Charles Prescott said, "Thanks to the Dean and everyone's hard work, he's stable. It's just... my uncle's condition is what it is. We can only take it one day at a time."
Dean Walters said, "We're all hoping he gets better soon."
Anne Sutton sat to one side, listening as Dean Walters and Charles Prescott discussed Nathan Fawcett. Even though she was now Nathan Fawcett's wife, she couldn't get a word in edgewise about the Fawcett family's affairs.
...
At the Fawcett residence, all the lights were on.
Nathan Fawcett sat in the dining room, staring at the dishes on the table. They had been meticulously prepared by the head chef and looked exquisite, but...
He picked up his chopsticks, took a single bite, and immediately spat it out before setting his chopsticks down.
The head chef was terrified. He had made a point to study Anne Sutton's cooking, but it was clear his food just wasn't the same.
Nathan Fawcett couldn't stomach it at all.
Seeing Nathan Fawcett's foul expression, the butler said worriedly, "Sir, perhaps you could just make do and eat a little?"
"Make do?" Nathan Fawcett said coldly. "Why don't *you* try making do?"
He couldn't taste anything at all.
Eating the head chef's food was like chewing cardboard.
The butler felt helpless watching him lose his temper.
To be safe, he had tasted the dishes earlier. To him, they were a world-class delicacy—after all, they had gone to great lengths to hire this chef.
But who would have thought...
Nathan Fawcett had taken only one bite before his face twisted into a pained grimace.
Nathan Fawcett asked impatiently, "Where is Anne Sutton? It's only been a few days since her family's business was settled, and she's already throwing a tantrum, is that it?"
'She promised she would cook for me!'
'And now she's not even here!'
Unable to eat her food, Nathan Fawcett felt an overwhelming agitation, even the urge to smash something.
The butler explained, "No, Sir. Madam said she has to work overtime tonight."
"Call her and tell her to come back!" Nathan Fawcett ordered. "Work? Does she need to work? Can't I provide for her?"
'So she has time for work!'
'But what about me?'
'How many months do I have left?'
'If I can't even eat her food now, I'm going to die soon!'
'And she dares to abandon me for her job.'
Fearing Nathan Fawcett's wrath, the butler quickly said, "I'll call her right away!"
With that, he called Anne Sutton.
Anne Sutton was in the middle of listening to Charles Prescott and the dean speak when she saw the call from the butler. She answered, whispering, "Hello?"
The butler asked, "Madam, when are you coming back? Mr. Fawcett is furious! He wants you to return immediately."
Anne Sutton glanced at Dean Walters, then at Director Shepherd, and whispered, "I have to go now."
Hearing this, Director Shepherd said, "I know you don't want to see him right now, but our guests haven't left, and the Dean is still here. How can you just leave? Wait a little longer."
"I really have something urgent." 'The truth was, she was desperate for an excuse to leave.'
'Anything to avoid sitting here and letting Charles Prescott humiliate her!'
Even though he was just discussing Nathan Fawcett's condition with the dean, for Anne Sutton, simply sharing a meal with Charles Prescott and Sylvia Warren was an ordeal.
Director Shepherd said, "Then you should tell the Dean yourself."
Anne Sutton stood up. "Dean Walters, something's come up, so I have to leave now. Please, enjoy your meal."
The dean's eyes landed on her. "You're leaving now? We'll be done and on our way shortly."
"But I really can't wait." Anne Sutton glanced at Charles Prescott and added, "Mr. Prescott, Miss Warren, please enjoy the rest of your meal."
Seeing she was about to get her way, Charles Prescott wasn't about to let her leave. "Stop," he said.
His voice was quiet, but it carried an undeniable authority.
As long as he was sitting there, she couldn't leave without his permission.
There was nothing she could do. In this private room, he was the man at the top of the food chain.
Charles Prescott said, "What's this? Your dean is still here, and you think you can just walk out? Anne Sutton, if I hadn't put in a word for you with the dean, do you think you'd be where you are today? If you leave now, just see if the hospital will even let you stay."
Hearing this, Anne Sutton felt a surge of indignation. "Charles Prescott, what is your problem? Do you really have to treat me this way?"
Charles Prescott said, "It's what you get for not listening. Sit down."
He remained seated, exuding a condescending aura as he gave a cold, aloof glance toward her empty chair.
Anne Sutton looked at him and said, "Fine."
She sat back down, picked up her phone, and sent a message to the butler.
As much as she wanted to go back, she couldn't get away. Charles Prescott was dead set on tormenting her.
The butler received the message and relayed it to Nathan Fawcett. "Sir, Ms. Sutton says she can't get away. She's at a dinner with her superiors."
"Superiors?" Nathan Fawcett looked at the butler. "Who are her superiors?"
"Ms. Sutton works at First Hospital. Her superior... would be Dean Walters."
...
Anne Sutton sat in her seat, resigned to her fate. 'So what if I have to see this dinner through to the end?'
'I'll just see what other tricks Charles Prescott has up his sleeve.'
Two minutes later, Dean Walters' phone rang. He answered it, and upon hearing who was on the line, his tone immediately grew serious. "Yes, of course. I'll have her come back right away!"
He hung up and looked at Anne Sutton, then turned to Charles Prescott. "That was from Mr. Fawcett's people. They're asking for Sutton to return. Mr. Prescott, what do you think?"
After all, Charles Prescott had always been the one to handle communications regarding Nathan Fawcett's affairs.
Nathan Fawcett rarely made public appearances, so Charles Prescott acted as his mouthpiece.
Charles Prescott frowned. "How did he know we were eating together?"
Then he looked at Anne Sutton, who had been on her phone, and it dawned on him. "I'm surprised. My uncle really dotes on you. You certainly have your ways, getting him to meddle in your affairs."
He'd only asked Anne Sutton to work a little overtime, yet Nathan Fawcett had personally sent someone to call and demand her release. This wasn't like Nathan Fawcett at all.
Seeing Charles Prescott's reaction, Anne Sutton didn't jump to her feet. Instead, she remained in her seat, perfectly composed. "What's this? You want me to leave now? You're not going to force me to stay for dinner anymore?"
Charles Prescott said, "Dinner's over. Let's go. I'll take you home, it's on my way."
Anne Sutton looked at him, then at Dean Walters and Director Shepherd, and stood up. "In that case, I'll be leaving."
Dean Walters and Director Shepherd were confused. Anne Sutton's relationship with Charles Prescott was clearly terrible, so what exactly was her relationship with Nathan Fawcett?
They weren't fools; it was obvious whose status was higher between Charles Prescott and Nathan Fawcett.
Since Nathan Fawcett was Anne Sutton's backer, they couldn't afford to make things too difficult for her.
Anne Sutton walked out the door, with Charles Prescott right behind her. Sylvia Warren trailed after them, glaring at Anne Sutton with barely concealed anger.
'I had wanted to give Anne a good dose of humiliation, but who would have thought Nathan Fawcett would stick up for her!'