Chapter 442: Going to the Countryside

He didn’t know if what Nathan Fawcett said was true.

It would be one thing if Nathan Fawcett was just trying to scare them.

But if he really planned to sue and send Ryan Linden to prison, then he was truly despicable!

Ryan Linden looked at Victor Linden and said, "Dad, why don’t... we sell the old house and pay back the money? I don’t want to go to jail!"

’If I really go to jail, my whole life will be ruined!’

’And who knows how many years I’d have to rot in there.’

Ryan Linden shivered just thinking about it.

He was a spoiled brat. There was no way he could survive a life like that!

"Sell it?" Victor Linden said. "And where would we live? Huh? Do you think you can just buy this house back after selling it? Oh, Ryan Linden! You’re such a disappointment! Truly!"

That house Master Linden gave to Donna back then was worth far more than eighty million!

And he sold it for so little.

Every time he thought about it, Victor Linden could barely stop himself from giving him a good thrashing.

Ryan Linden said, "I know I was wrong! It’ll never happen again! If we sell the house, I’ll definitely turn over a new leaf! The old house will sell for a good price. We can pay back Nathan Fawcett and still have some left over! We can move somewhere far away and buy another house, and use the rest to start a small business, what do you think? I really think Nathan Fawcett wants to send me to prison!"

Victor Linden looked at his son’s pathetic, disappointing state and could only sigh.

At this point, what else could he do?

If Nathan Fawcett truly didn’t care whether they lived or died, they would have to save themselves!

...

Victor Linden didn’t go home that night. He stayed at the hospital overnight.

The next day, just as they arrived home, the lawyer Lana Langley had contacted showed up. Not only that, but the legal counsel from the Linden Group was there as well.

The two of them were waiting together at the door of Victor Linden’s house.

Seeing the two of them, Ryan Linden asked, "What are you two doing here?"

The lawyer Nathan Fawcett had found for Lana Langley was quite famous. Ryan Linden knew of him, but they weren’t familiar.

As for the other man, the legal counsel from the Linden Group, Ryan Linden of course recognized him after his many years with the company.

Seeing both of them show up at the same time, especially right after his father had just been discharged from the hospital, Ryan Linden was naturally annoyed and quick to anger.

The lawyer in the lead, Lawyer Chambers, said, "I’m here on behalf of President Fawcett to discuss company matters."

The other, Attorney Lawson, added, "And I’m here on behalf of Ms. Lana Langley."

"Lana Langley?" Ryan Linden had assumed both men were sent by Nathan Fawcett. He didn’t expect Lana to be involved.

Attorney Lawson said, "She wants to divorce you, so she sent me to handle the negotiations on her behalf."

Ryan Linden said, "You people are insane!"

Victor Linden had recovered slightly after a night’s rest in the hospital, but now, faced with one trouble after another, he was so furious he nearly fainted again.

Ryan Linden quickly helped him away to rest.

...

Nathan Fawcett and Anne Sutton were at home, having a meal.

He placed some food on Anne Sutton’s plate as they spoke. "Grandfather is going to stay in the countryside. I’m planning to take him there, and I want you to come with me. The scenery is beautiful, and it’ll be a good chance for a walk."

Anne Sutton looked at the man and said, "There’s no need for me to go, is there? Why don’t you just go by yourself?"

"Come with me," Nathan Fawcett said. "I want you to be with me. I feel more at ease when you’re by my side. Besides, you’ve never seen the old family home in the countryside! I want to take you to see it."

Seeing him plead so sincerely, Anne Sutton had no choice but to agree.

It was the weekend, and Ian was on a break as well.

So Anne Sutton agreed to the family trip.

Just then, Butler Walters walked over and said to Nathan Fawcett, "Sir, Ryan Linden is on the phone!"

Nathan Fawcett asked, "Is his dad back?"

Butler Walters replied, "It seems so!"

"What did he say?"

Butler Walters showed the phone to Nathan Fawcett, who said, "Put it on speaker."

The butler did as he was told and turned on the speakerphone.

Nathan Fawcett asked, "What is it?"

Then, Ryan Linden’s frantic voice came through the speaker. "Nathan Fawcett, tell your people to get the hell out of here! What is the meaning of this? My dad just got out of the hospital! Are you trying to drive him to his death?"

Nathan Fawcett replied, "What do you mean *I’m* driving him to his death? The one doing that is you, his own son, isn’t it? Why didn’t you think about this when you were gambling your money away?"

Nathan Fawcett’s tone was perfectly calm as he spoke.

He was a rather cold and ruthless person.

Quite different from Ethan Linden.

These relatives couldn’t dream of guilt-tripping him.

He simply didn’t fall for that nonsense. Crossing him never ended well.

Ryan Linden said through gritted teeth, "I’m begging you, just make them leave! My dad said he’ll sell the house! Just stop sending them to our doorstep! Alright? I’m scared of you, is that what you want to hear?"

Ryan Linden truly felt like he had been backed into a corner.

All his petulance had been built on the foundation that this family would still treat him like a relative.

Now that Nathan Fawcett had turned on them, and with Master Linden and Anna Linden refusing to get involved, they were truly at a dead end.

Before, they could have hoped to plead their case to Anna Linden, but they had thoroughly offended her now. She wanted nothing to do with them.

Anne Sutton, sitting to one side, glanced at Nathan Fawcett. She was surprised that Ryan Linden was actually capable of compromise.

Nathan Fawcett didn’t say anything after hearing Ryan Linden’s plea.

After hanging up, he said to Butler Walters, "Call them back. We’ll give them a little more time. If they don’t sell the house, proceed as planned."

Butler Walters nodded. "Yes, sir."

Then he walked away.

Anne Sutton looked at Nathan Fawcett and said, "It sounded like Ryan Linden was about to cry."

"He deserves it," Nathan Fawcett said, looking at Anne Sutton. "He’s just spoiled rotten. I kept giving him chances, but he was the one who didn’t take them. Once he sells the house, they’ll move away."

Hearing this, a corner of Anne Sutton’s mouth lifted into a smirk. "And here I thought he’d be a tough nut to crack."

"He’s just a paper tiger."

He had known Ryan Linden for a long time. Nathan Fawcett had him figured out ages ago.

Ryan Linden was digging his own grave now; not even the gods could help him.

...

After dinner, Anne Sutton went upstairs to pack.

She didn’t pack much for herself, but since Ian was coming along, she packed a few of his things.

Master Linden was also just about ready.

He was going to the old family home in the countryside to recuperate, and he was bringing a doctor, a chef, a driver, servants, and a butler... a whole entourage, big and small. It had been the same when he returned from abroad last time.

Anne Sutton and Nathan Fawcett didn’t ride in the same car with him. They took the one behind.

...

When they arrived at their destination, Anne Sutton gazed at the aged villa. ’So this is the Linden family’s ancestral home?’

Rumor had it that the Linden Family was exceptionally wealthy—not just Master Linden’s generation, but the one before it as well.

No wonder even their old house looked so imposingly grand.

Still, it was completely different from the city. The air was fresh, and the surroundings were tranquil and serene.

A breeze blew past, making the leaves rustle loudly.

Anne Sutton got out of the car and took in her surroundings. Before, she had felt it was unnecessary for Nathan Fawcett to insist on her coming...