Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Knowing What His Reminder Meant

Noelle Sutton went to the room where Tristan Lawson was, walked to his side, and signed, "Leave."

Tristan Lawson had never been treated so coldly. No one had ever dared to kick him out before he was ready to leave.

Noelle was the first.

A bitter, self-mocking laugh rose within him.

His dark eyes locked onto Noelle’s face. "That incident was my fault. But can’t you see any of the guilt and remorse I’ve shown since then? We’ve been married for seven years. Besides that one thing, when have I ever wronged you? Don’t you think you’ve been taking things too far lately?"

They were words spoken in anger, and as soon as they left his lips, his fury surged anew. His voice grew even colder and harder. "You should take a good look at yourself. If you hadn’t kept rejecting me, would I have had to treat you that way?"

Noelle was so stunned that the corners of her mouth curved into a cold sneer.

’He was actually trying to shift the blame onto her.’

’According to his logic, are girls who get assaulted to blame for being beautiful and vulnerable?’

’Isn’t it the abuser who’s disregarding the law? Disregarding the fundamental morals and ethics of our society?’

’How could he even have the audacity to ask what else he’d done to wrong her, aside from that one incident?’

They were just infuriating words.

Noelle didn’t want to waste any more emotional energy on these matters. Her time was running out, and she needed to go for another check-up soon.

Her doctor had told her she needed to maintain a positive emotional state, as liver problems were closely linked to a person’s emotions.

She signed helplessly, "Fine. It’s all my fault. You’re not wrong. You’ve made a very good point. Can you leave now?"

Tristan Lawson remained completely still, showing no intention of leaving.

"I didn’t come here to argue with you, Noelle. Let’s not waste time. We’ll talk about what’s important, and then I’ll go."

Noelle could only find it laughable.

’Sophie Hughes had just tried to talk to her, and now Tristan was here too.’

’She didn’t want to know any of it.’

She signed, "Whatever you want to discuss, take it to my lawyer. From now on, the only thing I’m willing to discuss with you is our divorce."

Noelle’s signed words made his heart sink into absolute despair.

Tristan felt himself on the verge of being truly enraged. He had been patient enough.

Noelle was driving him to his wit’s end.

It was as if she didn’t even see that he was injured, showing a complete lack of concern.

He pursed his thin lips, his dark eyes as black as ink.

Noelle picked up her bag from the entryway, slung it over her shoulder, and left without even glancing at Tristan Lawson.

’If he wouldn’t leave, then she would!’

Inside the elevator, Noelle’s face was a complete blank.

’After what had happened between them, she couldn’t understand how he had the gall to appear before her again.’

’Once, she had believed that he was the only one for her in this life.’

’But the suffocating pain and endless disappointment, time and time again, had ground away the deep love she thought she possessed, leaving nothing behind.’

Tristan, for his part, was growing more and more agitated.

He couldn’t help but think of Hugo Sterling. If Hugo hadn’t insisted on interfering, Tristan wouldn’t be lying here, unable to move, without even the strength to stop Noelle from walking out.

He sent Hugo Sterling a text message.

*Come to Noelle’s apartment.*

Then he called for the medical personnel and had them push his hospital bed into Noelle’s bedroom.

On the vanity, he spotted a few strands of hair on a wooden comb. He collected them and placed them in a transparent, self-sealing bag.

He had Hugo Sterling’s hair in another self-sealing bag that was already labeled. Tristan shoved both bags into his pocket.

This matter was extremely important; he didn’t want anyone to know about it.

He had to deliver them for testing himself.

Hugo Sterling received the message and set out immediately. He was anxious the entire way; Tristan had gone to see Noelle so quickly.

’He wondered if things had blown up between them.’

When Hugo arrived, he found the apartment door ajar, with two medical personnel standing just outside.

Hugo stepped inside and called out, "Tristan."

"In the bedroom."

Tristan’s voice drifted out. Hugo walked to the master bedroom’s entrance and saw Tristan’s hospital bed positioned right next to the regular bed.

Hugo leaned against the doorframe and let out a heavy breath. "Just look at you. Are you sure you’re still the CEO of the Lawson Group?"

Covered in injuries, his leg broken, his gauze damp, his clothes stained with water, and the hair on his forehead still not completely dry.

He clearly looked like he’d had water thrown on him.

It was a pathetic sight.

"And you have the nerve to say that!"

Hugo pinched the bridge of his nose. "Where’s Noelle?"

"Gone."

"She’s gone? Then what did you call me here for?"

Hugo was utterly confused.

"I can’t move around. The job of finding her is up to you. Contact me when you’ve found her."

"That’s it?"

Tristan hummed softly in agreement.

"You couldn’t have said this over the phone? You had to make me come all the way here? I was worried the whole way."

Tristan narrowed his eyes at him. "You’re the one who caused this mess. If you don’t do the legwork, would that be fair to *my* leg?"

"And what about you? You’re just going to wait here."

"What else am I supposed to do?"

He had a premonition that if he didn’t stay by her side, she would truly be gone for good. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"As long as you’re here, she’s not coming back. Tristan Lawson, have some damn pride, will you? The woman left the moment you got here. It’s so obvious she despises you and doesn’t want to see you. How can you be so shameless? I remember you being a proud man. Don’t you find it embarrassing to stay here? For God’s sake, can’t you just give her some space?"

"Me, shameless? That’s easy for you to say—you’re not the one in this position! Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused me? If it were anyone else, do you think you’d still have the chance to stand here in front of me?"

Tristan Lawson was very close with the Sterling siblings. Back when he was in the senior class of kindergarten, the youngest Miss Sterling was in the junior class. They often went to school together, and she would always seek him out at kindergarten, to the point that people often mistook her for his little sister.

They were very close childhood playmates. Later, after the youngest Miss Sterling went missing, it was said that on that day she had been on her way to the Lawson residence to give Tristan a birthday cake. She never returned.

Tristan’s birthday was the same day as the anniversary of his mother’s death. He had never celebrated it, ever since he was born, and he had not invited the youngest Miss Sterling to the Lawson residence to spend his birthday with him.

The Sterling Family knew this and never blamed Tristan.

It was for this very reason that Tristan had been endlessly tolerant of Hugo Sterling all these years.

Hugo stood up straight and said coldly, "You’re impossible. I don’t even know how to reason with you anymore. Even though I’m helping Noelle, I’ve given you the warnings you needed to hear. You’ll have time later to try and win her back. Why must you be so stubborn!"

The other day, Hugo had told him to focus on healing, or he might not be able to show up in court.

Tristan knew what he meant.

But he couldn’t seem to bear this feeling of losing control, stubbornly wishing everything could just go back to the way it was before.