Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Say the Softest Words, Use the Sharpest Knife

If she didn’t have cancer.

A month wouldn’t be a big deal. She could wait.

But her life was slipping away.

She simply couldn’t afford to waste another month.

It had been over half a month since her cancer diagnosis. She only had a little more than five months left.

If things dragged on like this, the agreement wouldn’t take effect for another month. After that, she’d have to apply for a divorce and wait through the one-month cooling-off period.

It would be nearly three months before she could get the divorce certificate.

By then, she would only have two months left.

Noelle Sutton sat helplessly. Her hand, which had been tightly gripping the agreement, slowly fell to her side. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Tristan Lawson’s brow furrowed in displeasure. ’Does she really want to leave me that badly?’

’Isn’t she just throwing a tantrum?’

’No, he refused to believe it.’

’She’s a mute, an orphan who used to live in a tiny little house like this.’

’After marrying him, she became part of the elite.’

’How could she possibly give up a life like this?’

’Even if she’s hit the seven-year itch, there’s no way she could leave Joshua Lawson.’

’Besides, how could he let her dump him? A mute like her—what right did she have to dump him?’

"Alright, stop looking like your world is ending. The lawyer made a mistake, and I’ve already reprimanded him. You want a divorce, but there’s no need to rush it by a month or two."

With that, Tristan Lawson walked over to her.

He’d always thought Noelle was easy to placate.

Only now was he discovering that his woman wasn’t nearly as easy to placate as he’d imagined.

’It didn’t matter.’

’He loved a challenge.’

’And he refused to believe he couldn’t win her over.’

He crouched down and took Noelle’s hand. She seemed emotionally overwhelmed, her face blank, and she didn’t struggle or pull away.

He gently intertwined his fingers with hers, his posture considerably humbled.

"If you’re still angry, I’ll take you back home and have the lawyer come over. You can reprimand him yourself—yell at him however you want. Hmm?"

Noelle looked at Tristan Lawson, her expression impassive.

His eyes were very deep.

They were like whirlpools. When he focused on someone, he could appear incredibly devoted.

It only took a second to get lost in them.

’But she was furious.’

’How could such a man exist?’

’Furious one moment, then tender and soft the next.’

’It was utterly, transparently fake.’

’And yet, she’d been unable to see through it, lost in his deception for seven whole years.’

If she could, she would have screamed at him, demanding to know how he managed to make it all seem so real.

’Let her scold the lawyer herself? Who was he kidding? He was Tristan Lawson. His projects were worth hundreds of millions, if not billions. Was his legal team, were his lawyers, just for show?’

’Would they really make such a rookie mistake?’

Suddenly, she wrenched her hand free and began to sign furiously, her fingers flying. "Tristan Lawson, why are you lying to me? Do you really think your lawyer would dare make a mistake like that without your permission? All I want is a divorce! Why can’t you grant me this one, simple wish?"

She was so furious her chest felt tight. The rage made her signs messy and disjointed, and she had to pause occasionally.

She continued signing, "I’ve been married to you for seven years. In all that time, I have never asked you for a single thing. Today, I’m begging you. For the sake of the seven years I’ve selflessly dedicated to this family, please, let me go. Will you?"

She signed the last two words very slowly, her hands mimicking the pleading tone of a spoken voice.

Tristan Lawson understood sign language. After seven years together, he could read the emotions behind her gestures better than anyone.

Tristan Lawson’s throat felt tight, and a dull ache spread through his chest.

He had never seen her look so sorrowful.

He took a deep breath and asked in a low, husky voice, "Did I do something wrong? Is that why you’re so upset?"

’I’ve never mistreated her,’ he thought. He was busy with work, but he’d always provided for her—money, jewelry, clothes, shoes, bags. She had everything a woman could want, and he never skimped.

’Whenever he returned from a business trip, he made sure to please her in bed, giving her the best experience.’

’As for why he never introduced her to anyone, there were reasons for that, too.’

’Aside from not spending enough time with her, he had fulfilled all his obligations as a husband.’

He had always been very satisfied with their marriage.

She was a dutiful wife, and he, he thought, was satisfied with that.

’So when, exactly, had she become so dissatisfied with their marriage? With him?’

Tristan Lawson’s gentle, seemingly sincere question nearly brought tears to Noelle’s eyes.

’It wasn’t that he couldn’t see her sorrow.’

’He could see it perfectly well.’

’He just always chose to ignore it.’

Tristan Lawson was holding her hand, so she couldn’t answer him.

Tristan Lawson coaxed her again in a low voice, "This is my first time being a husband. If I’m not doing something right, you can tell me. I’ll change. How about that?"

He was rarely this patient.

He truly couldn’t stand seeing her so upset.

Her sad, vacant eyes seemed to carve a hollow space in his heart.

’She didn’t need him to change.’

’She had loved before. She knew all too well that loving someone deeply was the hardest habit to break.’

’Take her, for example. She simply couldn’t love him anymore; she didn’t want to.’

’Uprooting the vine of love that had grown so deep in her heart would take time.’

’Besides, Sophie Hughes was his aunt.’

’She would be a part of their lives forever.’

’She couldn’t compare to his status or his position.’

’But they were both legal citizens with equal rights. When it came to their marriage, she had the exact same rights as he did.’

’She could not accept her husband being in love with another woman.’

’A marriage was for two people. How could there possibly be room for a third?’

Just then, Tristan Lawson’s phone rang.

He let go of Noelle’s hand, stood up, and with a smooth, elegant motion, reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket to retrieve his phone.

It was Director Ford.

"Hello, Director Ford."

Noelle’s thoughts stuttered when she heard the name "Director Ford."

"Tristan, I’ve been trying to call Noelle all day, but her phone is off. I still can’t get through. Is she at home?"

"She’s not home, but she’s with me."

Tristan Lawson glanced down at Noelle, who was also looking up at him.

On the other end of the line, Director Ford said, "Um... can you put her on the phone?"

Director Ford had originally wanted to talk to Tristan, to ask him to stop recommending Sophie Hughes to Smith and tell him that Noelle was a better fit. But she didn’t feel comfortable saying that to Tristan directly, so she decided it was better to speak with Noelle first and let Noelle handle the discussion with her husband.

"Sure."

Tristan Lawson didn’t refuse. Noelle seemed so heartbroken tonight; maybe talking to Director Ford would cheer her up a little.

Tristan Lawson switched the call to speakerphone.

"Director Ford wants to talk to you," he said. "Just sign what you want to say, and I’ll relay it for you."

"Noelle..."

Director Ford’s familiar voice drifted from the phone. "I have to apologize to you. Smith came to my studio today and said Tristan had approached him about a role in his film. I just assumed you two had discussed it. Since he’s so familiar with Smith, I thought he was fighting for the role on your behalf, which made Smith misunderstand as well. It wasn’t until we all met up tonight and Tristan showed up with Sophie Hughes that we realized she was the one he was recommending..."

Noelle’s fingers curled into a tight fist.

’Hah.’

’So that’s what all his sweet talk was about.’

’He probably wanted her to play the part of the supportive wife and help him secure the role for Sophie Hughes!’

’He... How could he be so cruel!’

’Speaking the gentlest words while wielding the sharpest knife!’