Married the Sick Uncle – Just Waiting to Inherit His Fortune

”What kind of talk is that?” Mrs. Shields said, looking at her. ”Matters of the heart should be left to run their course. I’m sure your Anne will find a better man someday.”

’That’s what she said, but it wasn’t what Mrs. Shields was truly thinking.’

’It was just that some things were better left unsaid in front of her old friend.’

’Anne Sutton didn’t even think her son was good enough. She was probably hoping to marry that Charles Prescott fellow!’

’But...’

’That Charles Prescott wouldn’t be interested in her either!’

’Of course, even if a woman like her wanted to be with Justin Shields now, I wouldn’t allow it.’

’My son is single and has never been married, while Anne Sutton is a widow. There’s no comparison. Anne Sutton is simply not good enough for him.’

’Before, I only considered it out of respect for her mother...’

’Now that she’s been so disrespectful, I can only hope she manages to land a rich husband!’

Mrs. Sutton let herself be persuaded. She had no choice but to accept it.

She turned to Anne Sutton and asked, ”What brings you here?”

”I wanted to come see you,” Anne Sutton said. ”How are you feeling? Where’s Dad?”

”Your father has to work every day. How could he possibly come here all the time? I’m not well right now. It’s bad enough that I can’t help him, but I’m always being a burden.”

”...You’re sick. He should be here visiting you,” Anne Sutton said. ”Haven’t you done enough for him over the years?”

’He never once lifted a finger to help raise the children.’

’Mom handled everything on her own!’

’Sure, he was the one out earning money.’

’But Mom’s contributions at home were no less significant.’

Seeing her parents’ marriage, Anne Sutton had actually lost all expectations for marriage herself.

She suddenly felt as if she’d never experienced a truly dependable love in her own life.

Mrs. Sutton knew Anne’s relationship with her father was strained, so she didn’t pursue the topic. ”You came here today because...”

”It’s about Sharon,” Anne Sutton said.

”What’s wrong with Sharon?” Mrs. Sutton asked, curious.

”She wants to get married,” Anne said.

”...” The news was rather sudden for Mrs. Sutton.

She asked Anne, ”I know she has a boyfriend, but she’s never brought him home for us to meet. Why the sudden talk of marriage?”

”She’s pregnant,” Anne said. ”But she’s scared to tell the family.”

Mrs. Shields, who was sitting to the side, heard this and a smirk played on her lips. She glanced at Mrs. Sutton. ”It looks like your family has a happy occasion on the way. So few girls are willing to get married these days! Your Sharon is so sensible, deciding to marry so young.”

Mrs. Sutton glanced at Anne and said, ”That’s good.”

Unlike Anne, Mrs. Sutton had always believed that a woman’s purpose was to get married and have children.

Even going to a good university was just a means to marry a good man.

In her eyes, women were mere accessories to men, and marriage was a woman’s ultimate destiny.

With Mrs. Shields present, Anne didn’t say anything more.

Mrs. Shields left a short while later.

After she left, Mrs. Sutton said to Anne, ”But if Sharon wants to get married, why didn’t she come and tell me herself?”

”...” Anne said, ”She was afraid you’d be upset.”

”Why would I be upset about her getting married?”

”The man is the same one who made her try to kill herself.”

Anne was a little nervous as she said this.

She was terrified that her mother would get agitated, which would worsen her mood and affect her health.

As expected, Mrs. Sutton fell silent after hearing Anne’s words. A long moment passed before she finally spoke. ”What is she thinking? That man doesn’t treat her well! He even cheated on her.”

Anne said, ”They must have been together for a few years, and she’s been hiding it from the family this whole time. Now she’s pregnant. I wouldn’t have known if she hadn’t told me.”

’If I’d known sooner, I never would have let them stay together for this long.’

’But now, from the looks of it, forcing them apart would be tantamount to a death sentence for Sharon.’

”So what do we do now?” Mrs. Sutton asked. ”If your father finds out, he’ll kill her.”

”I’ll talk to Dad,” Anne said.

She knew that both her mother and Sharon were terrified of her father.

’But she wasn’t afraid of him.’

’Especially after what happened a few years ago, she had become completely disillusioned with her father. Why should she be afraid of him?’

’He himself was a man of questionable character.’

”Talk to your father nicely,” Mrs. Sutton said. ”Don’t get into a fight.”

”What is there for me to fight with him about?” Anne retorted. ”Sharon’s situation is what’s important right now. No matter what, we have to let her have the baby.”

”Then let it be,” Mrs. Sutton sighed. ”You’ve all grown up. You have your own ideas now.”

Anne looked at her mother. ’Ever since I refused to marry Justin Shields, she’s just been letting herself go.’

”Does that Auntie Shields come to see you every day?” Anne asked.

”Yes!” Mrs. Sutton said. ”She comes to keep me company whenever she’s free. Since you kids aren’t here, she’s here to chat with me. You see? She’s such a good person, and her two children are so well-behaved.”

”That’s right. I’m the disobedient one,” Anne couldn’t help retorting, hearing her mother praise someone else’s children while criticizing her own.

She sent Sharon a text message: ”I already told Mom.”

Upon receiving the message, Sharon hurried over.

She had been hiding out, terrified that her mother would yell at her.

Only now that Anne had spoken to their mother did she dare to show up.

Sharon walked in. ”Come here,” Mrs. Sutton said.

Sharon was clearly scared. ”Mom.”

Nevertheless, she walked over to her mother’s side.

Mrs. Sutton was so angry she slapped the back of Sharon’s hand twice. ”Are you trying to kill me with anger?! With all you have to offer, you could have found anyone. Why did it have to be a man like that?”

”Mom,” Sharon said, ”we’re truly in love.”

”Truly in love!” Mrs. Sutton was exasperated. ”Forget it. As long as you’re happy. Do whatever you want! It’s not like I have much longer to live, anyway. Whether your life turns out well or not is your own problem!”

”Don’t say that,” Sharon said. ”My mom is going to live for a very long time. If you were gone, who would cook for me? Your food is the best. I can’t get used to anyone else’s cooking.”

Listening to her mother and sister’s conversation, Anne, who hadn’t felt particularly sad before, suddenly felt a wave of sorrow wash over her.

In her memory, her mother had always been beautiful and loved to dress up.

But now, lying in the hospital bed, she looked exceptionally haggard.

「After leaving the hospital, Anne went to her father’s company, intending to tell him about Sharon.」

As she reached the door, she heard a woman’s voice speaking with her father. ”How is she? Has she been discharged yet?”

”No, she’s still in the hospital.”

”It would be better if she never got out at all!” The woman’s words were dripping with venom.

Anne frowned.

’Are they talking about my mother?’

Sean Sutton said, ”What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you not to come to the office?”

”Yvonne needs a job. You should arrange something for her! She wants to get into the Fawcett Group. You need to arrange it and get her in.”

”I can’t arrange anything with the Fawcett Group.”

”What do you mean you can’t arrange it?” the woman demanded. ”Your other two daughters have had everything since they were little. What does our Yvonne have? She’s your daughter, too! You’re being too biased! Just get her into the Fawcett Group, that’s all! I know you can do it. Didn’t your eldest daughter marry into the Fawcett Family?”