Chapter 188: Chapter 188: This Isn’t a Small Tiff, It’s Divorce

Old Mrs. Hughes quickly got up again, pulling Old Mr. Hughes along. She said happily, "She must really be here this time. Tessa, Sophie, come with me to greet them."

We have to make it a grand welcome.

Given Tessa Lawson’s usual attitude, she would never have gone out to greet Noelle Sutton. Today, however, she was determined to do just that. She wanted to make sure Sophie Hughes understood that Tristan Lawson was a married man and that she should kill any hope she had.

The gate to the villa’s courtyard opened.

Hugo Sterling held the framed artwork, with Noelle Sutton standing beside him.

Tristan Lawson was at the very back of the crowd, but he still spotted Noelle Sutton from afar.

She possessed a quiet gentleness, an aura that seemed to soften the very air around her.

The moment Old Mrs. Hughes and Old Mr. Hughes saw Noelle Sutton, they were immensely pleased.

’It doesn’t matter that she can’t speak.’

’She’s beautiful, gentle, and serene. A girl like her is a fine match for Tristan Lawson.’

’Someone too loud and bubbly would look out of place next to Tristan.’

Old Mrs. Hughes came forward with a beaming smile. "Hugo, this must be Noelle."

Hugo Sterling nodded.

Old Mrs. Hughes took Noelle Sutton’s hand. "I’m Tristan’s grandmother," she said. "Come, let’s get you inside."

Seeing the old woman’s warmth toward Noelle Sutton made Sophie Hughes deeply uncomfortable. She felt powerless, as if something that belonged to her had been stolen.

After entering the villa, Noelle Sutton barely glanced at Tristan Lawson.

They had just sat down when Old Mrs. Hughes took out the pearl bracelet. "Noelle, this is a welcome gift for you. Here, let Grandma help you put it on."

Noelle Sutton and Tristan Lawson were getting a divorce, so she was reluctant to accept a gift from Old Mrs. Hughes.

But she had only just arrived. If she brought it up now, the evening would end on a sour note.

The elderly couple seemed to be in high spirits and were very warm toward her. ’Perhaps it wasn’t their fault that we haven’t met in seven years.’

They were getting on in years, and this was their first meeting. Noelle Sutton wasn’t so unreasonable as to disrespect her elders.

As the saying goes, you don’t turn away a smiling face. Being mute, she had encountered all sorts of people over the years, and it was clear that Old Mr. Hughes and Old Mrs. Hughes were a very kind and cultured couple.

Old Mrs. Hughes slipped the pearl bracelet onto Noelle Sutton’s wrist and remarked admiringly, "It looks so beautiful on you, Noelle."

Hugo Sterling quickly presented the framed artwork. "Grandpa Hughes, Grandma Hughes, this is a gift Noelle prepared for you."

He removed the protective cloth, revealing a line of elegant yet powerful characters in small seal script.

A long-absent light flickered in Tristan Lawson’s eyes.

’He’d seen the relief paper-cutting technique before; Noelle was skilled enough to do it entirely by hand. As for the line of small seal script, it would be impossible to cut such precise outlines without a strong foundation in calligraphy.’

Old Mr. Hughes, who had a particular interest in calligraphy, found his gaze captured by the paper-cut artwork.

"It’s handmade?"

Knowing Noelle Sutton couldn’t answer, Old Mr. Hughes turned to Hugo Sterling.

"Yes, it’s entirely handmade paper-cutting. It’s hard to tell, isn’t it? Your grandson’s wife is skilled in the long-lost art of relief paper-cutting. My own grandfather is a great admirer of her work."

Old Mr. Hughes nodded in satisfaction. Paper-cutting had been much more common when he was a child, so he could tell that Noelle Sutton’s technique was exquisite. And it went without saying that her calligraphy showed considerable skill as well.

’She’s truly a wonderful girl, worthy of our Tristan.’

Old Mr. Hughes praised her, "I had no idea you were skilled in both paper-cutting and calligraphy. You’re a truly impressive young woman."

"Yes, she’s a perfect match for our Tristan. Tristan’s small seal script is also excellent."

Old Mrs. Hughes’s eyes were filled with gratification and admiration. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Tessa Lawson pursed her lips. ’Whatever, it’s not like I can appreciate some paper-cutting art. I don’t get what these old people are thinking. They all seem to love it.’

’She’s a mute. Why are they making such a big deal out of her?’

Old Mr. Hughes had someone take the paper-cut artwork to his study. The staff had dinner ready, so the group moved to the dining room.

Old Mrs. Hughes deliberately had Noelle Sutton sit next to her, with Tristan Lawson on Noelle’s other side, hoping to strengthen their bond as a couple.

’It would be for the best if they could talk things through tonight and resolve that little tiff Tristan mentioned.’

Hugo Sterling sat across from Noelle Sutton. ’I promised Noelle I’d protect her if Tristan tries anything,’ he thought. ’I just hope tonight goes smoothly. I brought her here, and I’ll see her home safely.’

Tristan Lawson still hadn’t said a single word to Noelle Sutton. It was Old Mrs. Hughes who kept the conversation going with her. During the meal, Old Mrs. Hughes even reminded Tristan, "Go on, put some food on Noelle’s plate."

Tristan Lawson carefully selected dishes that Noelle Sutton liked and placed them in her bowl, his every movement meticulous and deliberate.

Sophie Hughes was also sitting across from them. As she watched the scene unfold, the blood in her veins ran cold.

’This identity as the second daughter of the Hughes family is becoming more and more of a burden. Here, in my own home, I don’t dare to get too close to Tristan.’

’Just endure it. Only ten more days, and they’ll be divorced.’

Noelle Sutton didn’t speak. Throughout the evening, she communicated only by nodding or shaking her head, while the Hughes elders constantly expressed their concern for her well-being.

In front of the elderly couple, she didn’t refuse Tristan Lawson’s attentive gestures at the dinner table.

After dinner, Old Mrs. Hughes finally brought up their quarrel. She took Noelle Sutton’s hand and said earnestly, "Marriage isn’t easy, and conflicts are sometimes unavoidable. Tristan can be a bit cold, so I hope you can be patient with him. If he ever does anything to upset you or bullies you, you just tell me, and I’ll be sure to give him a good talking-to."

The old woman was trying to resolve their "little tiff."

Little did she know it was a major conflict, one that was leading to divorce.

Noelle Sutton had no intention of hiding the truth from the elderly couple. They really were getting a divorce, and she didn’t want them to continue trying to force her and Tristan Lawson together in ignorance.

Noelle Sutton took out her phone and typed a message: "Grandma Hughes, the issue between Tristan and me isn’t some small conflict. We’re getting a divorce. I didn’t want to come tonight, but I only agreed because he approached Mr. Sterling, and I didn’t want to put Mr. Sterling in a difficult position. This is my first time visiting the Hughes Family, and it will also be my last. Afterward, I’ll have Hugo Sterling return the pearl bracelet to you."

When she finished typing, Noelle Sutton handed the phone to Old Mrs. Hughes.

After reading the message, Old Mrs. Hughes said anxiously, "Why a sudden divorce? I only just met you today!"

Immediately, Old Mrs. Hughes glared at Tristan Lawson. "Tristan, did you do something to bully Noelle? You had better explain yourself to me tonight."

’Their son is already six years old, and they’ve been married for seven years. How can they just get divorced so easily?’

Just then, Tessa Lawson cut in, glaring at Noelle Sutton. "Grandpa and Grandma were so happy to finally meet you today. Are you bringing up such unpleasant things just to upset them? You talk about divorce, but if you leave Tristan, do you really think you can find a better man?"