Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Destroying Her Final Illusion

Tristan Lawson raised an eyebrow. "When are you going to drop this nasty habit? You’re the young lady of the Lawson family, for god’s sake. Why do you keep calling her ’the mute’? She’s my wife. What’s there to hide?"

Tessa Lawson stared at Tristan Lawson, silent for a moment before she said slowly, "You’ve been so protective of her lately. Have you started to develop feelings for her?"

Tristan Lawson paused briefly. "Can’t you see she’s been acting out lately? Do you want me to get a divorce?"

’Sophie Hughes is back. If Tristan gets a divorce, there’s no guarantee he won’t rekindle things with her.’

’She’d rather see Tristan with that mute than with Sophie Hughes.’

Tessa Lawson’s lips trembled. "Of course I don’t want that," she said. "But you don’t have to reveal her identity publicly. And don’t always blame me for calling her a mute. She *is* a mute. Besides, she hasn’t been behaving herself lately, causing you so much trouble. It makes me angry."

"That’s enough. Stay out of my business with her. If you don’t want to see me get divorced, then be more polite to her."

Tessa Lawson didn’t say anything more and left.

After leaving Sterling Villa, Noelle Sutton sent a text to Hugo Sterling, telling him she had to leave early for something.

Hugo Sterling received the text and went to the restrooms, where he found Tristan Lawson still standing by the door.

"Tristan, where’s Noelle?"

"She hasn’t come out yet."

As he spoke, Hugo Sterling started to walk into the restroom.

Tristan Lawson grabbed him. "What do you think you’re doing? This is the women’s restroom!"

"Noelle texted me. She said she had to leave early."

Tristan Lawson let go of Hugo Sterling and hurried into the restroom. He opened both stall doors but didn’t see Noelle Sutton.

Worried Noelle Sutton might still be in the restroom, Hugo Sterling didn’t dare go in after him.

Tristan Lawson noticed the restroom window was open, looking out onto an empty lot.

His expression suddenly darkened.

He came out of the restroom.

Hugo Sterling went up to him. "Where is she?"

"Gone."

Hugo Sterling muttered, "How could this happen... My grandpa was about to accept her as his god-granddaughter. The guest of honor has run off. How are we supposed to announce it now...?"

Tristan Lawson was irritated. "Hugo Sterling, are you out of your mind? If you want to go against me, then do it yourself. What kind of man drags his grandfather into it?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean I dragged my grandpa into this to go against you?"

’Noelle Sutton’s paper-cutting had won over his grandfather’s heart. Besides, he could tell that since Noelle was mute, she probably wasn’t well-regarded in the Lawson family. He was just trying to help her out.’

’He also wanted to see what Tristan Lawson was really thinking. How did that turn into him deliberately going against him?’

"You know damn well what you’re doing!"

Tossing out that last sentence, Tristan Lawson turned and left.

"Tristan Lawson, you..."

Hugo Sterling wanted to explain, but he didn’t get the chance.

Old Master Sterling wanted to recognize Noelle Sutton as his god-granddaughter, but of course, that required Noelle’s consent. He was waiting for word from Hugo Sterling, only for Hugo to return and say that Noelle had to leave early.

So, the matter had to be dropped for now.

However, Old Master Sterling instructed Hugo Sterling, "See if you can invite her over to our house again tomorrow. I have a gift for her."

"I’ll ask her later."

The Sterling family’s birthday banquet continued, but both Tristan Lawson and Noelle Sutton had already left.

With Tristan Lawson gone, Sophie Hughes lost interest and left as well, seeing it was getting late.

As soon as she left, Kyle Sawyer naturally followed.

Tessa Lawson had originally intended to complain to Old Master Sterling about Hugo Sterling, but after so much time, her initial anger had mostly subsided, and she lost interest in tattling. The banquet was winding down, and seeing some guests beginning to leave, she bid Old Master Sterling farewell.

Of the familiar group, only Adrian Grant remained. He was now drinking with Hugo Sterling.

"Your old man seems to really like Tristan’s wife."

Adrian Grant was a little curious.

They were all friends who had grown up together, so they had a pretty good understanding of each other’s personalities.

Hugo Sterling helping Noelle Sutton made a certain kind of sense; he probably just wanted to mess with Tristan.

But he couldn’t quite figure out Old Master Sterling’s part in it.

Hugo Sterling smiled. "Noelle Sutton is the granddaughter of his first love."

"Oh, so that’s how it is."

Adrian Grant felt a sense of sudden realization.

It wasn’t just the Sterlings who knew about Old Master Sterling’s first love.

All of them, his childhood friends, knew about it.

He’d heard that his first love was a master of the traditional art of paper-cutting, which was why he started collecting all sorts of paper-cuttings after he retired.

Adrian Grant clinked glasses with Hugo Sterling and said with a smile, "I never would’ve thought. It’s such a small world."

Hugo Sterling sighed. "It’s small in some ways, but big in others. Like my little sister... so many years, and still no word."

Adrian Grant patted Hugo Sterling’s shoulder. "Didn’t Tristan promise to help? With all the big data and information available now, you’ll probably get some news soon."

"I hope so."

Tristan Lawson returned to Westhill Villa, but Noelle Sutton still wasn’t back.

His chest felt tight and restless, so he went outside.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and the night air was at its most pleasant. Tristan Lawson sat down in the outdoor gazebo and lit a cigarette.

A few moments later, Sophie Hughes arrived.

In the dim light, the smoke Tristan Lawson exhaled swirled around him, his handsome face appearing and disappearing in the haze, adding to his mysterious charm.

It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Tristan Lawson’s voice was mild. "It’s late. Why aren’t you resting? What brings you here?"

Sophie Hughes stared at Tristan Lawson, her gaze deep, and spoke in a low, hoarse voice. "Tristan... we... I know we can’t be together. But when you got married, you promised me. You promised that even though you were marrying Noelle Sutton, you would keep it a secret, that you wouldn’t publicly announce your marriage. But tonight..."

Sophie Hughes bit her lower lip, her heart filled with sorrow. "I know my place. I know our relationship was doomed to end this way. Do you have any idea what your promise meant to me? It was the belief that gave me the courage to keep living. Even if we have to carry the burden of being aunt and nephew for the rest of our lives, just thinking of that promise made me feel like I was special to you, different from everyone else."

Tears welled up in Sophie Hughes’s eyes, threatening to overflow. Her eyelids trembled, and the corners of her mouth curved into an almost hopeless arc.

"But why did you have to destroy my last shred of hope?"

Tristan Lawson took a deep drag from his cigarette, just looking at Sophie Hughes, his expression unreadable.

Sophie Hughes had no idea what he was thinking.