"Support? Bullshit!" Sean Sutton said. "You're just too naive! I've spoiled you rotten! This is non-negotiable. Go home and think it over!"
After saying his piece, he stood up and walked out the door.
Anne Sutton sat in her chair. She had thought that after her falling out with Charles Prescott, her father would at least be on her side.
After all, her father knew how outrageous Charles Prescott had been.
But as it turned out...
It was only in her eyes that Charles Prescott was outrageous!
In her father's eyes, his affairs with other women, his mistress getting pregnant and taunting her—none of it mattered.
She had never been so disappointed in the world as she was right now!
'People really have no basic moral bottom line anymore!'
'Or maybe... I'm really just too naive?'
...
"Madam, you're back?" When she returned to Nathan Fawcett's home, the butler greeted her with particular warmth.
Anne Sutton looked exhausted. "Yes. I'm going to make dinner for Mr. Fawcett."
She had already accepted her new role as his cook.
The less her family understood, and the more Charles Prescott tried to use them to get to her, the more determined she was not to give up.
The only thing she could do was cling tightly to her lifeline, Nathan Fawcett.
The butler said, "Thank you for your trouble."
He felt a bit embarrassed always having Anne Sutton cook.
After all, there were servants to do these things.
But now, Nathan Fawcett would only eat what she made.
...
During dinner, Nathan Fawcett sat to one side, eating the food Anne Sutton had prepared. His stomach felt much more settled.
He looked up and saw Anne Sutton sitting there, her face grim, lost in thought.
He asked, "Are you that unhappy about making a meal? If you don't want to do it, then don't! You don't have to give me that sour look."
Anne Sutton, who had been brooding over her own problems, was startled by his words. "What? Of course not. I wasn't giving you a look."
"Then what's with the face?" Nathan Fawcett asked, puzzled, seeing her pursed lips and grim expression.
Anne Sutton said, "I'm just... not in a very good mood."
The thought that even her own parents didn't support her, that they thought it was wrong for her to oppose Charles Prescott, made Anne Sutton feel like she was about to fall apart.
She was even starting to doubt herself.
'Was I wrong?'
"What's wrong? Didn't you go home today? Did Charles Prescott not handle your family matters properly?" Nathan Fawcett asked icily.
Anne Sutton replied, "He handled it. With you putting in a word, how could he not?"
It was clear that Charles Prescott was still quite intimidated by Nathan Fawcett.
Even though Nathan Fawcett didn't involve himself in business affairs.
His father was still above him, after all, and he was the sole heir of the Fawcett Family.
"Then what are you upset about?"
Anne Sutton looked at the man and asked, "Do all rich men like to find lots of other women to satisfy their egos?"
"..." Nathan Fawcett looked at Anne Sutton when he heard her question. "Why would you say that?"
"Would you like to have a lot of women?" she asked, a little curious.
She had heard that before her, Nathan Fawcett had no women in his life.
Nathan Fawcett said, "No. One handful like you is more than enough. A lot of them? I don't have that much patience."
Hearing him call her a handful, Anne Sutton laughed in exasperation. "How am I a handful? I cook for you every day, how is that a handful? Can't you speak nicely? Stop with the personal attacks."
"..." Nathan Fawcett looked at her. "You're not a handful?"
"How am I a handful?" Anne Sutton asked. "But... if you were healthy, would you be like Charles Prescott and find lots of women on the side?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm allergic to women. Just looking at them annoys me." Other than Anne Sutton, he couldn't touch any other woman.
The touch of any other woman made him feel sick.
Nathan Fawcett found it strange himself.
Anne Sutton asked, "And if it weren't for that reason?"
Nathan Fawcett looked at her. "There are no 'ifs.' This is just who I am! What? Do you prefer Charles Prescott's type? If that's the case, I can't be like him."
"...Pfft!" Hearing his words, Anne Sutton burst out laughing.
'For some reason,' she thought, 'he's actually kind of cute.'
Everyone said Nathan Fawcett had a bad temper, so they were all afraid of him.
But because of that, he wasn't an equal-opportunity flirt like Charles Prescott, who would never turn away any woman who came on to him.
Seeing her laugh, Nathan Fawcett's expression darkened. "Is it that funny?"
"No," Anne Sutton said. "I just think... you're great just the way you are. Hubby! Actually, marrying you feels like I hit the jackpot."
"..." Nathan Fawcett stared at the woman. "You must be out of your mind."
Nathan Fawcett knew that Charles Prescott had many women. He was handsome, and women flocked to him wherever he went.
As for Nathan Fawcett, it wasn't that he was unattractive, but he looked so intimidating that no one dared to get close to him.
And no one wanted to get close to a dying man.
Who would have thought Anne Sutton would say that marrying him was like hitting the jackpot!
Anne Sutton sat in her seat. For some reason, after talking with Nathan Fawcett for a bit, she felt much better.
No matter what her father did, or what Charles Prescott did...
At least the man she was now married to wasn't that kind of person.
'Looks like there are still good men in the world after all,' she thought.
...
That night, when Anne Sutton came out of the shower, Nathan Fawcett was already there.
He was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching her, his expression rigid.
Today was her ovulation day. If she was with him now, it would increase her chances of getting pregnant.
However, Nathan Fawcett, sitting there, seemed uncomfortable.
Anne Sutton grew worried. "Are you all right? If you're not up to it, we can just skip tonight."
Because he looked to be in such poor health, she was always a little on edge whenever they were together.
'He's not going to just croak halfway through, is he?'
Nathan Fawcett braced himself and said, "I'm fine."
Hearing his words, Anne Sutton began to undress.
Seeing him staring at her, she felt a little uncomfortable. "Can you turn your head away?"
"Why?" Nathan Fawcett asked, looking at her with confusion.
"..." Such a clueless question left her speechless.
Anne Sutton could only carry on.
...
In the middle of the night, Anne Sutton woke up and rolled over. Her hand landed on something warm.
She froze for a moment before realizing that Nathan Fawcett was actually sleeping next to her.
The previous two nights, they had also been together.
But each time, after they were finished, Nathan Fawcett would leave the room.
She didn't know where he went to sleep.
She figured he probably found her too noisy.
Now fully awake, she opened her eyes and glanced at his sleeping face.
The man who usually seemed so ferocious and intimidating now looked very peaceful.
But... as she was staring at him, he suddenly opened his eyes and looked right at her.
They stared at each other for a few seconds before Anne Sutton, flustered, said, "You're awake?"
Nathan Fawcett asked, "What are you looking at?"