Nathan Fawcett hadn't eaten anything this delicious in ages, and his mood improved considerably. It had been a long while since he'd eaten a full meal.
Just then, Anne Sutton's phone rang.
Anne Sutton picked up her phone and glanced at the screen. It was a call from her father. Not wanting to disturb Nathan Fawcett, she took her phone aside to answer it.
Her father's voice came through the phone. "Anne, Charles Prescott found out that you took Sharon's place at the Fawcett residence yesterday."
"Did he give you trouble?" Anne Sutton's heart sank.
'Charles Prescott just walked out yesterday. So that's his game? He's gone running to my family to make trouble?'
Sean Sutton said, "He previously promised to lend us some money to get by, but today he said the loan is off. He said he'll only do it if you go to him."
...
Hearing this, Anne Sutton knew Charles Prescott was targeting her. 'Does he think he can always use the Sutton family's problems to control me?'
'Maybe he thinks there's still a chance for us?'
'Or maybe he thinks me being with Nathan Fawcett is just a petty tantrum, and that I'll eventually go back to him?'
'No!'
'I'm never going back!'
She reassured her father, "I'll figure something out. I'll let you know as soon as I have an update."
After hanging up, Anne Sutton returned to the dining room. She saw that Nathan Fawcett was nearly finished with the food.
She hadn't made much, just enough for the two of them—one portion for her and one for him. But as it turned out, he'd eaten her share too.
She sat down and asked, "So, are you satisfied with my cooking, Mr. Fawcett?"
Nathan Fawcett glanced at her and replied coolly, "It was just okay."
...
'This guy...'
'His actions made it perfectly clear how much he liked my food, yet he stubbornly refuses to admit it!'
Anne Sutton said, "Well, if you liked it, I can go buy some more ingredients and cook for you again tonight. But if you weren't satisfied, then we can just forget it!"
"He's satisfied, very satisfied!" Before Nathan Fawcett could speak, the butler eagerly answered for him. "We'll have to trouble you tonight then, Ms. Sutton."
'He'd known Anne Sutton was Charles Prescott's fiancée, but he had no idea she could cook so well.'
'Mr. Fawcett hasn't eaten this much in a very long time!'
Nathan Fawcett looked at Anne Sutton. "Out with it. What are you after, being so attentive?"
'Anne Sutton was just wondering how to bring it up, and he actually asked her first?'
She cleared her throat. "I can't hide anything from you, can I, Mr. Fawcett?"
The corners of Nathan Fawcett's mouth lifted in a sneer. He could see the calculations in her eyes.
'But he found he didn't actually mind this side of her.'
Anne Sutton rubbed the tip of her nose. "Well, it's like this. My dad's company is having some cash flow problems. Originally, Charles Prescott had promised to lend him some money to get through it, but... because I was the one who came yesterday instead of Sharon, he's furious and has backed out of the deal. And since I'm with you now, I can't go back to him, so..."
'She had come to Nathan Fawcett precisely because she didn't want to have to live by Charles Prescott's whims anymore.'
'Now, going to Charles was completely out of the question!'
The butler looked at Anne Sutton and said, "Mr. Fawcett isn't in good health. Matters like these are handled by Mr. Prescott and his son."
Nathan Fawcett spoke, cutting the butler off. "Go tell my older brother to handle the Sutton family's situation."
Hearing this, the butler cursed himself for meddling. He nodded. "Of course."
Anne Sutton let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Uncle."
"Hmm?" Hearing her call him that, Nathan Fawcett looked over at her.
'She could call him anything else, but he really minded being called 'Uncle'.'
'After all, that's what Charles Prescott called him, and she was just following suit!'
'But she belonged to him now!'
'His own woman was calling him Uncle. Was she trying to mess with him on purpose?'
Anne Sutton looked at how hung up the man was on this. 'It was just a slip of the tongue.'
She looked at Nathan Fawcett, and with a sudden flash of inspiration, she grew bold. "Thank you, Hubby."
Nathan Fawcett: "???"
Seeing his surprised reaction, Anne Sutton said, "You don't like it? I'm yours now, so there's no problem with me calling you Hubby, is there?"
It wasn't as if Nathan Fawcett had just met her, but he'd never seen this side of Anne Sutton before.
A flicker of discomfort crossed his stern features, and then he fell silent.
'Anne Sutton stared at him. Was it her imagination, or did he seem... shy? Suddenly, he didn't seem so terrifying after all!'
...
The butler, standing nearby, chimed in. "By the way, Young Master, the Chairman says everyone is to have dinner together tonight."
Nathan Fawcett seemed to have finally found an opportunity to change the subject. He looked at Anne Sutton and said, "Get ready."
Anne Sutton asked, "You mean dinner with your father?"
Nathan Fawcett nodded. "Yes. You have a problem with that?"
'Even though she had come here of her own accord and had even been bold enough to make a move on Nathan Fawcett, it was only now dawning on Anne Sutton: how was she going to explain herself to the Fawcett family?'
'Especially since she had met Master Fawcett before—as Charles Prescott's fiancée!'
'They had been expecting Sharon, but she had shown up instead.'
'She could already picture the mortifying scene of meeting Master Fawcett.'
As if he could read her mind, Nathan Fawcett said, "What, are you scared?"
Although she was already having second thoughts, Anne Sutton would never admit it. She retorted, "What's there to be afraid of? I've got my husband with me, don't I?"
'He wouldn't just leave me to fend for myself... would he?'
It was as if Nathan Fawcett could read minds; he saw right through whatever Anne Sutton was thinking. "Don't think for a second I'll cover for you. I'm not one to meddle in other people's affairs."
"How is that meddling? I'm your wife! You can't just get out of bed and disown me."
...
Hearing this, Nathan Fawcett shot her a glare, stood up, and walked out.
Seeing him leave just like that, Anne Sutton looked to the butler. "Is Mr. Fawcett angry?"
"The doctor is coming soon to do a check-up," the butler explained. "Please get ready for dinner tonight."
Anne Sutton nodded. "Okay."
...
Dinner that evening was held in the main building of the Fawcett estate.
Anne Sutton followed Nathan Fawcett inside, and the first person she saw was Charles Prescott. He was sitting beside Master Fawcett, and the two of them were mid-conversation.
When he saw Anne Sutton walk in, his gaze locked onto her.
He had beautiful eyes, but right now, they were exceptionally cold—like a viper's, sending a chill down her spine.
'She remembered how she'd humiliated him in front of Nathan Fawcett last night. He had left, but he couldn't have been willing to let it go!'
'She wondered if he had said anything to Master Fawcett.'
Anne Sutton's heart began to pound with anxiety.
She glanced at Nathan Fawcett beside her. His health was poor, and he looked completely drained of energy.
Seeing him, Master Fawcett quickly said, "Nathan, come, sit down."