Chapter 307: Mom and Dad’s Divorce

She picked up her phone and replied, "What’s up?"

Nathan Fawcett asked, "What are you up to?"

Anne Sutton told him what had happened that day. "I just got back and am lying down."

Nathan Fawcett wrote, "And your mother? Is she okay?"

"She’s fine," Anne Sutton replied. "Sean Sutton has agreed to the divorce. Things will be better once it’s finalized."

’People are afraid of changing their circumstances, always feeling that if they do, the sky will fall. Before Anne Sutton cut ties with Charles Prescott, she’d had the same thought, feeling that if she ever left him, her world would collapse. But as it turned out, leaving someone doesn’t make the sky fall. Even if you lose the whole world, lose absolutely everything, not much really changes.’

...

Nathan Fawcett asked, "What about you? How are you doing?"

"Me? What could be wrong with me?" Anne was very calm. "I’m doing great, and nothing’s wrong. Besides... I got used to it years ago."

’After Nathan Fawcett left, she had gotten used to it all.’

Nathan Fawcett lay in bed, propped up on his pillows, staring at her last message: "I got used to it years ago."

’Because of the child, she’d had a falling out with her family...’

Nathan Fawcett asked, "Are you going to bed now?"

"I’m going to take a shower," Anne Sutton replied. "It’s getting late. You should go to sleep."

’She figured Nathan would already be asleep by the time she got out of the shower. Besides, he probably had things to do tomorrow. Even though it was the holidays now, he was always busy with his own affairs.’

Nathan Fawcett replied, "Okay."

Anne Sutton put down her phone and went to take a shower.

...

The Lunar New Year was fast approaching. Anne Sutton hadn’t been in Westhaven lately, so her home lacked any festive atmosphere.

The next morning, she arranged for people to start decorating.

’For the past few years, she had always spent the holidays at the Fawcett residence by herself. While everyone else was celebrating together, she was all alone. She had gotten used to it. But now that her mother and Sharon were here, she didn’t want the house to feel so desolate.’

Sharon Sutton came in with David Hayes. When he saw Anne Sutton, he said, "Sis."

Anne Sutton glanced at him. She didn’t have a very good impression of him because of his past behavior.

Even though he seemed to be treating Sharon well enough now.

Anne Sutton said nothing.

Sharon glanced at Anne. "Sis, David’s on vacation now. He’d like to spend the Lunar New Year with us. Would that be okay?"

"Suit yourself." Anne didn’t want to meddle.

After all, they were a married couple now.

With David here, he could look after Sharon.

’It’s just that...’

’Whenever she thought about her sister ending up with a man like him, Anne couldn’t help but feel he wasn’t good enough for her.’

Sharon told David, "My sister said yes."

David Hayes said, "Thanks, Sis."

After Anne had been busy for a little while, Henry Underwood arrived.

Sean Sutton had sent a lawyer over to talk about the divorce.

Henry had come to relay the message.

Ever since Anne returned, Charles Prescott had Henry shadowing her.

’Anne didn’t know if it was to look after her, as Charles Prescott claimed, or to keep an eye on her. Either way, she didn’t mind. In any case, Henry was quite useful.’

She glanced at the divorce agreement from Sean Sutton’s side. The assets were to be split evenly, and the family home would go to her mother.

"This is the best deal we could have gotten," Henry Underwood said.

"If Sean Sutton hadn’t been so eager to divorce your mother, he would never have agreed to split the assets evenly."

That was over a billion, after all...

Anne said to Henry, "This is fine. My mom is still asleep. Have them come over in a bit."

Henry nodded.

...

After helping her mother finalize the divorce, the Lunar New Year arrived.

When all the paperwork was completed, Sean Sutton came to see Anne and brought some food over for them.

Mrs. Sutton sat off to the side. Sean Sutton glanced at her, then turned to Anne. "Anne, even though your mother and I are divorced, you and Sharon will always be our daughters. That will never change."

Anne looked at her father. "That’s what you think. From now on, I’m only going to take care of my mom. As for you... we’re done with you."

’Her father was quite the schemer... Too bad Anne wasn’t buying any of it. He was the one who abandoned them first!’

Sean Sutton knew she was angry, so he didn’t press the issue. Instead, he asked curiously, "By the way, what’s the situation with you and Ethan Linden? Is everything with the child sorted out?"

He hadn’t dared to ask too many questions last time since Charles Prescott was there.

But now, it was just Anne and her mother.

Anne asked defensively, "Why are you bringing this up?"

"What are you talking about?" Sean Sutton said. "Can’t a father be concerned about his own daughter?"

"We’re not that close," Anne said, frowning at him. "Stay out of my business. And don’t go saying things you shouldn’t."

"I’m not an idiot," Sean Sutton said. "We’re family, so of course I wouldn’t say anything. However, there is something I thought I should mention. I’m not sure if it will be useful to you."

Anne didn’t know what he was getting at.

She just stared at him.

Sean Sutton said, "A few days ago, a man named Ryan Linden came looking for Nathan Fawcett. He wanted to get some old photos of him."

"Ryan Linden?" Anne froze at the name.

’Ryan Linden had been to Westhaven? And he was looking for photos of Nathan to see what he used to look like? To see if he resembled Ethan Linden? From the sound of it, he was still trying to make trouble over Ethan Linden’s identity.’

Anne said, "Okay, I get it. You can go now."

She didn’t say much in front of Sean Sutton, but she made a mental note to tell Nathan about this later.

’She just wondered what, if anything, Ryan Linden had managed to find out.’

Sean Sutton left soon after.

Mrs. Sutton stared at his departing figure.

Even though they were divorced, the resentment in Mrs. Sutton’s heart hadn’t faded.

Anne walked over to her mother. "Mom."

’She knew her mother couldn’t let it go. The divorce was final, but that didn’t mean her mother had moved on. Her health had only just started to improve, and Anne didn’t know what the future would hold.’

Anne looked at her mother and said, "Don’t watch him go. Are you hungry? Let’s get something to eat."

Mrs. Sutton looked at Anne. "What did your father say to you?"

"Nothing much."

"I heard you helped his company before," Mrs. Sutton said, looking at Anne. "Why?"

Anne felt a pang of guilt at the question. "I’m sorry. I didn’t want to help him. But... there was something very important at stake."

’The matter with her child was more important to her than anything else. So she hadn’t thought twice about it at the time. If Sean Sutton hadn’t told her, she might have remained in the dark about Ian for the rest of her life.’

Anne looked at her mother. "After the holidays, how about I take you on a trip to Veridia?"

"What would we do in Veridia?" Mrs. Sutton asked. "Aren’t you and Nathan Fawcett divorced?"

"We are," Anne said. "Yes, we’re divorced."

"Then why are you two still together?" Mrs. Sutton didn’t understand.