Chapter 480: She Knows the Score

"Whether she did or not," Nathan said, "I don’t want to see her again."

Anna Linden looked at Nathan and said, "You’re not wrong to feel that way. Since you’ve committed to someone, you should keep your distance from other women."

This was a quality Anna Linden quite liked about him.

She used to think he only avoided other women because of his health.

But now she realized...

Even now that he was healthy, he hadn’t sought out other women and remained completely devoted to Anne.

In that respect, he was unlike his father.

"I’m glad you understand, Mother," Nathan said.

"Does Anne know about this?"

"I haven’t told her," Nathan said. "I’m hoping I’m just overthinking things. I don’t want her to be hurt by something like this."

"Alright, I understand. Let’s leave it at that," Anna Linden said. "Anne said she’s staying with her mother for a couple of days, so you probably won’t be able to see her."

"I know," Nathan said.

’She must think I pushed Sharon today. She’s probably holding it against me right now!’

Remembering how she’d gotten angry with him before leaving, Nathan felt a little frustrated.

He went upstairs and saw Ian video-chatting with Anne.

Ian was mimicking his tone, saying, "Don’t let her come to the house anymore. I get annoyed just seeing her."

He was perfectly mimicking how Nathan had told off Sharon downstairs just moments before.

"Did your dad really talk to your aunt that way?" Anne asked.

Ian nodded. "Uh-huh. I don’t know what’s gotten into Daddy!"

Hearing this, Nathan felt a vein throb in his temple. He walked in and looked at Ian. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

When Ian saw Nathan come in, he quickly clapped his small hands over his mouth.

’Busted!’

Nathan picked up the phone, looked at Anne, and said, "Anne, it’s not what Ian said."

"Then what is it?" Anne stared at him.

Nathan looked at her, mentally debating how to explain it.

Seeing his hesitation, Anne said, "Forget it. Go on with your work. I’m getting ready for bed."

With that, Anne hung up.

She held her phone, her brow furrowing as she stared at the ’call ended’ screen.

She wasn’t a fool. Something had definitely happened today, but neither of them was talking, and Ian couldn’t explain it clearly.

Nathan’s hesitation, his unwillingness to talk to her, made Anne uneasy.

She decided not to argue with him about it.

Not long after she hung up, Sharon returned.

She had brought Anne’s things with her.

Anne took them. Inside were her laptop, some things she needed for work, and her handbag.

She took the items and said to Sharon, "Thank you. I appreciate you going to the trouble."

"It was no trouble," Sharon said. "But... Nathan told me not to go to the Linden family home anymore."

After she spoke, she lowered her head, looking quite aggrieved.

"Don’t hold it against him," Anne said. "Just let him say what he wants. That’s just how he is; he has a bad temper."

Sharon looked at Anne and said, "You really are protective of him, Sis."

"..." Anne looked at Sharon and changed the subject. "Have you tried any of the pastries Mom made? They’re delicious."

"I’m on a diet, so I haven’t had any."

"You’ve already lost so much weight, but you’re still dieting."

She had gained some weight during her pregnancy.

And she’d been dieting ever since.

"You’re one to talk!" Sharon said. "Look how skinny you are. I’m so much heavier than you."

She sized up Anne, realizing how great her figure truly was. Then she looked at herself, who was a whole size bigger...

She remembered when she was eighteen, she had been just as slim and beautiful as Anne was now. Suddenly, she regretted not getting together with Nathan back then.

’If she had been the one to appear before Nathan back then, he wouldn’t treat her like this today. His heart wouldn’t belong only to Anne.’

’After all, Anne had already slept with Charles Prescott back then.’

’She was no longer "pure," yet she still got to be with Nathan!’

Thinking about how Anne was now the Chairwoman of the Fawcett Group, and how Nathan doted on her so much, Sharon was truly envious.

’She realized now that she must have been blind when she was younger.’

’How on earth did she end up falling for David Hayes of all people?’

"What are you staring at me for?" Noticing her sister’s persistent gaze, Anne pushed the plate of pastries in front of her.

Sharon smiled. "You’re just so beautiful, Sis. No wonder Nathan likes you so much."

"..."

Anne said, "What’s this, are you thinking about dating again? I could ask Nathan to see if he has any eligible friends he could introduce you to."

"Forget it," Sharon said. "Men are unreliable. Besides, who would be interested in me in my current state?"

Mrs. Sutton came over and said to Anne, "Anne, if you two are tired, go ahead and take Sharon home. I still need to balance the books; some of the accounts aren’t quite clear."

"Alright," Anne said. "But don’t work yourself too hard, Mom. It’s a lot."

Mrs. Sutton nodded. "I will."

Anne packed up the pastries and led Sharon out the door.

The two of them hailed a taxi to go home.

In the car, Anne ate some of the pastries while watching Sharon.

Sharon stared out the window, not looking back at her.

’Her sister was so dazzling now. It made her heart ache to look at her, made her jealous...’

’The more radiant and captivating Anne was, the more it made her own life seem wretched and pathetic.’

Anne looked at her and said, "Sharon."

Sharon turned and glanced at Anne. "Hm?"

"What happened between you and David Hayes is in the past," Anne said. "You’ll meet a really great guy in the future. Don’t lose heart, okay?"

Hearing Anne’s words, Sharon laughed bitterly. "I won’t."

"Don’t be so pessimistic."

"There’s only one Nathan Fawcett in this world. Not every man is as exceptional as him, and willing to overlook the fact that a woman has been married before."

When Anne heard this, she frowned and said nothing more.

’She couldn’t help but feel that Sharon’s words today were all aimed at her.’

’Basically, Sharon was unhappy that she was with Nathan!’

’Perhaps Nathan had done something to set her off!’

After that, Anne didn’t say anything else to her.

’She had a temper, too, after all.’

When they got home, she went straight upstairs to her room.

...

Anne lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She had to admit, she couldn’t stand Sharon’s self-pitying act.

’It wasn’t her fault Sharon had ended up this way!’

Even though she had gone through similar struggles herself, seeing her sister like this still infuriated Anne.

She opened her phone and saw Nathan had sent her a message. It was a cute sticker with the text, "Asleep?"

"..." He rarely used stickers in his texts. Seeing this one, which so obviously didn’t match his usual vibe, Anne couldn’t help but smile.

She picked up her phone and replied, "Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

Nathan wrote back, "It’s really not what Ian said. Anne, you’re the only one for me. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life treating you well! Please don’t be angry with me. Ian’s just a little kid; he doesn’t understand anything."