Chapter 104: Chapter 104: The Show Is About to Begin

’If this isn’t masochism, what is?’

She wanted a divorce. She didn’t want to love him anymore. Yet here he was, constantly flaunting his charm in front of her. She ran into him almost every single day.

Noelle Sutton met his displeased gaze without flinching and continued to sign, "Spoil whoever you want. Indulge whoever you want. I can’t afford it. Tristan Lawson, don’t push me."

’Spoiling her? Indulging her?’

Hah.

’It was all just his own self-righteousness.’

She hadn’t felt an ounce of what he claimed. All she knew was that he clearly had someone else in his heart yet still needed her as a shield. He refused to set her free. Every single thing he did only brought her more grief.

"Noelle Sutton." Tristan Lawson’s voice radiated a chilling aura. "I married you to be my wife, and for seven years, you’ve been competent. But lately, you’ve been acting up. If you keep pushing your luck and don’t know what’s good for you, you know your life won’t be easy!"

Noelle Sutton scoffed, her gestures laced with mockery. "Are you going to use the same tactics on me that you use on your business rivals? Fine. Bring it on. I’m not afraid."

’I’m about to die anyway. What else could he possibly do to me?’

Tristan Lawson’s expression was now completely blank. He settled back into the driver’s seat, his elegant hands resting on the steering wheel. His tone grew even colder. "Get out!"

’He didn’t want to see her anymore.’

’If this continued, he didn’t know what he might do.’

He unlocked the car doors.

Hearing the click, Noelle Sutton immediately pushed the door open and stormed off.

The man’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.

His dark eyes were deeper than the night itself.

In the rearview mirror, her departing figure was stubborn, without a trace of reluctance.

Noelle Sutton returned to her hotel room, opened her toolbox, and got to work.

’Since Hugo Sterling was willing to keep her hotel location a secret, maybe she could ask him for help with the divorce.’

’Tristan Lawson’s behavior tonight was a stark reminder that if he decided to break their agreement after a month, he could do so with ease.’ 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

’She never should have trusted him.’

’Tomorrow, she would attend Old Master Sterling’s birthday banquet.’

’No matter how difficult, she had to find a way to leave him and his father.’

「The next day.」

In the afternoon, Noelle Sutton finally finished cutting the gift she had prepared for Old Master Sterling.

She rushed to a frame shop.

Paper-cutting was no longer used just for window decorations, wall hangings, or cabinet adornments.

It had applications in fields related to openwork, such as architectural and fashion design.

Mounting it as a painting was another one of its applications.

Even famous Western masters had integrated paper-cutting with oil painting, mutually enhancing both forms. Few such works survived, but all were considered masterpieces.

’As long as the cutting and application were good, paper-cutting could be extraordinary. Otherwise, the Sterling Family would never have been willing to pay thirty million for her work.’

’And back then, Director Ford wouldn’t have sought her out after seeing her animation that incorporated paper-cutting.’

The old craft, when presented on its own, was rather niche. It didn’t have many fans, but those who truly loved it were certainly nostalgic and sentimental people.

Noelle Sutton had done her homework. The Sterling Family’s ancestors were merchants in a previous dynasty. They fell on hard times during a war, and their ancestral home was damaged. When the local government offered to fund its restoration, Old Master Sterling’s father donated the home to the state. It had since been developed into a historical architectural tourist attraction.

Later, after Old Master Sterling made his fortune, he continuously invested in its repair and expansion.

Because it was a relatively famous local landmark, there was plenty of information about it online. Noelle Sutton found an old photograph of the original Sterling ancestral home.

The photo showed not only the ancestral home but also the bustling market street in front of it, exuding a strong sense of a bygone era.

The younger generation of the Sterling Family had never lived in that house, but Old Master Sterling had spent his childhood there.

’Old Master Sterling would surely love it,’ she thought.

After all, it was Old Master Sterling himself who had provided that very photo to the tourist site.

