Chapter 12: Knowingly be the Other Woman? Editor: Henyee Translations

"The media says they got a picture of your mysterious wife..."

Tristan Lawson paused, a complicated expression in his narrow eyes. He was no longer the Tristan she had grown up with. Years of navigating the business world had made him increasingly composed and shrewd.

Sophie Hughes could no longer accurately grasp his thoughts.

A moment later, he slowly uttered two words, "It’s fine."

Sophie was slightly taken aback. He doesn’t mind at all? She continued to persuade him patiently, "But Noelle is your wife."

"She has a marriage certificate. If even that can’t put her at ease, then she’s just being foolish."

Sophie pondered for a moment before saying, "Alright, then. I was just worried she might overthink it. That’s all. You should get some rest."

"Mm."

Tristan Lawson said no more, so Sophie left. He lit a cigarette and glanced at the velvet box on the table. He stood up and placed the box in his suitcase.

Tristan’s phone rang. He walked over to the nightstand and picked up his phone.

It was a call from Old Master Lawson.

"Grandfather."

"Tristan, your family hasn’t been back to the old residence in a long time. Why didn’t you come back for the holiday? I miss our little Joshua."

Tristan sat down and said into the phone, "I took Joshua on a trip."

"The last day of the holiday is my birthday. Bring Noelle and Joshua back to the old residence. I’ve been craving the chicken soup she makes."

"Got it."

Tristan had been raised by Old Master Lawson himself.

Aside from a single conflict seven years ago over that incident, his bond with Old Master Lawson was still very deep.

After ending the call, Tristan Lawson sent a text to Noelle Sutton.

Tristan: The 7th is Grandfather’s birthday. He wants your chicken soup. I don’t care where you are now, you must be back at Westhill Villa on the evening of the 6th!

Noelle was already asleep. She didn’t see the message until the next morning.

Old Master Lawson...

For the past seven years, she has thought of him as the elder of a wealthy family. It was fine that he was usually a bit stern. Her background was so different from Tristan’s; she never dared to hope anyone in the Lawson family would look up to her.

But in the Lawson family, she still did her best to fulfill her duties as Mrs. Lawson. She treated every single person in the Lawson Family with the utmost respect and patience.

However, after Sophie Hughes appeared, Old Master Lawson’s two major emotional outbursts made her face reality.

In Old Master Lawson’s eyes, she was just a tool to tie Tristan down.

Unfortunately, the old master’s calculations were wrong.

How could she possibly have the ability to capture Tristan’s heart?

Things were becoming clearer.

There must have been an extraordinary reason why Tristan took the initiative to marry her seven years ago.

Noelle reined in her thoughts, forcing herself not to think about anything related to Tristan Lawson anymore.

Thankfully, her grandmother left her an old house. Otherwise, having gambled everything on her marriage, she could very well have ended up homeless.

Women who gamble on love often lose miserably.

And she, as expected, became one of them.

Since Noelle hadn’t been back in many years, the house needed a lot of cleaning and organizing. Some parts even needed repairs.

Even if it was only for half a year, she wanted to live comfortably. From now on, she’ll live only to please herself.

After a few days of work, the old house finally started to look presentable.

Noelle decided to buy a computer. Animation production has specific requirements for a computer’s specs.

Half a year wasn’t much time, but she wanted to make up for the regret of not having seriously studied animation for the past seven years.

The house also needed some new things, so Noelle went shopping and didn’t return until after dark. She had just finished putting everything away when a knock came at the door.

That’s strange. Who would come looking for her at this hour?

Noelle went to open the door.

It was Wyatt Yates...

They hadn’t seen each other in many years.

When he was twelve or thirteen, Wyatt’s biological father took him and his mother away to Aridia. However, they had still kept in touch occasionally in the early days.

That was until seven years ago, when she lost her phone in that big fire. After she changed her number, she lost contact with Wyatt Yates.

Wyatt Yates leaned against the doorframe, his gaze gentle and deep. He arched an eyebrow. "Little Mute, don’t you recognize me?"

Noelle’s eyes trembled slightly.

After fifteen years, the once wild and spirited boy had been tempered into a gentle but sharp blade. His gold-rimmed glasses reflected a cool light, adding a touch of refined, mature charm.

The faint, elegant scent of gardenia from bygone years seemed to stir up memories of old times.

When they were children, because Wyatt came from a single-parent family with an unknown father, people were always gossiping behind his back.

To protect his mother’s reputation, he developed a habit of getting into fights from a young age.

In their neighborhood, he was the little boss.

At first, though, their relationship wasn’t that great. He, like everyone else, called her by her nickname, Little Mute.

Later, Noelle wasn’t sure how it happened, but he started looking out for her and forbade anyone else from calling her the Little Mute. He, on the other hand, was the only one who kept calling her Little Mute.

Time really flies.

Noelle politely asked, "When did you return to the country?"

"Just got back. Not going to invite me in for a bit?"

...

Tristan Lawson had just gotten off the plane. His secretary called. "Mr. Lawson, you’re trending."

"You’re contacting me over something this trivial?"

Tristan’s tone was clearly displeased.

"Take a look and see if you want it taken down."

Tristan figured it was just about him winning the Love of Crimson Flame at the auction the other day. He was unconcerned.

"No need."

Tristan closed his phone.

Joshua Lawson happily walked toward the airport exit, holding Tristan’s hand with one of his and Sophie Hughes’s with the other.

The exit was swarming with people.

Suddenly, a horde of reporters surged forward.

Camera flashes flickered incessantly at Tristan Lawson and Sophie Hughes.

"Mr. Lawson, the Lawson Group just officially announced that you’ve been married for seven years, but Mrs. Lawson is not the woman by your side. Is she your mistress?"

"Is the child yours with this woman?"

"Ma’am, are you knowingly being a third party?"

"Mr. Lawson, a few days ago, someone photographed you giving the Love of Crimson Flame to Mrs. Lawson. Is the Love of Crimson Flame currently with Mrs. Lawson, or with this mistress?"

...

Sophie Hughes’s face turned deathly pale. She turned her head, looking at Tristan Lawson with a wronged expression.

At that moment, the onlookers also began to point and stare at Sophie.

Tristan pulled out his phone and opened the social media.

The Lawson Group’s official account had posted a picture of his and Noelle Sutton’s marriage certificate. A mocking curve appeared on his lips.

Tristan put his phone away and looked up, meeting Sophie’s grief-stricken gaze. He lifted Joshua into one arm, wrapped his other around Sophie’s shoulders, and shot a cold, harsh glare at the questioning reporters.