Chapter 447: How Could You Let Nathan Fawcett Bring Him Back?

Caleb Summers clicked his tongue. "Keep playing tough! You’re not even married yet, and Anne Sutton already has you completely wrapped around her finger. Yet here you are, still denying it! If she gets upset, I bet your whole day will be ruined."

"..."

Nathan Fawcett shot him a look but didn’t respond.

...

They headed back that afternoon.

When they came, they were a family of three in the car. Now, on the way back, they were a family of four.

On the way there, Ian had been held by Nathan Fawcett, but now he was sitting beside Anne Sutton, sleeping with his head on her lap.

Finn, on the other hand, was being held by Nathan Fawcett. He was leaning against the window, gazing at the scenery outside.

Before Ethan Linden passed away, Finn’s mother had only just gotten pregnant with him.

Finn was actually about the same age as Ian, but Ian had been born prematurely, so he was born earlier. That made him Finn’s older brother.

...

Finn looked out the window and said, "Dad, the scenery outside is so pretty!"

Nathan Fawcett looked at the sweet, silly boy. ’It’s probably just the novelty of it all,’ he thought, ’that makes everything outside seem so new and exciting to him.’

Anne Sutton watched as Nathan Fawcett coddled the boy as if he were his own son. She knew about Nathan’s relationship with Ethan Linden. Back when Anna Linden paid Nathan no mind, it was Ethan who had secretly kept in touch with him, looking out for him and sharing stories about his mother.

His bond with Ethan Linden was something no one could ever replace.

Now, seeing Ethan’s son, he naturally doted on him.

Anne Sutton looked down at her own sweet Ian on her lap and found herself ridiculous. ’Why am I acting like a child, worried that Finn is going to steal away the fatherly love that belongs to Ian? Realistically, how could something like that even happen?’

Back at the Linden Family home, Anne Sutton sat down on the sofa.

It was the weekend, so Lana Langley was also home.

She had been busy these past two days handling her divorce from Ryan Linden.

In fact, she had just returned from meeting with him.

Seeing Nathan Fawcett and Anne Sutton return with what looked like two Ians, Lana Langley was dumbfounded. "This child is..."

Staring at Finn, who was standing next to Ian and was about the same height, Lana was completely bewildered.

Nathan Fawcett made the introduction. "This is Finn, Ethan Linden’s son. He’ll be living with us from now on."

"Ethan Linden’s son?" Lana looked utterly incredulous. "Ethan had a child? If Aunt knew, she would be overjoyed. But she went to a meeting today and said she’ll be back late."

Nathan Fawcett said, "That’s fine."

He looked at the household staff nearby and had them take Finn’s luggage upstairs.

He looked at Ian and said, "Ian, Finn’s room isn’t ready yet. Why don’t you take him to your room to play for a bit, okay?"

Hearing Nathan Fawcett, Ian glanced at Finn. He wanted to refuse, but then he remembered what Anne Sutton had told him—to be nice to Finn.

He, too, had once been someone without a mother.

So he understood all too well what it felt like to not have parents and be looked down on by others.

This made him unable to help but be nice to Finn.

He took Finn upstairs to play.

Nathan Fawcett went upstairs to arrange for a room to be prepared for Finn.

Anne Sutton was a bit tired from the car ride and sank into the sofa. Lana Langley sidled up to her and said, "How could you let Nathan Fawcett bring that child back?"

"What’s wrong?" Anne Sutton looked at Lana, confused. "Is there a problem?"

"Are you dense?" Lana said. "You know perfectly well how much Aunt doted on Ethan Linden. To her, Ethan was her only son; it was like Nathan was born to a different mother. Now you’ve let Nathan bring this child home. In the future, will there be anything left for Ian? This kid is going to snatch away the entire Linden Family fortune!"

Even though Nathan Fawcett was the Family Head now, Anna Linden’s words still carried a lot of weight, and Lana was worried.

Hearing Lana’s words, Anne Sutton gave her a look and said exasperatedly, "You’re overthinking things! Why worry so much about the future? He’s just a child!"

"He’s a child, that’s true," Lana said. "But some things aren’t as simple as you think. This boy might look like Ian, but you didn’t give birth to him! You can’t be so naive about this! When the time comes and your Ian gets nothing, you’ll be full of regret."

"I haven’t thought about any of that." Anne thought of Ian; even if none of the Linden Family’s assets belonged to him, it wouldn’t matter. As long as he could grow up healthy, that was all that mattered. It wasn’t as if he would starve.

Listening to Anne Sutton, Lana could only sigh, thinking that Anne was far too naive.

...

That evening, Anna Linden returned home.

Ian and Finn were playing in the living room while Anne Sutton read a book and kept an eye on them.

Anna Linden walked in and said to Anne Sutton, "You’re back?"

Anne Sutton nodded. "Yes."

Anna Linden glanced at the extra child in the room. "This is..."

Anne Sutton glanced at Finn, then said to Anna, "You should let Nathan Fawcett tell you."

Just as she finished speaking, Nathan Fawcett came downstairs from his shower.

He saw his mother and said, "Mom."

Anna Linden asked, "This is..."

Nathan Fawcett looked at Finn and said, "Finn, this is Grandma."

"Grandma," Finn called out in a sweet, childish voice.

Anna Linden looked at the child, then shot a confused glance at Nathan Fawcett.

Nathan Fawcett said, "Ian, take Finn to bed now."

"Can’t I play a little longer?" Ian asked. His mom wasn’t in bed yet, and he wanted to keep playing.

Nathan Fawcett said, "You have school tomorrow."

"..." Hearing this, Ian had no choice but to go upstairs with Finn.

After they left, Nathan Fawcett explained Finn’s situation to Anna Linden.

Anna Linden was taken aback. "You’re saying... this is Ethan’s child?"

Nathan Fawcett nodded. "Mom, I want him to live here from now on. I’ll raise him as my own son and have him attend school with Ian. What do you think?"

Anna Linden looked at Nathan Fawcett and said, "That’s very thoughtful of you."

’Nathan brought the child back and even wants to raise him as his own... I’m too busy with work. If I had to raise him, I wouldn’t have the time, and I’m not sure I could even do a good job. More importantly, by the time Finn is grown, I’ll be an old woman, barely able to manage my own affairs, let alone look after a child.’

For Nathan Fawcett to be willing to raise Finn and give him a complete family was the best possible outcome.

Nathan Fawcett said, "It’s what I should do." He had always treated Ethan Linden well and was a devoted son to his mother. He never expected anything in return for his actions; he simply felt it was the right thing to do, and so he did it.

After finishing her conversation with Nathan Fawcett, Anna Linden went upstairs.

Ian and Finn were talking about going to sleep.

The two little ones had played together all day and had gotten much more familiar with each other.

Now, they were both making their beds.

Anna Linden said, "Finn."

Hearing her voice, Finn said, "Grandma."

He walked over and looked up at Anna Linden.

Anna Linden crouched down, her fingers brushing against the little boy’s cheek. Compared to Ian, Finn truly did resemble Ethan Linden more.

...

The thought that this was Ethan Linden’s son overwhelmed Anna with emotion.

’My Ethan... he actually had a child of his own!’