Chapter 453: Lowering His Seniority

"He’s all right," the doctor said. "He just fell asleep. He must have been exhausted, but there are no major issues for now."

Anne Sutton looked at the little boy on the hospital bed. She had to step away to attend to some things, leaving a staff member to keep an eye on him.

Once she was finished, Anne Sutton returned.

Because he hadn’t slept at all the previous night, Leo slept straight through until the afternoon.

Anne Sutton brought some food when she came to see him.

Seeing the food Anne Sutton offered, Leo ate with gusto. "Thank you, Auntie."

Anne Sutton watched him and asked, "Is it good?"

Leo nodded.

After some sleep, his fever had also subsided.

Anne Sutton said, "You didn’t sleep last night, did you?"

Hearing Anne Sutton’s question, Leo remained silent.

’He had never suffered like this before, wanting to sleep but not being allowed to.’

Mia Shaw had trouble sleeping at night, and when she couldn’t sleep, she would torment Leo. As a result, Leo couldn’t sleep a wink the entire night either.

However, a child’s need for sleep is much greater than an adult’s.

It was one thing for Mia Shaw to go a night without sleep, but a child couldn’t handle it.

That was why he had fainted that morning.

Anne Sutton looked at him. "You can tell Auntie. I promise I won’t tell Mia Shaw."

Leo said, "I did sleep."

He didn’t dare to tell the truth.

The last time he tattled to Sylvia Warren, he had thought his mother would be able to help him.

But unexpectedly, after his mother’s visit, his situation didn’t improve, which only deepened his fear of Mia Shaw.

’It really feels like things are just as Mia Shaw said...’

’I’m the child my mother doesn’t want. No one will care about me.’

So, he could only obey Mia Shaw.

Anne Sutton gazed at Leo and asked, "Then when you’re at home with your Auntie Shaw, does she ever bully you?"

Leo shook his head. "No."

"Really?" Anne Sutton looked at him intently.

He lowered his head, not speaking, but tears started to fall.

Anne Sutton looked at the poor little thing. In the past, when Sylvia Warren and the old madam were looking after him, his life must have been quite good.

But now, with both Charles Prescott and Sylvia Warren busy with work, Leo spent most of his time with Mia Shaw. Anne Sutton couldn’t even begin to imagine what his life was like.

After all, when children are unhappy, they usually say so directly.

But when the little guy didn’t even dare to tell the truth, it was clear just how much he had suffered, and how deep his terror of Mia Shaw ran.

Anne Sutton looked at Leo and said, "Your dad is busy lately and can’t come home. Why don’t you stay at Auntie’s house tonight? I’ll let your dad know."

She had asked Charles Prescott last night, and he’d said he was in Westhaven. His grandmother was ill, and he had to wait a while before he could return.

Hearing Anne Sutton’s words, Leo’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Charles Prescott wasn’t home, and Henry Underwood had gone back with him these past couple of days. That left only him and Mia Shaw at home. When Mia Shaw punished him, there was no one to stop her.

’If I don’t have to go home, that would be amazing!’

’At least, until Dad comes back, I won’t have to be bullied anymore.’

Seeing the expectant look on Leo’s face, Anne Sutton’s lips curved into a smile. "Of course it’s true."

The little boy could lie, but he couldn’t hide his reaction.

’She refused to believe Mia Shaw hadn’t been bullying him!’

In any case, Mia Shaw was more familiar to him and lived with him.

If Mia Shaw wasn’t bullying Leo, there’s no way he would be this happy just at the thought of going home with her.

After her shift, Anne Sutton called Mia Shaw. "Leo’s fever has broken. You can come to the hospital and pick him up."

Mia Shaw said, "Dr. Sutton, I’m so sorry! I’m busy right now. I’ll have to trouble you to stay with him a little longer!"

Mia Shaw was intentionally dumping the child on Anne Sutton.

’Didn’t Anne Sutton love to meddle in other people’s business?’

’Then let her meddle all she wants!’

Hearing Mia Shaw’s words, Anne Sutton said, "Alright, you go ahead and take care of your business. Come get him whenever you’re free."

After saying that, Anne Sutton glanced at her phone and turned off the recording function.

Once that was done, she took Leo and left the hospital.

Sitting in her car, Leo looked very happy.

Anne Sutton glanced at him in the rearview mirror. Seeing him sitting in the back, so relaxed, he seemed like a completely different person from the boy who had been in front of Mia Shaw.

She arrived home, parked the car, and opened the back door. "Leo."

Leo looked at her. Anne Sutton said, "We’re home. Come on out."

Leo slowly climbed out of the car.

He was a bit slow.

But Anne Sutton was very patient.

Ian saw Anne Sutton and walked over. "Mom."

Seeing that Leo had come back with Anne Sutton, Ian asked, "Why is he here?"

Anne Sutton said, "I brought him home to play for a bit. Is your dad back?"

"He’s back," Ian said. "He’s holding Finn."

"..." Anne Sutton glanced at her son’s resentful expression and asked, "What’s wrong with Finn?"

"Nothing’s wrong," Ian said. "Mom, Dad really likes Finn. He doesn’t like me anymore! He hasn’t held me in a long time. And at night, he’s even going to sleep holding Finn."

"How do you know he sleeps while holding Finn?"

"Finn told me."

"..."

Anne Sutton rubbed her temples. ’Her little boy was getting competitive over this.’

She said, "Finn just got here. You’ll get used to it."

Ian looked at Leo, wondering why Anne Sutton had brought him over.

Back when Leo was at the Fawcett Family’s home, he loved to snatch his things.

Ian didn’t have a very good impression of Leo.

But this time, seeing Ian’s critical gaze, Leo didn’t try to provoke him. Instead, he hid behind Anne Sutton.

He had been so tormented by Mia Shaw that he had become a different person, his personality now much more withdrawn.

Even Ian found it strange. "What’s wrong with him?"

Anne Sutton said, "It’s nothing. He’s having dinner with us tonight. Let’s go make some food!"

Anne Sutton led the two little ones through the door. On the way, she asked Ian, "Is your grandma back?"

"Grandma’s not back," Ian told Anne Sutton. "Mom, I want to eat something you cooked."

Hearing Ian’s words, Anne Sutton nodded. "Alright."

When they got inside, she saw Nathan Fawcett was still holding Finn.

Finn was already asleep in Nathan Fawcett’s arms.

She watched Nathan Fawcett holding Finn. ’He’s surprisingly patient, not moving a muscle as he held the boy.’

Seeing Anne Sutton return with Leo, Nathan Fawcett asked, "Why did you bring him back?"

Anne Sutton replied, "I wanted to, so I did."

Nathan Fawcett looked at her. "What I mean is, aren’t you afraid of causing trouble by bringing him here?"

"What trouble could there be?"

Anne Sutton said, "Mia Shaw has to work and won’t look after the child, so I brought Leo back to stay the night. He’s thrilled! Right, Leo?"

Anne Sutton’s gaze fell on Leo.

Hearing Anne Sutton’s words, Leo nodded. "Mm-hmm."

Anne Sutton said, "This is Mr. Fawcett."

"’Mr. Fawcett?’" Nathan Fawcett said. "You sure have a way of arranging things! Is that what he should call me?"

’Isn’t that knocking me down a generation?’

Anne Sutton looked at him. "Then what should he call you? ’Grandpa’? Fine! Leo, say ’Grandpa.’"

After all, Charles Prescott himself had to address Nathan Fawcett as ’Uncle’.