Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Who Is Tristan Lawson’s Wife?

Seeing the growing crowd, Sophie Hughes reminded Hugo Sterling, "Hugo, since Uncle Sterling likes this piece so much, you should have someone put it away quickly. It would be such a shame if it got bumped or damaged."

Old Master Sterling overheard and quickly said, "Hugo, have them take Noelle’s paper-cutting to my study and hang it up."

Old Master Sterling cherished this work more than anyone.

It wasn’t just that he personally adored it; more importantly, Noelle Sutton was Elara’s granddaughter.

Noelle Sutton’s maternal grandmother’s full name was Elara Lowe.

By the time Smith and Tristan Lawson walked over, a servant was already carrying away Noelle Sutton’s paper-cutting.

It was Old Master Sterling’s birthday banquet, so while Smith was curious about the artwork, he felt it would be improper to ask the servant to bring it back for him to see.

Tristan Lawson didn’t think much of it. He already knew Noelle Sutton could do paper-cutting.

’As for how well she did it, her skills were probably on par with doing arts and crafts with Joshua Lawson.’

’It’s just that very few people appreciate paper-cutting these days, so no one really knows much about it. As long as it looks the part, they’ll probably all find it stunning.’

Noelle Sutton’s "A Renaissance Cityscape Painting" had been designed on a computer. Even if it was breathtaking, designing something on a computer versus cutting it by hand were two entirely different concepts. The manual skill required was much greater.

Tristan Lawson believed that Hugo Sterling offering thirty million for Noelle Sutton’s paper-cutting was just an act put on by Hugo and Old Master Sterling. He still had no idea what scheme Hugo was trying to pull.

As for Old Master Shaw, he was a long-time friend of Old Master Sterling, so of course he was in on it with them. And this talk of "long-lost relief-carving paper-cutting"... a computer could design it, but could Noelle Sutton’s hands actually cut it?

He didn’t believe it for a second.

Adrian Grant deliberately teased, "Tristan, everyone brought all sorts of birthday gifts for Grandpa Sterling. How come you walked in empty-handed? Don’t tell me you’re planning to just freeload. That’s not like you."

"Young Master Grant must be joking. How could Tristan Lawson come to a birthday celebration empty-handed? I imagine his gift will stun everyone."

"I think so too. Tristan Lawson is the most successful of the younger generation, and he’s very generous. There’s no way he’d come empty-handed."

...

Everyone was quite curious what gift Tristan Lawson had brought.

After all, this was Old Master Sterling’s 70th birthday banquet—a very important occasion.

Noelle Sutton averted her gaze and looked at Hugo Sterling.

Hugo Sterling had told her Tristan Lawson wouldn’t be coming.

Just as Hugo Sterling was about to explain to Noelle Sutton, Tristan Lawson smiled faintly. "My wife has already presented a birthday gift. Do I need to offer another one?"

Instantly, everyone was stunned.

’Who is Tristan Lawson’s wife?’

Tessa Lawson immediately walked up to Tristan Lawson and said in a cold voice, "Tristan, stop fooling around."

She did not want Tristan Lawson to publicly reveal his and Noelle Sutton’s marriage in front of everyone.

Sophie Hughes’s fists clenched.

’Tristan Lawson had never publicly acknowledged Noelle Sutton. If they could get back together in the future, it would be much smoother. She and Tristan had feelings for each other that went back to childhood; she really didn’t want outsiders to know that Tristan had been with someone else.’

Once, Noelle Sutton had desperately hoped Tristan Lawson would announce their marriage. It would have meant that he acknowledged her.

But now, she didn’t want to have anything to do with Tristan Lawson ever again.

She quickly typed a line of text on her phone and showed it to Hugo Sterling.

"I need to go to the restroom."

"You don’t know where it is. I’ll take you."

Noelle Sutton stood up.

Someone commented, "Why hasn’t she said a single word?"

"Can she not speak?"

