"So, you're angry because of this?" 'She's usually in a perfectly fine mood. What's gotten into her? So that's what this is all about!'
Sylvia Warren looked at Anne Sutton. "You can enjoy being smug for now. Once your backer is gone, we'll see who's there to protect you."
"What did you say?" It wasn't Anne Sutton who spoke.
It was the butler beside Nathan Fawcett.
Anne Sutton looked up and saw that Nathan Fawcett had returned at some point. The butler was standing right beside him.
When the butler heard Sylvia Warren bring up Nathan Fawcett while arguing with Anne Sutton—and in a tone that sounded like she couldn't wait for him to die—he couldn't help but speak up.
Sylvia Warren hadn't expected Nathan Fawcett and his butler to show up. Hearing the butler's accusation, her face went white with fear. "I didn't."
"You didn't?" the butler said. "Did you think I was deaf? I heard you loud and clear. What, do you have a problem with our Mr. Fawcett? Are you hoping he'll be 'gone' soon?"
"I didn't mean that," Sylvia Warren said.
She looked at Nathan Fawcett. "Uncle, I've always wished for you to live a long and healthy life. I didn't mean anything by it, please don't misunderstand."
The butler looked at Nathan Fawcett. "Sir, your orders?"
Nathan Fawcett shot Sylvia Warren a cold glance. "Seeing as she's pregnant, we'll forgive her."
Sylvia Warren was overjoyed to hear how generous he was being. "Thank you, Uncle."
"A few slaps to the face will do," Nathan Fawcett said. "No need to kill her."
Sylvia Warren was speechless.
At Nathan Fawcett's command, a servant walked up to Sylvia Warren and slapped her across the face several times.
Anne Sutton stood to one side, watching it all unfold. She saw Nathan Fawcett standing there, showing not a hint of pity as Sylvia Warren was being struck.
'Tsk…'
'No wonder everyone says he's a terrifying man.'
'So much for "forgiving her." In the end… he still had her slapped!'
After several slaps, Sylvia Warren's pretty little face was bright red. She cupped her cheeks as tears streamed down.
"Crying?" Nathan Fawcett said. "It seems you're still defiant. In that case, give her a few more!"
Sylvia Warren flinched at his words and immediately bit her lip.
The butler added from the side, "She hasn't even married into the family yet, and she's already bad-mouthing her elders. She certainly is bold."
At this point, Sylvia Warren didn't dare make a peep.
Anne Sutton watched the scene unfold. Seeing Sylvia covering her face, not even daring to cry, she walked over to Nathan Fawcett's side.
His punishment meted out, Nathan Fawcett's mood seemed to improve. "Let's go," he said.
With that, he headed for the house.
'But from the looks of it, he must have just gotten back from somewhere.'
Anne Sutton followed behind him, watching him. She realized he handled matters with extraordinary arrogance.
'He was nothing like Charles Prescott.'
'If it had been Charles, he would have never gone this far, if only to save face.'
'Nathan Fawcett must feel like he's dying, so he's just decided to throw caution to the wind, not caring about anything.'
...
As they neared the house, Anne Sutton finally spoke. "Husband, did you just get back?"
Nathan Fawcett ignored her, acting as if he hadn't heard a word.
The butler, however, spoke up. "Mr. Fawcett just returned from the hospital."
"For a check-up?" Anne Sutton asked. "I heard that at my hospital, the director and vice director personally oversee your care."
Since Anne Sutton worked in the obstetrics and gynecology department, she hardly ever saw Nathan Fawcett. Their specialties were, after all, completely different.
Nathan Fawcett walked through the door and sat down.
Anne Sutton watched him and said, "You just had Miss Warren beaten like that. Charles Prescott's heart is going to ache for her."
Nathan Fawcett rested his chin on his hand and looked at Anne Sutton. "His heart aches for her. Aren't you pleased?"
"Pleased? Says who?" Although she was ecstatic on the inside, Anne Sutton didn't let it show.
Seeing right through her act, Nathan Fawcett said coldly, "Stop pretending. You think I don't know what kind of person you are?"
'She was willing to come to him just to get revenge on Charles Prescott. He hardly thought Anne Sutton was some pushover.'
Since Nathan Fawcett had so ruthlessly called her out, Anne Sutton simply said, "Well then, thank you, Husband, for sticking up for me!"
...
That evening, just as Anne Sutton finished preparing dinner and was bringing the dishes out, Charles Prescott actually showed up, with Sylvia Warren in tow.
Sylvia Warren's pretty face was still a little swollen from the slaps, making her look slightly frightening.
Nathan Fawcett was reclining on the sofa. His health was poor and he felt the cold easily, so he had a blanket draped over himself.
Seeing Charles Prescott walk in, Nathan Fawcett asked, "What's all this?"
Anne Sutton stared at the scene, thinking, 'Charles Prescott is here to stand up for Sylvia Warren.'
But in the next second, she heard Charles Prescott say, "I heard Vera was insolent today and offended you, Uncle, so I brought her over to apologize."
The corner of Anne Sutton's mouth twitched when she heard that. 'Well, I'll be.'
'That's Charles Prescott for you!'
'Then again… even though Sylvia Warren is carrying his child, why would he ever risk offending Nathan Fawcett over a baby he wanted to get rid of anyway?'
"She didn't do much," Nathan Fawcett said. "She just couldn't wait for me to die, felt my being alive was an eyesore. It's a shame, really. I won't be dying anytime soon, so I'm afraid she'll have to be disappointed."
Nathan Fawcett's voice was soft and unhurried, but it was dripping with sarcasm.
At this, Charles Prescott's expression darkened.
He hadn't, after all, imagined that this was how Sylvia Warren had offended Nathan Fawcett.
He shot a look at Sylvia Warren. "Is what Uncle said true?"
Sylvia Warren was terrified. "How could that be? I absolutely didn't mean that! I was just…"
"Just what?" Nathan Fawcett watched her coolly, waiting to see what excuse she could possibly invent.
"I'm sorry, Uncle," Charles Prescott said. "I'll send her away tomorrow. She's far too thoughtless! I was originally planning to make her my wife for the sake of the child, but it seems she's not worthy of the position."
'…' Anne Sutton almost burst out laughing.
'He never intended to marry Sylvia Warren in the first place!'
'And now he's acting like he's doing Nathan Fawcett some huge favor!'
'How ridiculous.'
Sylvia Warren stood to the side. If she hadn't already cried herself dry that afternoon, she probably would have burst into tears all over again.
Charles Prescott looked at Sylvia Warren. "Aren't you leaving? Stop being an eyesore here. Don't make Uncle angry just by looking at you."
Terrified, Sylvia Warren scurried away.
Charles Prescott sat down, looked at Nathan Fawcett, and asked, "How did it go at the hospital today, Uncle? Are you feeling all right?"
No matter how busy he was, Charles Prescott always made a point to show his concern for Nathan Fawcett.
'But Anne Sutton knew his true character all too well.'
'He didn't even want her to have Nathan Fawcett's child. He was only asking now because he wanted to know when Nathan was finally going to die!'
"It's nothing," Nathan Fawcett said. "The doctor told me I have two months left."
Anne Sutton froze when she heard that. 'Two months?'
'He only has two months left?'
'I have to hurry, then!'
'Otherwise, if I can't get pregnant, I'll lose my chance to fight Charles Prescott.'