Chapter 440: Make Him Sell the House

She knew Master Linden was protective of Nathan Fawcett, but she never expected him to be protective of Anne Sutton, too!

Victor Linden looked at Master Linden, his face paling and flushing from the rebuke.

He argued, "I just think Anne Sutton is being ridiculous! All she does is stir up trouble, trying to get Lana Langley to divorce Ryan Linden! When did it become her place to meddle in our family’s business!"

"Lana Langley spoke to me," Master Linden said. "She doesn’t want to be with Ryan Linden anymore. She said he always hits her! Victor, that son of yours... he really has some problems. You need to get him under control!"

Victor Linden said, "I’m always trying to teach him, but no matter what he did wrong, he’s already been punished! He’s been kicked out of the company. What more do you want from him? He’s already turned over a new leaf! If Lana and the kids leave too, then he’ll truly have no chance to get back on his feet!"

Hearing Victor Linden’s words, Master Linden said, "He brought this all on himself. You should reflect on how you’ve been raising your child! I don’t even want to see him right now."

And he wouldn’t let Ryan Linden appear before him, either.

Lana Langley, on the other hand, could still come and chat with Master Linden from time to time.

...

When Victor Linden heard Master Linden criticizing him too, saying things similar to what Anna Linden had said, he quickly started playing the victim. "Ryan’s mother passed away early, so he’s had a pitiful life. That’s why I dote on him. Besides... he saved Ethan Linden’s life back then! Uncle, you have to remember that. You can’t just forget that favor just because Ethan is gone now, right? Ethan was your grandson, too!"

He had no choice but to bring up Ethan Linden.

As expected, Master Linden fell silent at the mention of Ethan Linden.

Just then, Ian’s voice rang out from the top of the stairs. "Mom, you’re back!"

Ian came down from upstairs.

He had gone to school and attended classes today, and he was still wearing his school-issued uniform.

He had just been trying it on upstairs. The new uniform looked incredibly sharp on him.

Nathan Fawcett came down with Ian.

Seeing Anne Sutton, he said, "You’re back!"

Anne Sutton said, "Your uncle just said you were the one who invited him over?"

Nathan Fawcett glanced at Victor Linden and said, "That’s right. It’s been a while since I’ve had a meal with Uncle, so I invited him over for dinner."

Seeing Anne Sutton try to complain, only to be shut down by Nathan Fawcett, made Victor Linden feel incredibly smug.

He looked at Anne Sutton and said, "I told you Nathan invited me, so Nathan invited me. Would I lie about something like that?"

Nathan Fawcett said, "My mom said she’s not coming back tonight, so let’s eat first. By the way, where’s Ryan?"

The "Ryan" he was referring to was, of course, Ryan Linden!

Victor Linden said, "He should be on his way. He’ll be here any minute!"

Just as he said that, Ryan Linden walked in.

After entering, he first greeted Master Linden, then his father. He glanced at Nathan Fawcett but didn’t speak to him.

Nathan Fawcett said, "Let’s eat!"

With Victor Linden’s support, Master Linden made his way to the dining room, and everyone else sat down as well.

With the addition of the Linden father and son, the atmosphere became much livelier.

But the mood was still somehow strange.

Anne Sutton didn’t know what Nathan Fawcett was planning. She certainly hadn’t expected him to invite the Linden family over for dinner...

’He’s really something else!’

’Did he forget what I told him last time?’

’Did he forget what Victor Linden said about his mother?’

Nathan Fawcett was a very filial person. For him to make such a basic mistake was something Anne Sutton hadn’t anticipated.

So, Anne Sutton sat with Ian and remained silent.

Normally, when Donna ate here, he was quite relaxed. But today, with his father present, he was much more reserved and didn’t say a single word.

Victor Linden raised his wine glass, addressing Nathan Fawcett with great enthusiasm. "Nathan, come, let your uncle toast you! We had a lot of misunderstandings because of Ryan, but we’re all family. There’s no need to let things get unpleasant."

Nathan Fawcett looked at him but didn’t raise his glass.

Victor Linden, however, proactively raised his own glass and drained it in one go.

Anne Sutton watched this unfold, then glanced at Nathan Fawcett.

Nathan Fawcett said to Victor Linden, "Uncle, you’re a straightforward man. Actually, the reason I invited you over today was to ask a favor of you."

"What is it?" Victor Linden asked, then looked at Nathan Fawcett defensively. "Nathan, you’re not going to talk about Lana Langley, are you? Do you want Lana to divorce Ryan? Let me be clear, I will not agree to that!"

He was setting his terms with Nathan Fawcett in advance.

After all, Nathan Fawcett inviting him to dinner like this was indeed quite strange.

Nathan Fawcett said, "Of course not. Lana Langley’s situation is your family’s private matter, Uncle. Naturally, I wouldn’t meddle in that."

Hearing Nathan Fawcett say this, Ryan Linden also breathed a sigh of relief.

Victor Linden said, "Good! Nathan, you’re a sensible person! It’s a good thing you’re a man, so you understand reason, unlike..."

He had been about to say Anna Linden, but on second thought, he decided against it and didn’t say it in front of Nathan Fawcett.

Nathan Fawcett knew what he wanted to say but didn’t expose him. He simply said, "The main reason I asked you here today, Uncle, was to tell you... you should sell that house of yours."

"What did you say?" Victor Linden looked at Nathan Fawcett in disbelief.

He had said before that he would sell the house to pay off Ryan’s debt, hoping to get Nathan Fawcett to let Ryan back into the company.

But then a lot of other things happened, and the matter was dropped.

Now, Nathan Fawcett bringing up selling the house completely threw Victor Linden for a loop.

Nathan Fawcett said, "Since you’re such a straightforward man, Uncle, how about you pay back the money Ryan owes the company!"

At the mention of this, Ryan Linden’s face darkened. He looked at Nathan Fawcett and said, "Nathan Fawcett, what do you mean? My family’s old house is for my dad’s retirement. What right do you have to make my dad sell the house?"

"What right?" Nathan Fawcett looked at Ryan Linden. "I’m not your father’s son. Taking care of him in his old age is your responsibility, isn’t it? What does it have to do with me? If you were actually concerned about your father’s well-being, you wouldn’t have lost so much money gambling on sports in the first place. It’s only right and proper for me to have him sell the house to pay back the company’s money, don’t you think?"

Victor Linden’s face darkened. He never thought Nathan Fawcett had called them over to talk about this!

This was far more outrageous than the issue with Lana Langley!

After all, the old house was the Linden Family’s last hope.

He said to Nathan Fawcett, "About selling the house, I’ve said it before. I can sell it and help Ryan pay back the money, as long as you promise to let him back into the company!"

"And if I don’t agree?" ’Let Ryan back into the company?’

’He can dream on!’

Victor Linden said shamelessly, "If you don’t agree, I’m not selling the house."

Nathan Fawcett said, "Uncle, what makes you think you’re in any position to bargain with me? This is the last time I’m reminding you about the money Ryan owes the company. If you don’t sell the house to pay it back, I’ve already instructed my lawyer to sue. He embezzled company funds, so let him go do a few years behind bars. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind, Uncle. If you won’t even save your own son, then don’t blame us relatives for not caring about old ties!"