she tried to figure out how to begin.
"Did Ethan bully you?" Anna asked.
’If he did, I definitely won’t let him get away with it!’
’She might not be able to do anything about Ethan, but she still had Anne Sutton under her thumb!’
When Anne felt Anna’s glare on her, her skin crawled. ’What does this have to do with me?’
’She was starting to realize that Anna blamed her for everything, whether it was her fault or not. It was so unfair!’
"No, it’s my fault," Faye said.
"What’s wrong?" Anna looked at Faye. "Just say what’s on your mind. We’re all friends here."
Faye said, "I don’t want to be with Ethan. I don’t like him."
"..." Hearing this, Anna was quite surprised.
She knew perfectly well how exceptional her son Ethan was.
Leaving aside his good looks, the Linden family’s status alone was enough to make countless women want to marry in.
And now Faye was saying she didn’t want to marry Ethan?
"Did you hear some rumors?" Anna asked. "If someone has been filling your head with nonsense, you shouldn’t believe it."
As she spoke, she shot another glance at Anne, as if to imply that Anne was the one who had been talking.
Anne had to laugh.
’So this is my fault, too?’
’So now I’m the designated scapegoat for Ethan?’
...
"It really has nothing to do with anyone else. I’m the one at fault," Faye said. "Ethan’s health is poor, and I’m a bit afraid of the trouble that might cause. I’m sorry, Ms. Linden. I’ve failed to live up to your expectations. Please find someone else for him!"
’Even out of respect for Anna, she wasn’t willing to sacrifice her own happiness for a useless man!’
’No matter how handsome he is, if he can’t perform, I don’t want him!’
"Ethan’s health is much better now," Anna said. "You don’t need to worry."
"I really can’t do it. I’m sorry, Ms. Linden," Faye said. "I really don’t want to be with him! I hope you won’t force me."
"If Ethan bullied you or did something to displease you, I’ll go to him and make him apologize. Rest assured, he’ll listen to me."
"No, that’s not it," Faye said. "It’s because... his health is poor. I don’t want to marry him and be trapped in a sexless marriage."
"..." Anna froze. "You’re saying... Ethan can’t perform?"
Anna was quite taken aback to hear this.
’My own son... can’t perform?’
’That was something she certainly didn’t know.’
Faye felt extremely awkward discussing such a topic with Anna, but for the sake of her future happiness, she nodded.
Faye’s stance was so firm that it gave Anna a headache. In the end, she had no choice but to agree to her request and stop pressuring her to be with Ethan.
Anna never imagined her son would one day be rejected so thoroughly.
Seeing that Anna had agreed, Faye said, "Thank you, Ms. Linden. I’m sorry. I know I’ve let you down. I’m the one who isn’t good enough."
"It’s alright," Anna said. "Relationships have to be mutual. You shouldn’t force yourself."
After hearing Faye’s reason, Anna actually felt a little awkward, as if she’d been trying to trick Faye into a terrible situation.
Having resolved the major issue on her mind, Faye stood up. "Well, I’ll be heading back now."
She didn’t want to stay any longer.
Anna nodded.
Anne prepared to see Faye out.
"Anne Sutton," Anna called out, stopping her.
Anne stopped and glanced back at her. "Is there something, Dr. Linden?"
"Even though Faye called it off, don’t think it’s your turn to be with Ethan," Anna said. "With his standing, he could find any number of women who are a hundred times better than you."
The corner of Anne’s mouth twitched. "I know."
’It’s not like I don’t know that,’ she thought. ’I don’t need her constant reminders.’
Looking at the smirk on Anne’s lips, Anna felt as if she were being mocked. ’Does she know Ethan can’t perform? Is that why she’s so confident, thinking he has no choice but her?’
After Anne left, Chloe Chase looked at Anna and said, "Faye seemed to like the Young Master quite a bit before. I never would have expected..."
"If she doesn’t like him, then so be it!" Anna snapped. "Go and ask around. Weren’t there plenty of people who wanted to marry their daughters into our family? Arrange some meetings for Ethan, quickly! We can’t let Anne Sutton think for a second that she’s the only one who would marry him!"