Married the Sick Uncle – Just Waiting to Inherit His Fortune

Nathan Fawcett, with Anne Sutton by his side, went around and acquainted himself with all the relatives.

Anne Sutton stood beside him, watching him. ’I never would have thought...’ she mused. ’He used to be completely inept at social niceties. He probably didn’t even know all his own relatives in the Fawcett family.’

’But now that he’s Ethan Linden, he seems to have memorized everyone.’

During dinner, Ethan Linden’s uncle sat down next to Nathan Fawcett.

The uncle was the guest of honor, and by sitting next to Nathan Fawcett, he made Nathan the center of attention as well.

Anne Sutton and Ian sat beside Nathan Fawcett.

Victor Linden looked at Nathan Fawcett and said, "Ethan, there’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about today."

Nathan Fawcett said, "Go on."

"I’ve heard all about what happened with Ryan Linden. He upset you at the company."

Nathan Fawcett picked up his glass and drank some water.

The food today was a bit spicy, so he wasn’t particularly comfortable.

’It wasn’t that Ryan Linden had upset him, exactly.’

But Ryan Linden had broken the rules he’d established and then stubbornly refused to admit it, which left Nathan Fawcett no choice but to intervene.

Ever since he had taken over the Linden family’s affairs, he had been very particular about matters concerning the company.

Victor Linden said to Nathan Fawcett, "My son has always been a disappointment. I apologize to you on his behalf. Can you just let him off the hook this one time, please?"

Nathan Fawcett replied, "Uncle, please don’t put it that way. It makes it sound like I’m deliberately giving Ryan a hard time. In fact, he’s the one giving me a hard time! He embezzled company money to bet on sports, lost it all, and still won’t admit it. He claims he can pay it back! If he had just admitted his mistake and apologized sooner, I wouldn’t have pressed the issue."

Hearing that Ryan Linden had been gambling, Victor Linden said angrily, "Holy shit! That little brat, he actually did something like that? How did I end up with a son like him?"

At this, Nathan Fawcett said nothing, simply placing some food on Ian’s plate.

After railing against Ryan Linden, Victor turned back. "What he did is truly despicable, but for now... as a favor to your uncle, please just let it go this time."

Nathan Fawcett looked at his uncle. "Every time, I let it slide for your sake. If this continues, how will he ever realize he’s done something wrong?"

Victor Linden said, "But... he’s a disappointment. There’s nothing I can do."

Nathan Fawcett smiled. "Uncle, you raised him to be this way. I think you bear some of the responsibility. If I were you, I’d stop meddling. He’ll never grow up if he doesn’t suffer the consequences of his own actions. Besides... he’s several years older than me! He’s a married man with a child! Surely you don’t plan on coming to me, leaning on a cane, to plead his case when he’s fifty or sixty, do you?"

"..." Victor Linden was rendered speechless by Nathan Fawcett’s words. He sat there, mortified.

Seeing his reaction, Nathan Fawcett’s lips curled into a slight smile, and he said no more.

Anne Sutton, sitting nearby, took in the scene. ’Nathan really doesn’t pull any punches,’ she thought.

’Most people, even if they were thinking the same thing, would never say it out loud.’

’His uncle might not be showing it, but he must be deeply offended.’

And indeed, Victor Linden’s expression had turned sour.

It was his birthday, after all, and Nathan Fawcett had shown him absolutely no respect.

A few moments later, Ryan Linden came over.

He saw Victor Linden and said, "Dad, I brought Donna to wish you a happy birthday."

As he spoke, he gestured to a chubby little boy beside him.

The chubby little boy’s name was Donna, Ryan Linden’s son.

It was no surprise, really. Ryan Linden was portly, and his son took after him in build.

Donna said, "I wish you good health, Grandpa, and a long, long life!"

Ryan Linden and Lana Langley also said, "We wish you good health, Dad. Happy birthday."

Victor Linden shot him a look. "Happy birthday, my ass! If you’d just try to make something of yourself, would I be in this position? Keep this up, and you’ll be the death of me."

There were quite a few people present.

Victor Linden laid into him with a harsh lecture right then and there.

Ryan Linden was deeply embarrassed.

He glanced over at Nathan Fawcett, convinced that Nathan must have said something to his father to make the old man so furious.

He already hated Nathan Fawcett, and looking at him now only stoked his anger.

After dinner, as Anne Sutton and Nathan Fawcett were preparing to head home, Ryan Linden followed them. "Ethan!"

After shouting, he walked straight over.

Some of the relatives who had been about to leave stopped to watch the drama unfold.

Ryan Linden, who had drunk a fair bit, walked up to Nathan Fawcett. He glanced at Anne Sutton, and a smirk spread across his face.

His face was flushed from the alcohol, and he looked thoroughly drunk.

Ryan Linden slurred, "Who the hell do you think you are, huh? It’s my dad’s birthday. What did you say to him? It’s his birthday, and you just had to make his own son miserable? You got a vendetta against me or something?"

Nathan Fawcett looked at him but didn’t argue back.

Ryan Linden glanced at Anne Sutton. "You say I’m not doing a good job, that all you do at the company is pick at my faults. But what about you? If I recall correctly, this woman next to you... shouldn’t you be calling her ’sister-in-law’? You’re even going after your own sister-in-law! You’re a disgrace to the Linden family! With you acting like this, what right do you have to point your finger at me with such arrogance?"

He had clearly been berated earlier and was now using his drunken state as an excuse to vent all his frustrations on Nathan Fawcett.

Nathan Fawcett said coolly, "You’re drunk. Come talk to me when you’ve sobered up."

He started to leave, but Ryan Linden blocked his path. "Where do you think you’re going? You need to make things clear. Growing up, was I ever a bad older brother to you? Huh? Now that you’re in charge, you just act like you don’t know anyone, is that it?"

Anne Sutton stood to the side, watching the scene unfold, a little frightened.

’Drunk men are completely irrational. Who knows what he might do?’

Nathan Fawcett glanced at Butler Walters, who immediately stepped forward and said to Ryan Linden, "Mr. Linden, you’re drunk."

He then moved to escort him away.

Ryan Linden defiantly pushed him away, so Butler Walters simply summoned more men to haul him off.

As he was being dragged away, Ryan Linden kept screaming, "Don’t you know what everyone’s saying outside? That you’re not Ethan Linden at all! They all say you’re that bastard from the Fawcett family! That you stole everything that belonged to the real Ethan Linden! Do you really think we’re all blind?"

The word "bastard" caused Nathan Fawcett’s expression to darken.

Anne Sutton looked at him, her heart leaping into her throat with worry.

’Even though Nathan was the one being insulted, she couldn’t help but worry.’

’The word "bastard"... How could anyone apply that to him?’

’What does his parents’ divorce have to do with anything?’

’He’s Anna Linden’s son, too!’

’None of that has changed.’

’But in their eyes, as Nathan Fawcett, he has no connection to the Linden family at all.’

...

No one spoke for the entire ride back to the Linden estate. Anne Sutton followed behind Nathan Fawcett.

Once inside, he sat down on the sofa.

Seeing his somber mood, Anne Sutton asked, "Are you okay?"

Nathan Fawcett looked up at her. "What?"

Anne Sutton said, "Nothing."

’She didn’t know how to bring it up.’

’Repeating Ryan Linden’s words would only be rubbing salt in the wound.’

Nathan Fawcett said to Anne Sutton, "It doesn’t bother me, really."