Chapter 329: One Day He Will Understand

"Okay."

Anne Sutton had the housekeeper pack it up. After dinner, she had Nathan Fawcett deliver it to Anna Linden.

Anna Linden had just returned from the hospital. Seeing the cold, empty house was making her irritable, and just then, Nathan Fawcett walked in.

Seeing that he no longer treated this place like home and acted like a guest every time he came over, Anna Linden asked, "What are you doing here?"

Nathan Fawcett said, "Anne made you something to eat and asked me to bring it over."

Hearing this, Anna Linden scoffed. "Are you kidding? Do I not have food?"

Nathan Fawcett looked at his mother and said, "It’s fine if you don’t eat it. I’ll leave it here for you, and you can have it whenever you want. I’m going to get a bowl. Anne asked me to bring our bowl back."

He went to the kitchen himself, retrieved a bowl, and poured out the soup and other dishes Anne Sutton had made for Anna Linden.

Anna Linden sat to one side, watching Nathan Fawcett. "Did Anne Sutton really send you to bring this to me?"

Nathan Fawcett said, "She said she noticed your appetite hasn’t been good lately, so she made this specially for you. It smells quite fragrant."

As he poured the soup, the aroma wafted out.

Anna Linden glanced at Nathan Fawcett, reached for the bowl, and took a sip of the soup.

It was true; her appetite hadn’t been good lately.

She had even tried some medication, but it hadn’t helped.

Now, tasting Anne Sutton’s soup, she found it quite palatable.

She looked at Nathan Fawcett. "Why the sudden thought to make food for me?"

"Anne’s a good person."

"Good?" Anna Linden retorted. "From the moment you brought her here, all she’s done is infuriate me! And now she’s managed to steal you away too."

Hearing his mother’s words, Nathan Fawcett said, "You never really wanted to see me around the house anyway, did you, Mother?"

Anna Linden stared at Nathan Fawcett. "When did I ever say I didn’t want to see you?"

Nathan Fawcett replied, "You know the truth in your own heart."

Anna Linden said, "What, I can’t even say a few words to you now? It’s always you, doing things that just make me furious! Now look, you’ve even driven Stella away! After you drove her off, there’s not a single soul left in this house! And Anne Sutton’s just wonderful, isn’t she? She’s stolen both you and Ian. When you were gone before, at least I had someone to talk to."

Listening to Anna Linden’s complaints, Nathan Fawcett said, "In that case, I won’t go back tonight. I’ll stay here and keep you company."

His mother’s words made him realize that sending Stella Shields away had indeed been rather unkind of him.

Anna Linden heard him and looked at him. "You’re not going to keep your wife company?"

She knew he was completely smitten with Anne Sutton.

Whatever Anne Sutton said, he did.

Nathan Fawcett said, "Not tonight."

Anna Linden glanced at him. Nathan Fawcett sat beside her, watching her eat.

Anne Sutton was an excellent cook.

It wasn’t just Nathan Fawcett and Ian who liked her food; it was clear Anna Linden did too.

Anna Linden said, "By the way, why did Anne Sutton bring her mother here?"

"Her mother is divorced," Nathan Fawcett said. "Her father had an affair, had an illegitimate son, and even brought the child home. So... they divorced. It was all finalized recently."

At the mention of an affair, Anna Linden’s face darkened.

The way she treated Nathan Fawcett... it was all because of his father.

The thought that she had borne that man two children while he ran wild outside was something Anna Linden could never forgive.

Seeing his mother’s silence, Nathan Fawcett said, "Mom, Dad has been gone for a long time. Don’t dwell on the past anymore! The future is what matters. He can’t hurt your life any longer!"

Anna Linden was clearly displeased, her tone turning passive-aggressive. "Taking his side now, are we?"

"Of course not," Nathan Fawcett said. "He’s gone. What would be the point in me defending him? I’m just worried about you."

"What is there to worry about?" Anna Linden said. "I was thrilled when I heard he’d died. If it weren’t for him, my life wouldn’t be like this."

Even though they were divorced, the memory of his betrayal still filled her with hate.

She had believed in love only that one time, when she was young, only for reality to prove that her faith had been a complete joke.

Nathan Fawcett listened to his mother but didn’t reply.

Anna Linden had eaten most of her food. She said to a servant, "I’m full. You can clear the bowl."

Nathan Fawcett asked, "Are you going to rest now?"

Anna Linden glanced at him. "What, hoping to sneak off to see Anne Sutton once I’m resting?"

Nathan Fawcett said, "That’s not what I meant."

Anna Linden said, "Just go find her. There’s no point in you staying here. I can see you’re desperate to go to her. Just know that one day, you’ll end up like me and discover that no matter how much you love someone, it’s all just a joke!"

She had been in love when she was young, so she understood that feeling of constantly yearning to see the other person.

So, of course, she could understand Nathan Fawcett now.

She didn’t want to force him to stay, either.

Sooner or later, he would understand that emotion is the most unreliable thing in this world.

Nathan Fawcett said, "I already told you I’d stay and keep you company! I already told her."

Anna Linden said, "There’s no need. I have a meeting now, and by the time it’s over, it will be past midnight. I’ll go straight to sleep. You don’t have to worry about me being angry. In any case, I’m the one who consented to you being with Anne Sutton."

’On account of her making me a meal!’

Having eaten the food she made, Anna Linden felt it would be improper to keep giving him a hard time.

Hearing his mother’s words, Nathan Fawcett said, "Thanks, Mom."

Anna Linden glanced at his happy face. He was trying to restrain himself, but the joy in his eyes was impossible to hide.

She sighed and went upstairs.

Nathan Fawcett drove back to Anne Sutton’s place.

He had been in a rush on his way over, intent on completing his task and heading right back, but now he suddenly found himself slowing down.

He wasn’t sure why, but he was suddenly struck by the thought that he was a man with a wife and child. His hurry dissipated, replaced by the feeling that safety was more important than anything else.

Mrs. Sutton was already back and had finished her dinner at the house.

She’d had a busy day, so Anne Sutton was helping her to her room to rest.

When Anne came out, she was getting ready for bed herself.

Nathan Fawcett had messaged her to say he would be sleeping at the Linden family estate and wouldn’t be coming back tonight, so she wasn’t planning to wait up for him.

But as soon as she stepped out of her mother’s room, she saw Nathan Fawcett coming up the stairs.

Seeing him, Anne Sutton was surprised. "Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back?"

"My mom sent me back," Nathan Fawcett said, looking at her. "What’s wrong? You look surprised. Not happy to see me?"

Anne Sutton replied, "It’s so late, you should have just slept there. Why rush all the way back? I was just thinking I’d finally get a good night’s sleep tonight."

"You don’t mean that," Nathan Fawcett said, following her toward their room. "I don’t believe for a second you’d be happy with me not coming back."

"Why wouldn’t I be happy?" Anne Sutton said. "I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in two days. You wear me out."

Nathan Fawcett glanced at her. "Then I’ll leave you alone tonight."

"Really?" She looked at him skeptically.

Nathan Fawcett nodded. "Really."

Hearing this, Anne Sutton finally broke into a smile. "Okay, then!"

"Is Ian asleep?" Nathan Fawcett asked.

"He is," Anne Sutton nodded.

Ian was already fast asleep.

After all, Nathan Fawcett had spent a long time keeping his mother company, and the drive back had taken a while.