Chapter 338: What’s Wrong With Him?

Anne Sutton said, "Let’s all go eat together!"

’Caleb probably hasn’t eaten yet, judging by the look of him,’ she thought. ’We can’t just leave him to eat at home by himself!’

Caleb Summers was thrilled when Anne spoke up. "You’re the best! Ethan, see? She agreed."

He’d always just called her by her name before.

Now, hearing him call her his ’sister-in-law’ so readily, Nathan Fawcett didn’t feel quite as angry anymore.

’At least he’s got some sense.’

Nathan Fawcett said, "Alright, let’s go then."

The four of them headed out.

Caleb Summers drove, while Anne Sutton, Nathan Fawcett, and Ian—a family of three—sat in the back.

Caleb Summers looked at the family of three and said, "Great. I’m the chauffeur now!"

’I knew I shouldn’t have come!’

’They’ve got their whole family with them, and here I am, all alone!’

’How pathetic.’

Hearing Caleb, Nathan Fawcett said, "Consider it an honor."

"Who’d want an honor like this?"

As Caleb was grumbling, they arrived at Mrs. Sutton’s restaurant. Anne went to greet her mother first.

She was happy to see her mother’s business was doing better than ever. "Mom."

"You’re back?" Mrs. Sutton glanced at her. "You must be tired."

"I was craving your cooking."

Mrs. Sutton said, "Go on, order whatever you like."

Whenever Anne used to come home, her mother would make whatever she asked for, just like ordering at a restaurant.

’And now she really *was* ordering at a restaurant!’

Anne listed a few dishes, and Mrs. Sutton asked, "How many of you are there?"

"Me, Ethan, Caleb Summers, and Ian."

"Alright," Mrs. Sutton said. "Go find a table."

Anne found a table and sat down, and a waiter came over to pour them some water.

As she sat down, Caleb started to pour her some tea, but Nathan glanced over and took the teapot from him.

Caleb Summers: "..."

’Wow.’

’Nathan isn’t holding back at all when it comes to doting on his woman!’

Caleb sat beside him and asked Nathan, "So are you really planning on ignoring your mother from now on?"

Hearing Caleb’s question, Nathan replied, "I never said that."

"Ethan," Caleb urged, "you need to talk things out with your mother. Don’t be so stubborn. You have to understand, plenty of people would kill for what the Linden family has! Don’t throw away a life of luxury."

Nathan glanced at him. "What would you think if, one day, I left the Linden Group?"

At this, Caleb’s expression darkened. He stared at Nathan and said, "I’d hate your guts!"

’Even though... even though he really liked Anne.’

’But if Nathan really gave up everything he had now for her, he would genuinely come to hate him!’

’I put so much faith in him, how could he let love cloud his judgment like this?’

’So irresponsible?’

Nathan looked at him. "The Linden Group wouldn’t be affected, even without me."

"That is the most irresponsible thing you could possibly say!" Caleb shot back. "Forget it. I don’t want to talk to you anymore."

Just a moment ago, he’d been acting like Nathan’s loyal subordinate, and now he didn’t even want to speak to him!

’Because he truly despised people who let love rot their brains!’

Seeing that Caleb was angry, Nathan didn’t say anything more.

Anne sat by, listening as the two of them argued about something that involved her.

’It was clear that Caleb was genuinely angry.’

’Caleb was Nathan’s biggest supporter at work, so hearing him talk like this was incredibly upsetting.’

Anne glanced at Caleb, wanting to say something, but felt it would be awkward.

Before long, the food arrived.

Anne said, "Caleb, let’s eat!"

Caleb heard Anne and, after a glance in her direction, picked up his chopsticks.

Anne looked at him. For some reason, she thought he looked pitifully wronged.

She spoke up, turning to Nathan. "Actually, I think Caleb has a point. You should take things with the Linden Group more seriously. After all, so many people work at the company!"

’Honestly, if Nathan really did have a complete falling out with his mother over her and left the Linden Group, it wouldn’t just be Caleb—Anne herself would feel terrible.’

’After all...’

’If she had to choose between Nathan and her career, she would choose her career in a heartbeat.’

’Giving up your job and your future for a man was just foolish. With her mother’s life as a cautionary tale, she would never, ever make that kind of choice.’

’And she certainly didn’t want Nathan to do it, either!’

Hearing Anne side with Caleb, Nathan asked, "So you think I’m wrong, too?"

"That’s not what I meant," Anne said. "I just think you need to give it more thought."

Nathan looked at Anne. He was willing to give up anything for her.

"Anne Sutton, you’re heartless!"

He treated her so well, yet she was taking Caleb’s side. It was a stab to the heart.

Anne was speechless.

’How did she suddenly become the heartless one?’

’She just wanted him to be a little more rational!’

Nathan sat there, glanced at the table laden with food, and just then his phone rang. He stood up. "I’m going to step outside and take this."

And with that, he was gone.

Anne glanced at Caleb, who seemed just as surprised by Nathan’s behavior. "Why is he mad?"

’I’m the one who’s supposed to be angry!’

’But Nathan had the nerve to get angry first!’

’What, does he expect me to comfort him now?’

Anne said to Caleb, "I know what you’re thinking. You don’t want to see him give up everything the Linden family has to offer."

Caleb said to Anne, "I’m only thinking of his best interests because I consider him family. If you’re hoping he’ll give up everything from the Linden family just to prove his love for you, then I think you’re a terrible person. He’s already lost everything from the Fawcett family. If he gives up what he has now, what will he have left? When that time comes, I bet you won’t even give him a second glance. Men and women are the same; once you give up on yourself, no one will respect you. People are pragmatic, aren’t they?"

Anne said to Caleb, "I’ll talk to him when I get back. Let’s eat."

Caleb felt a little better hearing that Anne would try to talk some sense into Nathan.

’He was genuinely afraid that Nathan would make an irrational decision.’

Anne sat at the table, putting some food on Ian’s plate.

Nathan had gone to take his call and still hadn’t returned.

A few moments later, her phone rang. It was Nathan.

Anne glanced at the screen and answered, "Hello?"

"Something’s come up," Nathan said. "I had to leave."

"You’re not coming back to eat?" Anne asked.

"You guys go ahead," he said. "I’ve lost my appetite."

Without waiting for her to reply, he hung up.

Anne was speechless.

"What’s with him?" Caleb asked.

Anne said, "He said he’s not coming back to eat, that something came up. He can’t possibly be mad just because of what I said, can he? That would be so unfair! You know I was only saying it for his own good!"

Caleb looked at Anne and said, "He gets like that sometimes. Just chalk it up to bad luck."