Chapter 202: You Are Quite Attentive to Her
Nathan Fawcett nodded. "Okay, I will."
He thought it was strange. ’I know Anne and I will have to separate eventually, but hearing her mother entrust her to me like this... it makes me genuinely want to be with her forever.’
...
Anne Sutton returned with some fruit she had bought. Standing at the doorway, she overheard what her mother was telling Nathan Fawcett. Her eyes immediately reddened, and she stopped in her tracks, not daring to enter.
A moment later, Nathan Fawcett came out. Seeing her standing there with red eyes, he asked, "Why didn’t you come in?"
"..." Anne Sutton looked up at Nathan Fawcett and said, "I heard what you just said to my mom."
Nathan Fawcett said, "Oh."
Anne Sutton said, "What happened with my dad was a huge blow to her. I’m really afraid she won’t be able to handle it."
Nathan Fawcett said, "She’ll be okay. I’m here. I’ll figure something out. I’m going to see the hospital director. I’ll be back to find you later."
Hearing his words, Anne Sutton nodded. "Go ahead."
Only after Nathan Fawcett had left did she enter the room. Looking at Mrs. Sutton, she said, "Mom."
She had just come back from buying some fruit.
Now she sat beside her, peeling fruit for her mother.
Mrs. Sutton said to Anne, "I always used to think that Nathan Fawcett was unreliable, but now it seems he’s actually quite decent."
Hearing her mother’s words, Anne Sutton said, "Right? I think he’s great, too."
Mrs. Sutton said, "With him looking after you in the future, I can finally rest easy."
Anne Sutton looked at her mother. "What? Just because he’s here to look after me, you’re going to cast me aside? You don’t want me as a daughter anymore?"
Mrs. Sutton looked at her. "I can’t take care of you forever. You’re all grown up now. I can’t even tell you what to do, since you don’t listen to me anyway."
"Who says?" Anne Sutton protested. "When have I ever not listened to you? I always listen to you! Mom, you have to stay by my side forever, okay? I’ll never make you angry again."
Although some things were difficult to discuss with her mother at times.
But Anne Sutton knew she still loved her mother deeply.
She couldn’t imagine how she would live her life if her mother wasn’t around.
Mrs. Sutton said, "After I’m gone, the one I’ll worry about most is Sharon. You’re her older sister, so you have to look out for her. Don’t let anyone bully her!"
Anne Sutton retorted, "If you’re so concerned, then you can be the one to look out for her. I’m not getting involved in that!"
She couldn’t stand it when her mother spoke as if she were giving her last words.
It made her heart ache.
She was terrified that if she agreed, her mother would actually leave her.
Mrs. Sutton looked at Anne, knowing she would eventually agree, so she didn’t press the issue.
She said, "I’m going to sleep for a bit. I’m so tired."
Anne said, "Go ahead and sleep."
"Is your mom asleep?" Just as her mother drifted off, Sean Sutton arrived.
Anne Sutton looked up at her father as he walked in but didn’t answer him.
Sean Sutton was carrying a container of chicken soup. "The housekeeper made this. I brought it for her."
"Just go home!" Anne Sutton said. "I’ll take care of my mom from now on. Don’t come here anymore. Seeing you just upsets her."
Hearing her words, Sean Sutton retorted, "What are you talking about? Your mother and I aren’t divorced yet! Why can’t I come see her? You’re just dying for us to get a divorce, aren’t you? You ungrateful brat!"
Anne shot back, "You’re one to talk about being grateful! With a father like you, I absolutely hope you two get a divorce. Once she’s rid of you, she can find someone better."
"Anne Sutton!" Sean Sutton yelled. "You say one more word like that and I’ll slap you across the face!"
"Go on, I dare you!"
Seeing her challenge him, Sean Sutton raised his hand and lunged forward.
Just as he was about to strike, Nathan Fawcett returned. He stood in the doorway and cleared his throat.
Sean Sutton turned around. Seeing Nathan Fawcett, he said, "Mr. Linden, you’re back?"
Nathan Fawcett’s gaze fell on Sean Sutton’s hand, raised in mid-air. "What do you think you’re doing?"
Sean Sutton glanced at his hand. "I was just trying to scare Anne! I wasn’t actually going to hit her!"
Nathan Fawcett walked in, glanced at Anne, and asked, "Are you alright?"
Anne glanced at her father, then at Nathan’s protective stance. "I’m fine. I just don’t want to see him here. It’ll upset my mom if she sees him!"
Nathan Fawcett shot a look at Sean Sutton. "You don’t need to come here again."
Hearing Nathan Fawcett’s words, Sean Sutton said, "Mr. Linden, I..."
Nathan Fawcett said, "What?"
One look from Nathan Fawcett was enough to make Sean Sutton cower. He coughed. "Never mind, I’ll go, I’ll go! I won’t come back! Don’t even bother calling me, I’m not coming back."
After saying his piece, he glanced at Anne and walked out.
’It’s not like I wanted to come here in the first place!’
’Nathan Fawcett was the one who told me to come!’
’Taking care of Mrs. Sutton at the hospital every day is exhausting.’
...
Once her father was gone, Anne Sutton finally breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Nathan Fawcett and said, "Thank you."
’Using Nathan Fawcett to handle her father is surprisingly effective,’ she realized.
’Her father is the type to bully the weak and fear the strong.’
’He’s a coward out in the world but a tyrant at home.’
Nathan Fawcett looked at her and said, "I’ll have someone keep an eye out from now on, to make sure no one disturbs your mother while she’s recovering."
Anne Sutton nodded. "Thank you."
’That’s good.’
’It’ll keep all the riff-raff from wandering into Mom’s room!’
Anne Sutton asked, "You just went to see the hospital director. What did he say?"
Nathan Fawcett replied, "I’ve already spoken with him. He’s arranging for his people to come and check on your mother."
Anne Sutton gazed at her sleeping mother. "Thank you," she said.
She had barely finished speaking when Nathan Fawcett wrapped his arms around her from behind, letting her lean back into his embrace. "Don’t overthink things. I’ll be here with you."
Hearing his words, a feeling of warmth spread through her chest.
She had always felt like she had to face everything alone.
But now, with him by her side, it felt as though she didn’t have to worry about a thing.
The two of them stayed with Mrs. Sutton at the hospital until evening before heading home.
Nathan Fawcett had just stepped out of the car when the butler approached him. "Chairman Grant is here," he said.
Nathan turned back, helping Anne Sutton out of the car. "Did he say why?" he asked.
The butler replied, "I’m not sure. I told him you weren’t in, but he’s been waiting for a while."
Nathan Fawcett took Anne’s hand as they walked to the house. As they reached the entrance, Anne pulled her hand away. ’It would be too awkward for Chairman Grant to see us walk in like this,’ she thought.
Nathan glanced at her but said nothing before walking inside.
When Chairman Grant saw Nathan, he asked, "Where have you been today? You weren’t at the office."
Nathan Fawcett said, "Anne’s mother is sick. I was at the hospital."
Hearing him mention Anne Sutton, Chairman Grant’s face darkened. "You certainly are devoted to her. It seems you haven’t listened to a single word I said to you before."
He glanced at Anne, who had followed Nathan in, his expression unreadable.