Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Actually a Little Slut

When you’re sick, you’re always emotionally vulnerable. It’s only natural for a child to want their mother.

"Don’t say that. Of course your mother loves you."

Noelle Sutton felt a sliver of comfort upon hearing Tristan Lawson’s voice.

Sophie Hughes added, "Don’t be afraid, Joshua. I’m here too."

"Sophie, you’re so nice."

Tristan Lawson came out, carrying Joshua Lawson.

Sophie Hughes followed beside them.

They all saw Noelle Sutton.

Her gaze gentle, Noelle Sutton stepped forward and reached out her hands, wanting to take Joshua Lawson from Tristan Lawson’s arms.

"Mommy..."

The last time Joshua Lawson had a fever, he was groggy and listless, but it was just uncomfortable.

This time, it was a stomachache. The pain was hard to bear, and children have an even lower tolerance for pain.

In the past, whenever his stomach hurt, his mother would hold him and rub his belly, which would help ease the pain quite a bit.

Tonight, Noelle Sutton’s state of mind was different. Hearing her son call out "Mommy" with such dependence, her heart softened even more than it had when he had a fever.

Her eyes grew moist. She couldn’t even wait for Tristan Lawson to hand the child to her; she just took Joshua Lawson directly from his arms.

Joshua Lawson wrapped his arms around Noelle Sutton’s neck and said in a low, pained voice, "Mommy, rub my tummy. It hurts so much..."

Noelle Sutton quickly patted Joshua Lawson’s back and hurried downstairs.

She couldn’t use sign language while holding the child, but Tristan Lawson still understood what she meant. He turned his head to Sophie Hughes and said, "You just got off the plane today. Stay home and rest. Noelle and I will take Joshua to the hospital."

"Okay. Be safe on the road."

Tristan Lawson went downstairs with steady steps.

At this moment, Sophie Hughes had no desire to get involved.

From the way Joshua Lawson had just been acting, it was clear he really wanted Noelle Sutton.

If she went over, she would only be making things awkward for herself.

’It’s strange, though. Why would Joshua Lawson suddenly want his mother?’

’And Tristan Lawson... his attitude toward that mute was surprisingly gentle.’

Sophie Hughes walked into the room and stood by the window, watching Tristan Lawson’s car drive away from the villa.

Then she went downstairs.

She pushed open the door to the master bedroom.

On the table in the bedroom’s sitting area was a half-eaten birthday cake.

On the nightstand, there was also a disposable plate left over from the cake.

’Today wasn’t Tristan’s birthday, nor was it Joshua Lawson’s.’

’So, it must be Noelle Sutton’s birthday.’

’Tonight, Tristan Lawson had been in the room with her and Joshua Lawson. He’d kept checking his watch, and then around ten o’clock, he’d gone downstairs. A moment later, she’d heard a car start.’

Sophie Hughes clenched her fists.

The bedding and sheets were a mess.

There was also a bath towel tossed carelessly on the floor.

Upon closer inspection, there was even a damp patch on the sheets.

Sophie Hughes’s fists clenched tighter. She turned and left the master bedroom.

’Has Tristan really developed feelings for that mute?’

’Before, when I wasn’t here, they got married, had a child, and were together. I couldn’t see it, so I didn’t care.’

’But I’m here now, and he’s still... with that mute...’

’Last time, her mouth even ended up bleeding.’

’Tristan Lawson still seemed to care about their past. Why would he maintain such an intimate relationship with Noelle Sutton now that I’m back by his side?’

’She refused to believe Tristan Lawson would be like this. It had to be that mute, Noelle Sutton. She looked all quiet and gentle but was actually a little slut who had seduced him.’

’In her memory, Tristan Lawson was definitely not the type of man to be indulgent when it came to physical relationships.’

’He exuded an air of asceticism from head to toe.’

’That damn mute!’

Noelle Sutton rubbed Joshua Lawson’s stomach the entire way, but the pain didn’t lessen in the slightest.

Noelle Sutton had a feeling this wasn’t a normal stomachache.

She was very worried.

Tristan Lawson sped up.

At the hospital, the doctor examined Joshua Lawson and diagnosed him with acute appendicitis. He needed surgery immediately.

’No wonder the stomach pain had been so sudden and persistent.’

