Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Suddenly Kissed by Him

Noelle Sutton looked up at Tristan Lawson.

Tristan, however, saw nothing wrong with the situation. His expression was as normal as could be.

On the phone, Director Ford continued, "But I chatted a bit with Smith, and he still wants you to be the one to create this character. Since Tristan is right there, why don’t you two discuss it as a couple first. Once you have an answer, let Smith know."

Tristan Lawson figured Noelle Sutton didn’t need to say anything more. Director Ford had already made the situation perfectly clear.

So he answered on Noelle’s behalf, "Alright. We’ll be in touch soon."

"Sounds good. It’s getting late, so I’ll let you go."

Director Ford hung up.

Tristan was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "I heard from Director Ford tonight that you’ve been preparing diligently. You want to be involved in creating the character for Smith’s new film."

Noelle glared at Tristan, her eyes cold as she signed, "So you came all this way to find me tonight just to talk about this?"

"Partly."

Tristan was surprisingly candid. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

But he had no idea that his candor was like a knife, twisting in Noelle’s heart and leaving it a bloody mess.

’He cares so much about Sophie Hughes’s career, about her future.’

’He’s going to sacrifice me again.’

"Fine. Say what you want. What’s your plan?"

Noelle’s signing became calm.

’She wanted to see just how he would "negotiate" with her for Sophie Hughes’s sake.’

Tristan had come for two reasons: to discuss this matter with her, and to take her home for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

It was a holiday for family reunions; they shouldn’t be apart.

"I have three options."

The corner of Noelle’s lips curled into a barely perceptible sneer.

’How thoughtful of him.’

’He even has three options ready.’

"First, you’re in a better position than she is. You have me. You don’t have to struggle; you’re already successful. You can work or not—it’s up to you."

"Second, I don’t know why Director Ford and Smith both value your talent so highly, thinking you’re a better fit for the role. Sophie Hughes is plenty skilled in this area, too. I can talk to Smith about having you mentor her, and you can complete the character together."

"Third, you take the role, and I’ll fund a new animated film for her, one that’s tailored to her unique style."

Tristan methodically laid out the three options, then asked Noelle, "Which one do you choose?"

Noelle looked at Tristan Lawson and suddenly smiled.

Tristan’s handsome features froze for a moment. His brow furrowed in confusion as he stared at Noelle.

The three options he’d offered were all reasonable and gave her room to choose.

But her smile was somehow unsettling.

She raised her hands to sign, "Why are you so good to Sophie Hughes?"

"Because she’s my aunt. She was with me while I was growing up."

For a long stretch of his life, Sophie Hughes had been by his side.

Noelle lowered her gaze.

The smile hadn’t left her lips.

’He really is a sharp, capable businessman.’

’He can lie without batting an eye, without giving away a single tell.’

’If she hadn’t seen that piece of paper covered with Sophie Hughes’s name, if she didn’t know how much he loved Sophie, she might have actually believed him.’

’She would have surely joined him, a united couple, treating Sophie Hughes as his aunt and working diligently to pave the way for her brilliant career.’

’Thank god she’d found that piece of paper.’

’Otherwise, she would have been a walking joke until the day she died.’

’This sharp, intelligent man could become so utterly foolish for Sophie Hughes’s sake.’

’He has no idea how much those three options wounded her.’

’What woman would be willing to help her own husband pave the way for his "aunt"—no, for his "Auntie Mistress"?’

’What woman would agree to her husband funding a film specifically for his "Auntie Mistress"?’

Noelle didn’t want to answer him.

Every extra word she exchanged with him felt like it was shaving a month off her life.

She listlessly raised her hands to sign, "I’m tired. I’m going to bed."

It was a clear dismissal.

Tristan glanced at his watch. It was late. He didn’t press Noelle for an immediate answer.

Smith wasn’t leaving right away. He could give her some time to think.

"Alright. Get some sleep. We’re heading back to Glenwater first thing in the morning. Where’s the bathroom? I’m going to take a shower."

Noelle’s eyes went wide.

’He’s asking me where the bathroom is?’

’Is he planning to stay here tonight?’

Her fingers flew as she signed, "I meant you should go home. Don’t you get it?"

Tristan’s brows knitted tightly. "You’re kicking me out?"

"Yes!"

Her sign was firm.

But Tristan just chuckled, bent down, and swept her up into his arms, his burning gaze fixed on her. "You little heartless thing. I made a special trip, driving over two hours to pick you up for our trip home for the Mid-Autumn Festival tomorrow. I’ve been busy all day, I’m exhausted, and at this hour, you still want to kick me out."

Noelle was on the verge of losing her mind.

The night before last, in front of Myre River Pavilion, he had angrily kicked her out of the car.

’Does he have selective amnesia?’

In such a short time, he was already acting as if they had never fought.

He continued, "But women always say the opposite of what they mean. I won’t hold it against you. Whether it was anger or arguments, let’s just put a stop to it right here. Okay?"

’All this drama was just wasting both of their time.’

’Time was too precious, flowing away like a river, never to return.’

’Rather than waste it, it was better for him to back down, to admit defeat, and stop bickering with her.’

’There’s no shame in a man losing to his wife.’

Noelle knew his strength. She was in his arms, and if he wasn’t willing to let go, it would be difficult for her to struggle free.

She could only sign, "I’ll get a room ready for you. Put me down."

’It was the same with trying to make him leave; if he refused to go, she couldn’t force him.’

Seeing her compromise and agree to let him stay, he finally put her down.

Noelle straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and led him to her room.

There were only two spare bedrooms in the house.

The one she was staying in used to be her mother’s.

The other one was her grandmother’s.

It wouldn’t be appropriate for him to sleep in her grandmother’s room.

Noelle had just gotten back today and hadn’t had a chance to make the bed yet. She took a quilt and bedding out of the closet and skillfully placed them on the bed, smoothing them out before spreading the sheet.

Tristan leaned against the doorframe, watching her with great interest.

He never realized that a woman focused on chores could be so captivatingly sexy, even when fully clothed and showing no skin.

Noelle was beautiful.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have decided to marry her after their very first meeting all those years ago.

Noelle stood by the bed, stuffing the quilt into its duvet cover, laying it out neatly, then took the pillowcases and covered the pillows as well.

Tristan had already walked slowly up behind her. Just as she finished making the bed and was about to stand up straight, his long, powerful arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

His lips followed, pressing against the pale skin where her neck met her shoulder.

That spot was very sensitive for her.

Whenever he kissed her there, she would tremble.

Caught by his sudden kiss, a tingling sensation instantly spread to every nerve ending in Noelle’s body.

She almost screamed.

She suddenly realized that she didn’t want him to know she could make a sound.

Her vocal cords trembled slightly. She clamped her lips shut, forcefully swallowing the sound that was about to escape.

Tristan’s kiss was hot and wet...