After the piece was framed, the shop owner even found a piece of red cloth to wrap it in to prevent any bumps or scratches during transport.

Noelle Sutton paid the fee, gave the delivery address, and scheduled the delivery for that evening.

The paper-cutting was quite large, about two meters long, making it impossible to carry by hand.

Noelle Sutton had stayed up until two in the morning, then woken up early again, working all the way until the afternoon to finish it.

Fortunately, her skills hadn’t gotten rusty; otherwise, she wouldn’t have had nearly enough time.

As Noelle Sutton was leaving the frame shop, a message came from Hugo Sterling.

"Noelle, I’m at your apartment to pick you up. Are you not home?"

Noelle Sutton hadn’t expected Hugo Sterling to come to her door personally.

"I’m out right now. I’ll be back soon," she typed.

"Waiting for you."

When Noelle Sutton got home, two people were standing at her door.

One was carrying a large bag on their back, while the other was holding several boxes.

"Noelle, hurry and open the door."

Hugo Sterling’s smile was gentle, making one feel as pleasant as a spring breeze.

Noelle Sutton didn’t know what Hugo Sterling was up to, but with guests at the door, she couldn’t just leave them standing outside.

Noelle Sutton opened the door. After Hugo Sterling stepped inside, he said, "This is the makeup artist I arranged for you. And in the boxes are a gown, shoes, and jewelry I prepared."

’Noelle Sutton had been so busy with the paper-cutting gift for Old Master Sterling that she had forgotten all about this.’

’For a banquet hosted by a wealthy family, an evening gown was, of course, a must.’

Noelle Sutton picked up her phone and typed out a line.

"Thank you for preparing all this for me."

"Don’t be so formal with me. I figured since you’re staying here, you probably didn’t have time to prepare these things. Quick, go to your room, get changed, and do your makeup. We’re on a tight schedule."

Noelle Sutton led the makeup artist into the bedroom.

Hugo Sterling waited in the living room.

’He had spoken with Tristan Lawson and told him not to come, but his own grandfather couldn’t resist calling Tristan personally.’

’Tristan had said he would arrive on time tonight.’

’Therefore, he was going to make sure Noelle Sutton stunned everyone.’

’Tristan Lawson was invincible in the business world. Hugo Sterling was also a man among men, and even a year older than Tristan, but in terms of business prowess, he was still a notch below him.’

’There was almost nothing that could stump Tristan Lawson.’

’Hugo Sterling was quite eager to see if there was truly *nothing* that could stump Tristan Lawson.’

’Noelle Sutton had never appeared in public as Mrs. Tristan Lawson.’

’He could guess the reason—the Lawson Family surely wouldn’t allow it.’

’The Lawsons probably didn’t want to admit that Tristan Lawson had married an ordinary, mute girl.’

’But why did Tristan Lawson marry her?’

’And if he married her, why keep the marriage hidden for so many years?’

’Perhaps he would find out the answer tonight.’

’Hugo Sterling found this all very interesting.’

’After all, for Sophie Hughes’s sake, Tristan Lawson had once been on the verge of giving up his status as the Lawson Family heir.’

After the makeup artist’s meticulous work, Noelle Sutton could hardly believe that the stunning, dazzling woman in the mirror was her.

Noelle Sutton emerged from the bedroom.

Hugo Sterling looked up, his eyes instantly flashing with astonishment.

When he had seen Noelle Sutton the other day, she had been barefaced, and her gentle, elegant beauty was unforgettable.

He hadn’t expected that she could also pull off a completely different kind of beauty—bright, vibrant, and enchanting.

Perhaps because of her docile personality and temperament, the slightly heavier makeup didn’t make her look overly gaudy. Instead, it perfectly showcased a "pure yet seductive" allure.

’No wonder Tristan Lawson was willing to marry her...’

’Most men are easily moved by beauty. It seemed even Tristan Lawson, with his extreme self-control, couldn’t escape this basic male instinct.’

’The show was about to begin!’