Chapter 413: Always Giving Him a Hard Time

Noah Linden watched him go, paid him no mind, and sat back down to continue working.

He was, after all, quite dedicated when it came to his work.

He was easygoing, but that didn’t mean he was irresponsible.

David Hayes didn’t get what he wanted. He returned to his office and slumped into his chair, so furious he couldn’t speak.

Remembering Noah Linden’s insolent attitude, his mood instantly soured.

’Damn it!’

After all, he was only trying to intimidate Noah Linden by flaunting his connections. It wasn’t as if he’d actually go and say anything to Anne Sutton.

’He just hadn’t expected that punk Noah Linden to show him no respect at all!’

’When it came down to it, this was all Anne Sutton’s fault. She had no respect for him, and that’s why any random person dared to bully him!’

Just then, David Hayes’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw it was an unfamiliar number, but he answered it anyway.

"Hello?"

Mrs. Sutton’s voice came through the phone. "It’s me."

"...Mom?" David Hayes froze for a second. He checked the number again and realized it really was Mrs. Sutton.

Mrs. Sutton rarely ever called him.

David Hayes asked, "Is everything okay?"

Mrs. Sutton said, "I’m waiting for you downstairs, at your office building."

"..." David Hayes said, "I’ll be right down."

With that, he left his office.

As he rode the elevator down, David Hayes couldn’t help but wonder. ’What’s going on with Mrs. Sutton?’

’Why would she come all the way to my office?’

’Does she need something from me?’

’Did something happen to Sharon?’

’No, probably not.’

Filled with apprehension, David Hayes went downstairs and saw Mrs. Sutton sitting in the lobby of the Fawcett Group.

She rarely came here; in fact, this might have been her first time.

David Hayes walked over. "Mom."

In front of Mrs. Sutton, he was still careful to put on an act, maintaining a polite facade.

After all, he owed his current position entirely to Anne Sutton.

Mrs. Sutton said, "Come closer."

David Hayes walked closer, and Mrs. Sutton raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

There were other people near the entrance. When they saw David Hayes get slapped, they all turned to look.

"What was that for? We’re at my office!" David Hayes gritted his teeth, staring at Mrs. Sutton in disbelief.

He was a man of some standing in the company, after all. Mrs. Sutton’s slap had caught him completely off guard, and he clenched his jaw.

Mrs. Sutton looked at him. "Why would you do such a thing?"

"What?" David Hayes feigned innocence. "Mom, I don’t understand what you’re talking about! Can’t we discuss this at home? Coming to my office like this... it’s humiliating, you know?"

"Humiliating?" Mrs. Sutton stared at David Hayes. "You weren’t thinking about humiliation when you were with that other woman, were you? Did you ever stop to think how hard things are for Sharon, all alone at home? David Hayes, I always thought that since you married Sharon, you were family. I never, ever expected... that you were this kind of person!"

Hearing this, David Hayes was stunned for a long moment before he finally managed to react. "What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I’m talking about. Don’t play dumb!" Mrs. Sutton’s tone was icy. "I wouldn’t have come to find you if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes. You’ve truly disappointed me!"

Seeing Mrs. Sutton’s attitude, David Hayes found it laughable and decided to drop the act. "’Disappointed me,’ she says. Have any of you ever treated me like family? In your eyes, I’m just an outsider, aren’t I?"

Mrs. Sutton stared at him. "You’re the one who did something wrong, and you have the nerve to act like you’re justified?"

David Hayes retorted, "Ever since I got together with Sharon, none of you have ever treated me like one of your own! I don’t come from a good family, so you all look down on me. Don’t think for a second I don’t know it. And now you talk about treating me like family? How hypocritical."

David Hayes was furious, so he dropped the charade entirely.

Mrs. Sutton looked at the man who, despite being in the wrong, had the gall to bite back. "Fine. Just fine! I will tell Anne exactly what you’ve just said. I’m sure she’ll know how to deal with you then!"

She stood up, not wanting to waste another breath on him.

’He’s just too arrogant!’

When David Hayes saw she was about to leave, it suddenly dawned on him. ’If Mrs. Sutton goes and tells Anne, what’s going to happen to me?’

’I might even get kicked out of the company!’

At that thought, he panicked and rushed to block her path. "Mom, Mom, I was wrong! I wasn’t thinking straight, please forgive me! Look, Sharon’s about to give birth. If she finds out about this, it won’t be good for her! If not for my sake, then for the baby’s! I’ll never do it again! Please, don’t do this, okay?"

He knew Mrs. Sutton was soft-hearted; begging her for forgiveness would be more effective than begging Anne Sutton.

Mrs. Sutton looked at the man groveling before her. "You have the audacity to bring up Sharon! She must have been blind to marry you!"

David Hayes said, "It’s my fault! I know I was wrong! Please, forgive me. I’m terrible!"

After speaking, he slapped himself twice across the face.

Noah Linden was coming downstairs and happened to witness this scene.

He walked over to Mrs. Sutton. "Mrs. Sutton!"

He had been to Mrs. Sutton’s restaurant before when Nathan Fawcett was eating there.

"Noah," Mrs. Sutton said.

Noah Linden’s gaze fell on David Hayes. "What happened? Do you need any help?"

David Hayes gave Mrs. Sutton a pleading look. "Mom."

"..." Mrs. Sutton shot him a glare, then said to Noah Linden, "It’s nothing."

Noah Linden looked at David Hayes’s pathetic state. Mrs. Sutton hadn’t said anything specific, but since Noah already knew the truth of the matter, he could more or less guess what was going on.

He didn’t press the issue, only saying, "Well, if you need anything, just let me know."

"Okay," Mrs. Sutton replied.

...

David Hayes walked Mrs. Sutton out of the building. "You don’t have to walk me out," Mrs. Sutton said coldly.

David Hayes asked, "Sharon doesn’t know about this, does she?"

"If Sharon knew, do you think I would have come here?" Mrs. Sutton said. "For her sake, I’m not going to pursue this right now. But if this happens again..."

"There won’t be a next time!" David Hayes insisted. "There won’t! I’ll never do this again!"

He then added to Mrs. Sutton, "For the baby’s sake, I promise I’ll be a good father."

Mrs. Sutton couldn’t be bothered to listen to any more of his promises and simply walked away.

...

After she walked away, David Hayes’s expression darkened once more.

’Hmph!’

’He knew it. A woman like Mrs. Sutton... she’d forgiven Sean Sutton for all the terrible things he’d done, hadn’t she!’

’Sean Sutton had fathered two children out of wedlock, so why should he take Mrs. Sutton seriously?’

’She was soft-hearted, after all. All he had to do was say a few nice words and she’d forgive him.’

’It’s just...’

’...remembering how she had humiliated him at the office made him extremely irritated.’

Just then, Lucy Todd called to ask about the job. "David, how did it go with that work matter?"