Chapter 393: It’s Your Honor
"You’re the one who left me!" Ian pouted, his voice full of hurt.
Anne Sutton said, "I didn’t! How could I ever leave you? I’ve just been busy the last couple of days."
"You *did* leave me! That’s what they all said!" Ian glanced at Lana Langley, who was sitting to the side, eating.
Anne turned and glared at Lana. "Lana, were you spouting nonsense in front of my son again?"
’This woman is going to be the death of me!’
’Looking at Lana, she was both pitiful and pathetic!’
Lana said, "I did no such thing! Don’t you dare accuse me!"
Anne pulled Ian into her arms. "Don’t listen to what other people say! Mommy has just been busy, I would never leave you."
Anne sat down with her son in her lap. Looking at him, she said, "Mommy just went upstairs to watch your lesson. My baby is so smart! You answered such a difficult question."
"...The teacher already went over it."
’Of course he could remember what the teacher had said. He wasn’t stupid.’
Anne smiled at him. "Come on, let’s go for a walk outside."
Lana piped up, "He has more classes soon!"
Anne glanced at Lana. "Is that so?"
Nathan Fawcett said, "Go on, take him for a walk. It’s fine. You haven’t seen him in days."
Hearing Nathan’s words, Anne took her son and went out.
She held Ian’s hand as they walked along the street outside. Anne looked at him and said, "Tell Mommy what you’ve been doing every day."
"Just lessons!" Ian said. "I don’t like them! It’s so tiring."
He had lessons before, but since he was so young, Anne and Nathan hadn’t scheduled very many for him.
Not like now...
Master Linden was a hard man. He had Ian’s schedule packed with lessons from morning till night.
Ian’s days used to be carefree, but now the pressure was suddenly immense. With Anne and Nathan gone, he was naturally miserable.
Ian looked at Anne. "Mommy, when can you take me home? I miss Grandma!"
Anne’s gaze fell on Ian. She knew that when he said "home," he meant her place.
She glanced at Nathan, who said to Ian, "You can go whenever you want."
Anne said, "Your grandfather won’t agree, will he? And aren’t the lessons he scheduled for Ian a bit much?"
Nathan said, "I’ll talk to him about it."
Anne looked at her son, then said to Nathan, "I know Ian is your son, and that your family has high expectations for him, but... he’s still so young! We don’t need to be in such a rush with his studies, do we?"
Anne hadn’t thought much of it before, but now... she felt...
Nathan’s grandfather was just far too strict with the boy.
After all, Ian was still so little. He wasn’t even old enough for proper school yet.
Nathan said, "I know. I’ll discuss it with him. Should we stay here tonight, or take Ian home? We could take him home for the night, and I can bring him back tomorrow."
"..." Anne looked at Ian, then said to Nathan, "Let’s just stay here tonight. I’d rather not upset your grandfather again."
Nathan reached out and took her hand. "Anne."
Anne looked at Nathan. "I’m fine. I know he means well."
Nathan said, "Then let’s stay here tonight. You have a couple of days off soon, don’t you? We can take him home then."
Hearing Nathan’s words, Anne nodded.
They strolled around outside for a while before heading back to the house.
Ian seemed much happier too.
The housekeeper had already prepared dinner.
Master Linden was sitting to one side, and Lana was sitting nearby with Donna. They watched as Anne’s family walked in from outside.
Lana said, "Where have you been? We called you for dinner ages ago."
Anne sat down and looked at Lana. "Where we went is none of your business, is it? You talk too much!"
"Anne Sutton," Lana said. "I’m still your sister-in-law. You should speak to me with a little more respect."
"Your husband beats you half to death, and you don’t make him treat you with respect. So why should I have to be respectful just because I said a few words to you?"
"You..." At the mention of Ryan Linden, Lana flushed with humiliation.
Anne watched her, noticing that after just two days of staying here, Lana’s attitude seemed to have gotten much more arrogant.
...
Master Linden, still sitting to the side, asked Nathan, "Did Ian miss his last two lessons today?"
Nathan replied, "We hadn’t seen him in days and wanted to take him for a walk. Grandfather, I don’t think it’s necessary to schedule so many lessons for Ian."
"Are you suggesting I’m not managing his schedule properly?" Master Linden retorted. "Your mother took the same kind of lessons. If I hadn’t raised her that way, do you think she would be as exceptional as she is today?"
Nathan said, "I know you mean well for Ian, but there’s really no need to rush things. Ian is still just a little boy..."
"He’s not a little boy anymore!" Master Linden snapped. "A child’s education must start young! If we don’t build a strong foundation now, he’ll just end up like your cousin Ryan—a complete failure of an adult!"
Lana: "..."
’She hadn’t expected the old man to suddenly drag Ryan into this!’
’He was her husband, after all. It was humiliating.’
Anne said, "I don’t expect Ian to become a genius. If the price of success is sacrificing all the joys of being a child, then I’d rather he just be an ordinary person."
Hearing Anne’s words, Master Linden turned to her. "Your parents must have raised you the same way, which is why you’re so painfully average. And look what you’ve taught Ian. I don’t say anything, and you think you’re doing a fine job?"
"..." Anne replied, "I don’t see anything wrong with how I’m raising Ian."
"By the time you realize your mistake, it will be too late!" Master Linden declared. "From now on, you will stay out of the boy’s affairs! I will teach him. I don’t need your help."
"Mr. Linden." Seeing how domineering he was, Anne’s anger flared. "I am only being polite to you out of respect for Nathan. Ian is miserable every single day. Look how upset he’s been these past few days with you! He was perfectly happy when he was with me! Ian is very bright; he’s a quick learner. He really doesn’t need you to schedule so many lessons for him. He’s just a child!"
"..." Master Linden looked at Anne. "If I left him in your care, you’d just raise him to be as useless as you are, wouldn’t you?"
"..." Hearing Master Linden call her useless, Anne froze.
Lana piped up, "Oh, Anne! Look at you, how can you be so ungrateful? Most children would beg for their great-uncle to teach them, and he wouldn’t even be willing! It’s an honor that he’s willing to mentor Ian! You’re just so unappreciative."