Chapter 410: Pretending to be Asleep?

Sharon smiled. "Of course not! Why would you say that, sis?"

She was the one who chose to be with David Hayes, so... she was prepared to face the consequences, whatever they might be. She didn’t want to tell Anne, nor did she want her sister to worry.

Even though David Hayes kept hiding things and wouldn’t tell her anything, his being out every day still made Sharon feel that something was off.

Anne looked at Sharon’s stubborn act and thought about the photos she had seen at Nathan Fawcett’s place earlier that day. She decided not to say anything more.

’Forget it.’

’It’s better if she doesn’t know. I’ll let it be for now.’

’Once the baby is born, I’ll settle the rest of my scores with David Hayes.’

Anne said to Sharon, "Hey, why don’t you sleep in my room tonight?"

"Are you sure I won’t disturb you?" Sharon asked, looking at Anne with concern.

Anne replied, "Don’t worry about it. I’m not a light sleeper, I’ll be fine."

She’d been sleeping much better lately. Before, the slightest sound would disturb her and keep her from falling asleep.

But now...

Even if Ian was making a fuss right beside her, she could still sleep soundly.

That night, Anne and Sharon slept in the same bed.

Anne slept soundly, but Sharon, on the other hand, did not.

Ever since she got pregnant, she’d been sleeping poorly, especially in recent weeks.

It couldn’t be helped; pregnancy is one of the most trying times in a woman’s life.

Anne had been pregnant with Ian before, but her experience had been relatively easy. After all, Ian had been born prematurely, so she hadn’t gone through the final, most difficult stage...

Anne tried her best not to disturb Sharon.

Late at night, Anne slipped out of bed and saw Mrs. Sutton coming up the stairs.

Mrs. Sutton asked, "Is Sharon asleep?"

"Yeah," Anne said. "We’re sleeping in your room."

Hearing this, Mrs. Sutton asked, "Then why are you up?"

Anne said, "I can’t sleep."

Mrs. Sutton said, "I’ll stay with her. You go back to your room and get some sleep."

"Mom," Anne said. "Sharon seems really exhausted."

"That’s normal, now that she’s pregnant," Mrs. Sutton said. "I talked with her today, too. She’s just a bit anxious. I want her to stay here for a few more days."

Anne said, "I was thinking the same thing."

"I’ll talk to her about it then."

...

Since Mrs. Sutton was now staying with Sharon, Anne went back to her own room.

The next morning, the family gathered, and Sharon said to Anne, "Sis, we’re planning to head back first thing tomorrow."

"So soon?" Anne glanced at her mother. "Mom and I were both hoping you’d stay a while longer."

Sharon said, "I’m due soon. I can’t stay away for too long, I have to get back."

As she spoke, she glanced at David Hayes. "Besides, David has to get back to work."

"Then let him go back by himself. Why do you need to worry about him?" Anne shot a look at David Hayes. For some reason, she had a nagging feeling this was all his idea again, and it irritated her.

’This man...’

’He’s really something else!’

’He dragged Sharon all this way hoping I’d get him a promotion. Now that he didn’t get what he wanted, he’s dragging her straight back home, not even willing to let her stay for a couple more days.’

’What a selfish man!’

’He has no idea how hard it is for Sharon to be traveling back and forth while she’s pregnant!’

David Hayes said, "Anne, if Sharon goes back, my mother can help take care of her when she gives birth."

Hearing this, Anne said dismissively, "Your mother can take care of her?"

David Hayes looked at Anne as if he’d been gravely wronged. "Anne, how can you say that? Of course my mother will take care of Sharon."

"..." Mrs. Sutton, who had been sitting to the side, said to David Hayes, "David, I’ll go back with you."

Anne looked at her mother in surprise. "Mom, you’re going back with Sharon?"

She knew how dedicated her mother was to her shop. She came home late every day, so how could she find the time to go to Westhaven?

Mrs. Sutton explained, "As it happens, I need to go to Westhaven to discuss a collaboration. I can keep Sharon company at the same time."

Remembering how Sharon had cried all through the previous night, Mrs. Sutton was deeply worried. "The business has stabilized for now, so it’s fine for me to be away for a few days. I’ll go back with them and return after the baby is born."

David Hayes said, "But Mrs. Sutton, you’re so busy. You really don’t have to..."

"You’re busy with work, so I’ll keep Sharon company. You’re not happy about that?" Mrs. Sutton was annoyed. She wasn’t a fool, and the more she looked at David Hayes, the more she felt something was off.

Perhaps after seeing Sean Sutton’s true colors, she had become all too familiar with the hypocritical act of a scumbag. As a result, David Hayes couldn’t fool her now.

She wanted to go and stay with Sharon, to make sure, at least for this period, that her daughter wouldn’t have to suffer alone.

Seeing how insistent Mrs. Sutton was, David Hayes was taken aback and could only fall silent.

Hearing that her mother would be going back with her, Sharon was naturally overjoyed. She looked at Mrs. Sutton and said, "Thank you, Mom."

Having her mother with her instantly lifted her spirits.

After the meal, Mrs. Sutton went to her shop to arrange things for her absence. With Anne and Nathan Fawcett there to help look after it, she wasn’t worried.

The next morning, they all returned to Westhaven together.

Anne took the day off work and paid a visit to the Linden family home.

Just as she walked in, she saw Lana Langley coming down the stairs. Lana, who was on the plump side, was wearing a business suit and looked much more vibrant than usual.

When she saw Anne, she smiled and said, "Anne! You’re here."

"..." Anne was a bit taken aback by her warmth. "Are you heading out?"

"I am!" Lana Langley said with a cheerful laugh. "I recently found a job, and it’s a pretty good one. I’m on my way to work now. You told me before that I could find a job... Anne, thank you for encouraging me! If it weren’t for you, I truly never would have dared to put myself out there."

"..." Anne was surprised to see Lana Langley like this. Perhaps because Lana had become so much friendlier, Anne found that she was actually much more pleasant to be around.

Anne said, "I didn’t really do anything."

"Well, thank you anyway," Lana Langley said. "I’m running late, so I have to go now. I’ll treat you to a meal some other time!"

With that, she walked out the door.

Before, she had always felt that life was hopeless. Her entire day revolved around watching Ryan Linden, worrying about his affairs, afraid that if he didn’t do well, she and her son would go hungry.

But things were different now. She had a job. She was earning her own money and could support herself!

She no longer had to care about how Ryan Linden was doing!

In that instant, she felt her life was full of hope, and she was no longer worried about a thing.

After Lana Langley left, Anne went upstairs.

She walked into the bedroom and saw that Nathan Fawcett wasn’t up yet.

He had stayed up late with his grandfather the night before and hadn’t gotten to bed until nearly dawn.

Anne sat down on the edge of the bed, watching the sleeping man. She noticed that in sleep, his features were much softer, lacking their usual sharp intensity...

Watching him, a warmth spread through Anne’s heart. She leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

The sleeping man immediately wrapped his arms around her.

"Faking sleep?" Anne looked at the man and gritted her teeth.