"Hugo, is she a mute?"

Even Old Master Sterling didn’t know Noelle Sutton was mute.

But with everyone pointing it out, he belatedly realized that Noelle Sutton hadn’t spoken a single word since she arrived.

Hugo Sterling ignored the questions, protectively gesturing for Noelle Sutton. "This way."

Noelle Sutton couldn’t care less that people were calling her a mute.

Because she was, in fact, a mute.

What she minded more was Tristan Lawson trying to publicly announce their relationship. She just wanted to hide.

However, Tristan Lawson grabbed Noelle Sutton’s wrist, pulled her to his side, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. His dark, deep eyes gazed at her as he asked in a voice as smooth as jade, "Are you going to the restroom?"

Noelle Sutton looked at Hugo Sterling as if pleading for help.

The crowd stared, even more stunned by this scene.

Hugo Sterling smiled. "Tristan, you’re busy. I’ll show her the way."

Tristan Lawson’s gaze turned cold as he stared at Hugo Sterling. "You don’t need to trouble yourself with my wife’s affairs. I know where the restroom is. I’ll take her."

With that, he kept his arm around Noelle Sutton’s shoulder and forcibly steered her away.

Behind them, a flurry of discussion erupted.

"Oh my god, she’s actually Tristan Lawson’s wife?"

"I can’t believe Tristan Lawson married a mute."

"If he was willing to marry a mute, he must really be in love."

As for the few people who were close to Tristan Lawson, each was lost in their own thoughts.

Old Master Sterling, however, was silent for a moment before suddenly laughing. "Excellent. That girl Noelle is both talented and beautiful. She’s more than good enough for Tristan."

He had asked Hugo Sterling to bring Noelle Sutton over because he had wanted to take advantage of this auspicious day to announce that Hugo would marry her.

Noelle Sutton was Elara’s only granddaughter. If she married Hugo Sterling, the Sterling Family could take care of her for the rest of her life.

It would have been his way of repaying Elara.

However, since Noelle Sutton had married Tristan and become Mrs. Lawson, he had nothing to worry about either.

"Old Master Sterling, she’s a mute. How is she worthy of Tristan Lawson?"

"Exactly. It’s unbelievable that the Lawson Family would agree to let Tristan Lawson marry a mute."

"It’s true she’s beautiful and talented, but she’s still a mute. There’s no way she’s good enough for Tristan Lawson. Old Master Sterling, why are you so partial to her?"

Old Master Sterling didn’t care whether Noelle Sutton was mute or not. "Don’t keep calling her a mute. Who would ever choose to be one? Despite her disability, she hasn’t given up on herself. In fact, she’s become so skilled at paper-cutting. What a resilient young woman. Why wouldn’t she be good enough for Tristan Lawson? Tristan grew up standing on the shoulders of giants. But she, an ordinary girl, has achieved such excellence in an intangible cultural heritage. That is far more admirable. She is my honored guest, and I don’t want to hear anyone call her a mute to her face again."

’She is Elara’s granddaughter. No matter what, I have to look out for her and not let anyone look down on her.’

’Since she can’t be my granddaughter-in-law, I’ll just adopt her as my god-granddaughter. I’ll give the girl some backing, so she won’t be mistreated by the Lawson Family.’

Old Master Sterling had already made up his mind. He would change his intended gift of marriage into the gift of adopting a god-granddaughter.

Tristan Lawson escorted Noelle Sutton to the restroom door.

"Go on. I’ll wait for you out here."

Only then did he release her.

Noelle Sutton gave him an indifferent glance and walked into the restroom.

Noelle Sutton scanned her surroundings.

From outside, she could hear Tessa Lawson’s voice.

"Tristan, have you lost your mind? How could you tell all those people that Noelle Sutton is your wife? Do you want everyone in Glenwater to know you married a mute?"

A cold smile touched Noelle Sutton’s lips. She lifted the hem of her dress and climbed out the window.