Chapter 313: Let Him Sleep Here?

Nathan Fawcett stood to one side, watching Anne Sutton. He could see how happy she was.

Since it was New Year’s Eve, Ian had stayed up as well.

It was past midnight, and Anne Sutton was getting sleepy, so she finally took them to bed.

The housekeepers were on holiday, and she couldn’t be bothered to have someone make up a guest bed, so Anne Sutton just had them sleep in her room.

After his bath, Ian climbed right into bed.

Nathan Fawcett looked at the little guy and asked Anne Sutton, "He’s sleeping here?"

"Yes, is there a problem?" Anne Sutton replied.

"No, nothing," Nathan Fawcett said.

They hadn’t seen each other for days, not since Anne Sutton’s holiday began.

The way she had kissed him at the airport last time had left his heart in turmoil ever since.

Now that they were finally together, he had hoped to spend some time alone with her...

But with her having Ian stay in here, his hopes were dashed once again.

"Just sleep here for tonight," Anne Sutton said. "I’ll get a room ready for you two tomorrow. I’m exhausted."

With that, Anne Sutton flopped onto the bed.

Nathan Fawcett stood by, watching her with a look of resignation. "I’ll go take a shower, then."

"Go on," said Anne Sutton. "But I don’t have a change of clothes for you."

"That’s fine," Nathan Fawcett said.

He went into the bathroom. After a moment’s thought, Anne Sutton went and found some of her father’s old, unworn clothes for him to change into.

His arrival had been so sudden; she was completely unprepared.

When Anne Sutton reached the bathroom door, she could hear the shower running inside. "I left some clothes for you by the door," she called out. "You’ll have to make do."

Nathan Fawcett was much taller than her father.

Her father was also heavier.

’The clothes probably won’t fit,’ Anne Sutton thought.

’But given the circumstances, it’ll have to do...’

She lay on the bed, and a moment later, Nathan Fawcett emerged wearing her father’s clothes.

The clothes, which were originally quite old-fashioned, looked surprisingly stylish on him.

It was just that his legs were so long the cuffs rode up, exposing his ankles.

Anne Sutton looked at Nathan Fawcett and smiled. "It doesn’t look too bad."

Nathan Fawcett walked over to her. "They’re just a little short," he said.

"It’ll have to do for now," Anne Sutton said. "We’ll figure it out tomorrow. By the way, since you and Ian came on such short notice, did you bring any clothes?"

"No."

"Then we’ll have to go to the Fawcett estate to grab some for you," Anne Sutton said.

His clothes from when he stayed here before were still there.

Hearing this, Nathan Fawcett nodded. "Alright."

He lay down beside Anne Sutton.

With his larger frame, the bed suddenly felt much more crowded the moment he lay down.

Anne Sutton glanced at the already sleeping Ian and pulled the blanket over him. Nathan Fawcett seized the opportunity to wrap his arms around her from behind.

His breath tickled her ear. Anne Sutton kept her eyes on Ian, but her mind was completely filled with the sound of Nathan’s breathing.

Her face grew hot.

’Even without a word, I can feel it. He’s missed me!’

In truth, she had missed him terribly since they parted at the airport.

Anne Sutton placed her hand over his, which was resting on her waist, her fingers covering his well-defined knuckles. She squeezed his hand and a small smile played on her lips, wishing time could freeze in this very moment.

Nathan Fawcett placed a soft kiss behind her ear. Though she couldn’t see his eyes, she could feel the profound affection in the gesture.

"Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you?" he asked.

He thought he could wait for her to come back.

But he hadn’t expected...

He hadn’t been able to wait that long and had just run over to find her!

’Nothing at home matters.’

’As long as I can be with her, I’m happy!’

He used to think his mother was his entire world.

But now, he found that when he was with Anne Sutton, he couldn’t even be bothered to think about whether his mother loved him or not.

A smile graced Anne Sutton’s lips as she heard him. "Me too," she said.

’I missed you so much, too.’

Seeing him today had been such a surprise, and she had intentionally hidden her feelings in front of everyone.

But now that they were alone, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

The heart she thought had died inside her had, against all odds, come back to life.

Anne Sutton turned over to face the man before her. She reached out and wrapped her arms around him. "Nathan."

Hearing her call his name, Nathan Fawcett answered with a soft, "Hm?"

Her eyes were locked on his. He gazed back at her and, finally unable to resist, lowered his head and kissed her.

With Ian right beside them, they didn’t take it any further.

But that one kiss was enough to temporarily soothe the deep longing they felt for one another.

Looking at this man, Anne Sutton was surprised to realize, ’I really, really like him!’

’I used to have so many reservations, but right now, I just want to follow my heart.’

...

The next morning, Anne Sutton was in the kitchen washing dishes, and Nathan Fawcett was helping nearby.

Neither of them spent much time in the kitchen usually, but they found a surprising happiness in bustling about together now.

Sharon Sutton had called that morning to say that she and David Hayes were going to his hometown to visit his parents, so she wouldn’t be coming over.

The housework couldn’t be left to her mother, so Anne Sutton had to do it herself.

Nathan Fawcett stood beside her, his eyes on her as he washed the dishes.

Seeing him staring at her constantly, Anne Sutton was exasperated. "Are you even paying attention to what you’re doing?"

"I’m being very serious," Nathan Fawcett replied.

Anne Sutton rolled her eyes at him.

Once the dishes were finally done, Anne Sutton was feeling a bit hungry. She turned to Nathan Fawcett and said, "What do you want to eat? I can cook for you."

"I’ll have someone come over and cook," Nathan Fawcett offered. "Cooking is such a hassle."

"What’s the big deal?" Anne Sutton said. "It’s not like I cook every day. It’s the holidays, so doing it once in a while is fine."

Nathan Fawcett looked at her. "Then make whatever you want. I’ll like anything you cook."

Anne Sutton laughed.

She made some special nourishing dishes for her mother and then cooked Nathan Fawcett and Ian’s favorite foods.

...

They had just started eating when there was a knock at the door.

"I’ll get it," Anne Sutton said.

She walked to the door and opened it to find Justin Shields standing there. With him was his mother.

Seeing Mrs. Shields, Anne Shields said, "Auntie Shields, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see your mother," Mrs. Shields said.

"I don’t think my mother wants to see you," Anne Sutton said coldly.

Hearing Anne Sutton’s words, Mrs. Shields looked at her, seeming to want to say something but then holding it back.

"Anne," Justin Shields said, "we called your mother before we came."

Anne Sutton glanced at Justin Shields. Just then, Mrs. Sutton came downstairs. "Anne, let them in."

Realizing it was her mother’s wish, Anne Sutton stepped aside and let them in.

Once inside, Justin Shields and Mrs. Shields sat down.

Mrs. Shields had also brought some snacks for Mrs. Sutton.

She looked at Mrs. Sutton and asked, "Are you feeling any better?"

Mrs. Sutton nodded. "Yes, much better."

"That’s good," Mrs. Shields said. "I heard you got divorced."

Anne Sutton stood to one side, her expression darkening as she watched Mrs. Shields defensively, terrified she would say something inappropriate in front of her mother.

But it seemed her vigilance was in vain.

The divorce had been heartbreaking for her mother, and Mrs. Shields’s question was, without a doubt, rubbing salt in the wound.