Noelle Sutton was very worried and anxious to ask the doctor about the situation, but she couldn’t speak.

Tristan Lawson knew what she wanted to ask and asked all the necessary questions for her.

The doctor said it was just a minor surgery and there would be no danger.

Soon, Joshua Lawson was wheeled into the operating room.

Even though the doctor said it wasn’t serious, it was still surgery, and Noelle Sutton was extremely worried.

She stood at the door to the operating room, her heart nearly leaping out of her chest to follow him inside.

She blamed herself.

’These past few days, she’d been so wrapped up in her own emotional problems that she had neglected Joshua Lawson.’

’Joshua Lawson was only a six-year-old child. He had his shortcomings in behavior and speech, but as his mother, instead of being patient and teaching him, she had ignored him.’

’If she had paid more attention to him, taken better care of him, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten sick.’

The hand Noelle Sutton was using to support herself against the wall suddenly clenched into a fist.

Tristan Lawson walked over, put an arm around her shoulders, and said in a comforting voice, "Don’t worry. He’ll be okay."

Noelle Sutton closed her eyes in anguish.

’She hadn’t asked Tristan Lawson, hadn’t gotten a clear picture of the whole situation, and had just started to deny everything simply because she thought she only had six months to live.’

’No, she had to make things clear with Tristan Lawson.’

’If she only had half a year left, she couldn’t afford to have any regrets.’

She raised her hands, just about to start signing, when Tristan Lawson’s phone rang.

He pulled out his phone. It was a call from Tessa Lawson.

"Noelle, I need to take this."

"Tristan, you need to come get me, quick. My car broke down on the airport expressway."

In the middle of the night, he was the only one Tessa Lawson could call.

"Didn’t you go abroad? Why are you back so soon?"

Tessa Lawson was fuming. "You have the nerve to ask me? I had just gotten to Grandpa’s when he told me Sophie Hughes had already taken Joshua to the airport. I had a meal with Grandpa, we chatted a bit, and then I headed right back."

"Hang on, I’m on my way."

Tristan Lawson hung up and turned to Noelle Sutton. "My sister’s car broke down. You wait here for Joshua, I’m going to go get her."

Noelle Sutton had wanted to ask Tristan Lawson about him and Sophie Hughes, but she knew Tessa Lawson’s temper. If she wanted Tristan to pick her up, it had to be him.

It was already three in the morning; Tristan Lawson was really the only one who could go get her.

’It wasn’t that urgent anyway. Joshua is in the hospital, so Tristan Lawson would be coming back.’

Noelle Sutton nodded.

Tristan Lawson cupped the back of Noelle Sutton’s neck and kissed her forehead.

"Don’t be scared. It’s a minor surgery, he’ll be fine. I’ll be back soon."

With that, Tristan Lawson walked away quickly.

The warmth of his lips still lingered on Noelle Sutton’s forehead, her heart a mess of emotions.

She could no longer trust her own feelings.

In less than an hour, the doors to the operating room opened.

A doctor and nurse came out, wheeling Joshua Lawson.

Seeing Joshua Lawson’s eyes were closed, Noelle Sutton quickly took out her phone and typed a line of text. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Didn’t you say it was just a minor surgery? Why is he still unconscious?"

The doctor chuckled. "He’s not unconscious, he’s just asleep. He’s fine, the surgery was a success. Don’t worry. He might wake up tomorrow morning in a little pain after the anesthesia wears off. Just be sure to comfort him then."

Noelle Sutton breathed a sigh of relief and followed the doctor and nurse to the hospital room.

After they got Joshua Lawson settled, they left.

Noelle Sutton sat by the head of the bed and reached out to stroke the side of Joshua Lawson’s face.

’He looked so much like Tristan Lawson, as if he were carved from the same mold.’

’Every time she looked at Joshua Lawson, she would think of Tristan Lawson.’

’The father and son were the dearest people to her in the world. She loved Joshua Lawson so, so much.’

’That was why it had been so unavoidably heartbreaking to see how much Joshua Lawson liked Sophie Hughes.’

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. There was a knock on the door.

Noelle Sutton thought Tristan Lawson had returned and turned her head.

The door opened. It was Sophie Hughes.

A tense look flashed in Noelle Sutton’s eyes.