Chapter 403: I Don’t Object to You Marrying Her
’It’s like she’s put everyone in the family under some kind of spell!’
Butler Shepherd looked at Master Linden and said, "Then what are your thoughts, sir? I can see that Nathan is truly fond of her. If we force them apart, we’ll inevitably cause a scene just like last time."
"Last time," of course, referred to when Nathan Fawcett left the Linden Group.
They all knew that Anne Sutton was the cause of that incident.
For Anne Sutton, Nathan Fawcett had been willing to give up everything at the Linden Group. Master Linden was afraid of pushing his grandson too far.
In his view, matters concerning women were trivial. There was no need to ruin the relationship with his grandson over it.
After all, if he drove Nathan Fawcett away, it would be very difficult to find another successor so perfectly suited to his liking.
Master Linden said, "Go and get Anne Sutton."
Hearing Master Linden’s words, Butler Shepherd nodded. "Yes, sir."
Anne Sutton had already gone into the room and was sitting to the side, watching Ian and Donna play chess.
Seeing how intently Anne Sutton was watching, Ian asked, "Mama, do you want to play?"
Hearing him, Anne Sutton smiled. "You go ahead!"
Ian looked at her. "It’s okay! I’ll let you have a turn!"
With that, he immediately gave his seat to Anne Sutton.
Anne Sutton sat down and started a game of Gomoku with Donna. ’I don’t even know why I’m being so silly, getting so into a game with kids,’ she thought.
Just as she was getting into the game, Butler Shepherd came over. "Ms. Sutton, Master Linden has requested your presence."
Anne Sutton glanced up at Butler Shepherd. As Master Linden’s right-hand man, the butler held a high position in this household.
Even Nathan Fawcett usually had to show him some deference.
Anne Sutton said, "I’m busy."
Seeing her "busy" playing with a child, and so blatantly disrespecting Master Linden, Butler Shepherd said, "This is the Master’s order. Please don’t make things difficult for me."
’If I can’t even escort one person over, the Master is going to scold me later!’
Thus, Butler Shepherd’s tone became more polite.
Anne Sutton looked at him and said, "It’s precisely because I know it’s Master Linden calling that I don’t want to go! Can’t I just say no? I only came today for Dr. Linden’s birthday party. What, is he trying to use this as an opportunity to lecture me again? I’ll be leaving soon anyway!"
’This is so frustrating!’
Still, Anne Sutton grumbled as she stood up.
’Otherwise, with Butler Shepherd just standing here, I won’t be able to enjoy the game anyway.’
She wanted to see just what Master Linden wanted with her.
Anne Sutton followed Butler Shepherd to Master Linden’s room.
She walked in and saw Master Linden sitting and drinking tea. He looked at her as she entered.
Anne Sutton said, "Why did you call me here? I’m Dr. Linden’s guest today. If you want to kick me out, I’m afraid you’ll have to take it up with her."
"..." Seeing her speak to Master Linden like that, Butler Shepherd interjected, "Ms. Sutton, please watch your attitude. That’s no way to speak to the Master."
"This is how I talk, what about it?" Anne Sutton retorted. "I’m not planning to marry Nathan Fawcett anymore. Are you still trying to cause trouble for me? What, do you live in Vastmere, trying to manage everything?"
"..." Master Linden looked at her and said, "Sit."
"..." Anne Sutton sat down and let out a deep breath.
If she had a choice, she would never want to see Master Linden again for the rest of her life.
Master Linden looked at her disrespectful demeanor and asked, "You and Nathan, when do you plan to get married?"
"..." Anne Sutton suspected there was something wrong with her hearing. She stared at Master Linden and asked, "Married? What marriage? Wasn’t I clear enough just now? I’m not planning to marry Nathan Fawcett anymore! You don’t need to waste your energy on this! If you have so much time on your hands, why don’t you find a marriage candidate for Nathan Fawcett that you approve of and let them be together!"
Master Linden stared at Anne Sutton. "You don’t love our Nathan at all, and after he’s been so good to you."
"Ha?" Anne Sutton looked at him. "With an elder like you around, how could I dare to love him? After all, I’m such a worthless woman!"
Master Linden snorted. "I say a few words to you, and you’re ready to give up on him. You two will face many, many problems if you spend a lifetime together. Are you just going to give up on him at the first sign of trouble?"
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
’Something feels off about this!’
Anne Sutton didn’t want to discuss this with him.
She had already made up her mind: she would not marry into the Linden Family.
Not having to think about marriage was a huge relief, and she had been doing quite well lately.
Seeing Anne Sutton’s stubborn expression, Master Linden noted her genuinely bad temper. He knew Nathan Fawcett had a bad temper too, and he couldn’t imagine how his grandson put up with this woman.
Master Linden said to Anne Sutton, "From now on, you’ll raise Ian. I’m washing my hands of it."
"..." Hearing this, Anne Sutton looked at Master Linden. "Is that so?"
’I never expected to hear that!’
Master Linden said coolly, "You don’t actually think I want to meddle in your affairs, do you? I just wanted to see if you were sincere about marrying our Nathan. But from the looks of it, you have no sincerity toward him at all! That poor boy, falling for such a cold and heartless woman."
"So you’re saying this is all my fault?" Anne Sutton looked at the old man, who spoke so flippantly, and felt her anger rising just from talking to him.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Butler Shepherd went to open it. Seeing the person at the door, he was a little surprised. "Nathan."
Nathan Fawcett pushed past Butler Shepherd and walked in. Seeing Anne Sutton sitting there, he went to her side. He looked at Master Linden and said, "Grandfather, Anne came today for my mother’s birthday party. Why did you have to call her over here and give her a hard time?"
Nathan Fawcett’s tone was very serious as he said this.
He was usually very polite when speaking to his grandfather, but right now, he looked dead serious.
Butler Shepherd came over and said, "The Master wasn’t giving Ms. Sutton a hard time. He called her over simply to discuss matters concerning Ian."
"If it’s about Ian, Grandfather can just talk to me."
"..." Master Linden looked at Nathan Fawcett and said, "I just told her that from now on, she’ll raise the child, and I’ll stay out of it. Is that not allowed either?"
After hearing his grandfather’s words, Nathan Fawcett looked at Anne Sutton doubtfully. "Are you okay?"
He had heard from Ian that Anne Sutton had been summoned, so he rushed over to check.
He figured nothing good could come from his grandfather seeing Anne Sutton.
Anne Sutton said, "Your grandfather is right. He really didn’t give me a hard time, and he wasn’t lying just now."
Master Linden sat to the side and said to Nathan Fawcett, "Nathan, I know you like this woman. I’ve been thinking recently, she is indeed the one you’ve chosen, so as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. My health isn’t what it used to be, and I don’t really want to meddle in your affairs anymore. I only called her over today to tell her that I won’t oppose it if you two get married in the future. She is Ian’s mother. I have no intention of stopping her from marrying into the Linden Family!"