Chapter 367: They’ve Known Each Other Since Childhood

Nathan Fawcett and Anne Sutton sat down.

Anna Linden looked at Nathan Fawcett and said, "How are things at the Fawcett Group?"

Nathan Fawcett said, "They’re fine."

He had only gone to assess the situation this time.

But in Anna Linden’s eyes, it seemed he had already thrown himself back into the Fawcett Group.

Anna Linden looked at Nathan Fawcett’s calm expression and said, "If you regret it and want to come back, just admit you were wrong to me, and I can still let you return to the Linden Group."

Hearing Anna Linden’s words, Nathan Fawcett looked at his mother and said, "Thank you for the kind offer, Mother, but I’m doing fine now. There’s nothing wrong with staying at the Fawcett Group. Let someone more suitable take over the Linden Group."

Anna Linden looked at Nathan’s unyielding expression. She had wanted him to come back, and she’d offered him an out, but he refused to take it.

She wasn’t one to beg.

She said, "Then suit yourself! If you think things are better with your father, then go be with him. You truly don’t deserve anything from the Linden Family."

Nathan Fawcett’s lips curved into a slight smile; he didn’t care what Anna Linden said about him.

Ian sat to the side, picked up a cherry tomato, and started eating it.

Anna Linden looked at him and said, "Ian, you haven’t been home in a long time. Why don’t you come back with Grandma?"

’She couldn’t count on Nathan Fawcett anymore.’

’But Ian was so obedient; perhaps she could still count on him.’

’If she had the chance in the future, she hoped she could have Ian inherit everything from the Linden family!’

Hearing Anna Linden’s words, Ian said, "Then are my mommy and daddy going too?"

Anna Linden glanced at Nathan Fawcett and Anne Sutton.

Anne Sutton said, "I can’t go. I have to go to the hospital tomorrow."

Nathan Fawcett said, "I just came back for a visit. I have to make a trip to Westhaven later, so I won’t be going back."

Ian said, "Then I’m not going either! I’ll go see Grandma next time!"

Anna Linden looked at Ian. He had lived with the Linden family since birth.

Now, after being with Nathan Fawcett and Anne Sutton, he didn’t even want to come home anymore.

’She didn’t know how things had ended up this way!’

’Things used to be so lively. But somewhere along the way, it seemed she had been left all alone.’

...

After dinner, as they were leaving, Anna Linden looked a little upset. Anne Sutton looked at her and asked, "Dr. Linden, are you alright? Should I have Nathan Fawcett drive you home?"

"Do I need him to drive me?" Anna Linden glanced at Anne Sutton and said, "I don’t need a ride from him. Don’t worry about me. I’m leaving."

After speaking, she got directly into the car waiting at the entrance.

Anne Sutton watched her leave before turning back to glance at Nathan Fawcett. "I get the feeling your mother is a little upset," she said.

"She’ll be upset as long as I fail to be a good Ethan Linden. I’m used to it." Nathan Fawcett held Anne Sutton’s hand and said, "Should we wait for your mom and go back together?"

"Okay."

Anne Sutton and Nathan Fawcett waited in the restaurant for Mrs. Sutton to get off work before heading back together.

After all this time, the restaurant was really taking shape.

Mrs. Sutton no longer had to stay until very late every day like before; she could leave earlier.

...

In the car, Nathan Fawcett was driving.

Anne Sutton sat in the passenger seat and asked, "Oh, right, did you bring those things back for Sharon like I asked?"

"I had someone give them to her."

"How is she?" Anne Sutton asked curiously.

Nathan Fawcett said, "She seems to be doing okay."

"Is David Hayes causing any trouble at the company?"

"What trouble could he cause?" Nathan Fawcett said. "I saw him once. He called me ’Brother-in-law,’ and that was it."

"That’s good," Anne Sutton said. "I was a little worried that promoting him would cause some kind of trouble."

"Don’t worry," Nathan Fawcett said. "It’ll be fine. He can’t affect anything."

...

David Hayes came home very late today. Sharon Sutton was at home waiting for him.

Ever since his promotion, he had gotten busier and busier at work, coming home very late every day.

Mrs. Hayes came out and, seeing Sharon Sutton still sitting on the sofa, asked, "David isn’t back yet?"

Sharon Sutton nodded. "No."

"He’s been coming back later and later. It’s really tough, working so hard to support the family." At this point, she glanced at Sharon Sutton and said, "You should go to bed."

Sharon Sutton said, "It’s fine. I’ll wait for him."

She was used to waiting for him to come back before she went to sleep.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Mrs. Hayes said, "That must be him. I’ll get the door."

She stood up, walked to the door, and saw David Hayes being helped in by someone.

He reeked of alcohol.

"Hello, Auntie Hayes!" The speaker was a girl with a delicate voice.

The voice sounded a little familiar.

Mrs. Hayes said, "Hello. What’s wrong with David?"

"David drank too much, so I brought him home."

The girl and Mrs. Hayes helped David Hayes inside. As soon as he was in, he collapsed onto the sofa.

Sharon Sutton saw the girl’s face. ’Lucy Todd?’

It was the other woman from their past—the one who had gotten pregnant with David’s child.

Sharon Sutton stood up.

Mrs. Hayes looked at her son and asked, "Why did he drink so much?"

Lucy Todd said, "He had a business dinner today and drank too much. I had no choice but to bring him home."

Mrs. Hayes said, "Thank you, Lucy."

Lucy Todd and David Hayes were more or less childhood sweethearts. They were from the same town, so she knew Mrs. Hayes as well.

Later, when he got together with Sharon Sutton, he lost contact with Lucy Todd.

However, Lucy Todd still kept in touch with the Hayes family.

Lucy Todd glanced at Sharon Sutton, then said to Mrs. Hayes, "Well, I should be going now."

"Why don’t you stay the night!" Mrs. Hayes said. "It’s so late, and it’s not convenient for a girl like you to go back alone."

"Is that really alright?"

"What’s not alright about it?" Mrs. Hayes said. "It’s not like you haven’t stayed at Auntie’s house before. We know each other so well."

Mrs. Hayes said, "You can sleep in my room, with me."

Sharon Sutton said, "I won’t allow it."

Mrs. Hayes glanced at Sharon Sutton, her expression darkening. "What are you talking about? Why aren’t you in bed yet? Didn’t I tell you to go to sleep?"

Sharon Sutton’s gaze was fixed on Lucy Todd. "I do not agree to let this woman stay in our house. This is my home."

"Your home?" Mrs. Hayes said. "Sharon Sutton, don’t be so shameless! How is this your home? My son earned the money to buy this house, and he’s the one paying the mortgage. Have you contributed anything at all to this family?"

"..." Sharon Sutton looked at Mrs. Hayes and said, "What did you say?"

Mrs. Hayes said, "It’s the truth. Look at David, out so late for a business dinner, and he comes back this drunk. Can you help him with any of that? Lucy was kind enough to bring him home. It’s so late, and she’s a young woman all by herself. I’m just letting her stay one night in my room, with me. What’s your problem with that? I practically raised Lucy."

"Just because you watched her grow up, she gets to stay in my house?" Sharon Sutton said. "She was a mistress before, she was pregnant with David Hayes’s child, and now you want to let her stay in my home? Don’t you find that disgusting?"

"Mistress? What mistress?" Mrs. Hayes glared at Sharon Sutton. "How can you say something so nasty? Those two have known each other since they were kids! If you hadn’t interfered, they would have been married long ago."