Abandoned by All I Took It All Back novel Chapter 486

The table was laden with a spread of fruit and snacks. Grace even gave the child a small gift, a gesture of goodwill.

“Um, sorry about this. Sutton is a bit shy. He’s just getting ready. It won’t be long,” Janina said, feeling awkward. Upstairs, her other brothers and parents were trying to coax Sutton into coming down to meet their guest.

Her job, along with Natalie’s, was to keep the woman entertained and prevent any uncomfortable silences.

The woman, holding her child, smiled and nodded. “It’s no problem.”

She looked around the room and then asked, “Does your whole family live here? What about after the wedding? This house won’t be big enough.”

Janina and Natalie exchanged a glance. They hadn't even gotten to know each other, and she was already bringing up the house.

Still, it was an understandable concern.

Anyone seeing their current circumstances would have the same thought, though most wouldn’t bring it up so bluntly without knowing anything else.

Clearly, this woman was a bit impatient.

The one benefit of dealing with straightforward people was that you didn't have to beat around the bush.

Since the meeting was for Sutton, Janina answered truthfully.

“This is our old family home. We don’t usually live here. Our family lives in downtown Clayborne City. Sutton works on a construction site and rarely comes back. If he gets married, he’ll have his own place.”

The siblings had already discussed these major life decisions among themselves.

Sutton had said that if he were to get married, he would buy a house according to his wife's wishes, wherever that might be.

He had some savings, so a down payment wouldn't be a problem.

But the prerequisite was that they had to actually like each other. He refused to marry a woman who was just looking to get married for the sake of it.

That was why Sutton was so resistant to today's setup.

“It’s just a meeting. No one’s forcing you to get married right away. If you don’t go on these dates, then you need to bring a wife home for me. It’s not that I want to rush you, but you’re at that age. If you don’t hurry, who’s going to want you when you’re older?”

Sutton didn't agree with Grace’s logic. He sounded helpless as he argued back.

“But you can’t expect me to just be a stepdad. I’m not willing to raise another man’s kid.”

Just as the words left his mouth, a slap landed on the back of his head.

Ethan had smacked his son, his tone exasperated.

“You’re in a position to be picky? Take a look at yourself. You’re over thirty and tanned as leather. You should be glad she’s not put off by you. Getting a son for free is a great deal. You don’t have to do any of the work, and poof, you have a son. It’s a good thing.”

Sutton was speechless. Was this really his own father?

West, Nolan, and Seven didn't dare say a word. They saw a reflection of their own futures in Sutton's predicament.