Chapter 4: Don’t You Want to Speak? Editor: Henyee Translations

Noelle Sutton’s eyes grew moist.

It was a message from her university animation tutor, Faith Ford.

An image of Director Ford’s kind and friendly face appeared in her mind. She hadn’t seen her tutor in seven years...

When Noelle was sixteen, she started making paper-cutting animations and posting them on social media, where she was unexpectedly discovered by Director Ford.

At the time, Director Ford was already a leading figure in the visual design industry, yet she had no air of superiority. Instead, she took the initiative to find Noelle and tell her that with her talent, she could recommend her for admission to Glenwater Media University to become her student.

And so, at the age of sixteen, Noelle enrolled at Glenwater Media University.

Director Ford believed she was destined for great things in the world of animation. To teach her, the tutor even learned sign language, investing a great deal of effort into her and fully developing her talent for blending 3D animation with paper cutting.

Her graduation project won the grand prize at the National Animation and Creativity Competition, and many major animation production companies extended offers to her.

But just when her tutor had the highest hopes for her, she chose to give up her career to marry Tristan Lawson and become his supportive wife.

Noelle recalled the last time she saw her tutor, she had actually said she wanted love.

For seven long years, she had been too ashamed to face her tutor. She typed a few insincere words on the screen.

Noelle: I’m doing well.

Her tutor replied quickly: That’s a relief. I didn’t want to bother you, but...

After the message came through, the screen showed that her tutor was typing. After a little while, several consecutive messages arrived from her tutor.

Director Ford: Seven years is long enough for your family life to have stabilized. I have an excellent career opportunity for you, and I don’t want you to miss out again.

Director Ford: Smith, the internationally renowned 3D animation director, saw your graduation project and came to me. He said your fusion of 3D animation and paper cutting is full of ingenuity, and he wants to invite you to join his team.

Director Ford: I explained your mutism to him, and he said there’s a cutting-edge neuroscience team in Aridia that he can refer you to.

Director Ford: Noelle, don’t you desperately want to speak again?

Before Noelle could even read every single word, tears blurred her vision.

Tragically, her tutor didn’t know she only had six months to live.

Six months wasn’t enough time to complete a major animated work, nor was it enough to help someone who hadn’t spoken in over a decade to speak again.

Noelle’s fingers tapped on the screen, rewriting her message several times before sending it.

Noelle: Director Ford, I’m sorry.

In the chat window, the indicator showed her tutor was typing, but in the end, not another word came.

Late that night, Tristan Lawson parked his car at the villa’s entrance. Sophie Hughes got out of the car, carrying a sleeping Joshua Lawson.

"Tristan, have one of the maids come out and get Joshua. I won’t go in."

Tristan frowned, his dark eyes showing a hint of concern. "You always have an allergic reaction when you stay in hotels. Your suitcase is in my car, so you should just stay here tonight."

Sophie paused. "I know you’re concerned about me, but... Noelle doesn’t know I’m your aunt. Women can be sensitive and might misunderstand. Tristan, you’re a married man now. You have to consider Noelle’s feelings more. After all, she is your wife."

Tristan immediately put his arm around Sophie’s shoulders and guided her inside, his voice deep and cold, tinged with a faint indifference. "She doesn’t get to make the decisions in this house."

Sophie went in with a show of reluctance.

Mrs. Miller came to greet them, her expression stiffening when she saw Tristan’s arm around Sophie.

The night before, Mr. Lawson had wanted Sophie Hughes to stay, which had angered his wife so much that she hadn’t come home all day. And now he had brought her back again...

Not seeing Noelle, Tristan’s brows knitted together. "She’s still not back?"

Mrs. Miller shook her head.

"Did you call her?"

"Yes, but her phone is off."

Sophie quickly asked Mrs. Miller, "Where is Joshua’s room?"

"This way. Please follow me."

Mrs. Miller was only a maid. She was angry about Tristan’s actions but didn’t dare to speak up, so she could only lead Sophie to Joshua’s room.

Meanwhile, Tristan walked out to the balcony and dialed Noelle’s number.

Noelle had just gotten into bed when two words flashed on her phone screen: Tristan Lawson.

Her fingers tensed.

When the call connected, Tristan let out a small sigh of relief. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered, and the call disconnected automatically. An inexplicable tightness constricted Tristan’s chest.

Noelle never missed his calls. No matter what she was doing, she would always stop to answer his call first. And now she’d been gone for an entire day.

Sophie came out of Joshua’s room.

On the balcony, Tristan was staring at his phone, his eyes dark. She tightened her lips for a moment, then walked over to him. As she reached him, the corners of her mouth instantly curved into a smile. "Tristan, can’t get a hold of Noelle?"

Tristan hummed a light acknowledgment.

"It’s so late, and she can’t speak. It must not be safe for her out there. Why don’t we go look for her? Think about it, where does she usually go?"

Tristan’s mind drew a blank.

Tristan’s knowledge of Noelle was limited to two facts: she was an orphan and a mute.

The only reason he even knew she liked crystal buns was that he once saw her standing in line outside the Felicity Tower as he was leaving.

The line was very long. She must have really loved them to spend that much time waiting.

Tristan couldn’t help but think of that morning. He had, completely out of character, waited in his car for half an hour while he had his secretary go buy the crystal buns she loved, only to come home and find her gone.

"She just can’t speak; otherwise, she’s perfectly fine. Your foot injury hasn’t fully healed, so you shouldn’t be walking around outside. You didn’t sleep at all last night, so you should get some rest tonight."

Tristan led her to the largest guest bedroom.

After finishing her chores, Mrs. Miller returned to the servants’ quarters. After thinking it over, she decided to call Noelle.

Otherwise, an outsider was going to take the mistress’s place.

Noelle had slept all day, so she was having trouble sleeping at night. When Mrs. Miller’s call came in, she hesitated, wondering if she should answer.

Mrs. Miller had called during the day, too. She knew it was probably about Joshua. She had hesitated several times but ultimately didn’t pick up.

Mrs. Miller finally got through, but since the mistress wouldn’t answer, she had to send a text message.

Mrs. Miller: Ma’am, please come back soon. The master... he brought that woman from last night back home.

Noelle’s expression froze when she saw the message.

Mrs. Miller meant well, reminding her to go back and defend her marriage.

In the past, she might have rushed back immediately. Even knowing she couldn’t win against Sophie, she would have at least tried.

After all, her husband and son were her entire life.

Now, she only had six months left.

The moment she saw Tristan take Sophie to Joshua’s parent-child event, she knew it was time for her to step aside.

Whether she fought for it or not, the ending would be the same.

The next day, after Joshua woke up, he heard the sounds of cooking coming from the kitchen.

Mommy must be back!

He got out of bed happily, washed up, and ran toward the kitchen.

Yesterday’s breakfast hadn’t been very good. He had gotten hungry at school before it was even noon, and the school lunch was even worse.

Usually, his mom would make his lunch in the morning, and at noon, his teacher would help him heat it up in the microwave.

The lunches his mom made were not only delicious but also beautiful to look at. His classmates were so envious of him. Some of the other kids would even stare at his lunch, drooling.

Since he hadn’t brought a lunch yesterday, a lot of his classmates had asked him about it, and he didn’t know how to answer.

This morning, he was going to make sure his mom made his lunch extra special.

Joshua called out for his mom as he walked to the kitchen, but his eyes instantly widened in shock.