Chapter 5: The Fire from Seven Years Ago Editor: Henyee Translations

"Sophie? It’s you!"

Sophie Hughes turned to look at Joshua.

Joshua instantly forgot he was looking for his mother and happily walked over to Sophie.

Sophie frowned, her voice full of grievance. "Joshua, last night at dinner, you said your school lunches weren’t good. I wanted to make you lunch to take to school, but... I think I messed it up."

Just as she finished speaking, the smell of something burning wafted over, and the pot on the stove burst into flames. Terrified, Sophie immediately dropped to the floor and curled into a ball.

Joshua hugged Sophie worriedly and shouted, "Dad, the kitchen’s on fire! Dad!"

Joshua even patted Sophie’s back gently, comforting her. "Don’t be scared, Sophie."

Hearing the commotion, Tristan Lawson hurried over. He quickly turned off the gas stove and slapped a lid on the pot, and the fire was soon extinguished.

Sophie was still trembling. A layer of worry colored Tristan Lawson’s handsome features. He slowly knelt and called out softly, "Sophie."

Sophie Hughes lifted her eyelids, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Tristan, am I just too useless?"

Tristan Lawson remembered the huge fire from seven years ago. Ever since then, Sophie Hughes had been terrified at the sight of fire.

"It’s not your fault. Just don’t come into the kitchen anymore." Tristan Lawson’s gaze darkened as he stared at Joshua. "Sophie was in a fire before. She’s terrified of it. You are not to let her cook for you, understand?"

Sophie Hughes explained, "Tristan, it has nothing to do with Joshua. He didn’t ask me to cook for him."

Joshua looked at Sophie with heartfelt sympathy. "Sophie, you’re so scared of fire, but you still tried to cook for me yourself."

"I... I was just worried you weren’t eating well at school."

Moved to tears, Joshua hugged Sophie and said in a trembling voice, "Sophie, you’re too good to me. I’m begging you, please never go into the kitchen again..."

Tristan Lawson helped Sophie Hughes to her feet. Her legs gave way, and she was a bit unsteady.

So Tristan Lawson simply swept her up into his arms.

"Joshua, go get your backpack. We’re eating out."

Mrs. Miller was sweeping the yard when she saw Tristan Lawson come out carrying Sophie Hughes. Her expression soured instantly.

Just yesterday, Sophie Hughes said she was Mr. Lawson’s aunt. How can she have no sense of propriety at all?’

How inappropriate! If the madam knew, how heartbroken she would be.

"Mrs. Miller, come open the car door."

Mrs. Miller walked over reluctantly and opened the car door.

Tristan Lawson gave her a cool glance. "The madam isn’t home. Why didn’t you take the initiative to cook breakfast this morning?"

Just as Mrs. Miller was about to explain, Sophie Hughes said, "Tristan, you don’t like the ground covered in fallen leaves. I was the one who asked Mrs. Miller to come out and sweep."

Tristan Lawson withdrew his gaze and looked deeply at Sophie Hughes. He truly didn’t like the ground covered in fallen leaves. It was the season his mother had left.

After Joshua got in the car, Tristan Lawson drove away.

Mrs. Miller watched the car disappear resentfully, sighing in resignation. She took out her phone and sent another text to Noelle Sutton: Madam, when are you coming back?

When Noelle Sutton woke up that morning, the first thing she did was go to the kitchen to cook. She was in the middle of stir-frying vegetables when she saw Mrs. Miller’s message and suddenly came to her senses.

She wasn’t at Westhill Villa. And she didn’t need to prepare breakfast and lunch for Joshua.

Years of habit are truly terrifying.

Noelle Sutton quickly turned off the stove and dumped the half-cooked vegetables from the wok into the trash.

She hadn’t originally been a very good cook.

When she was twelve, her grandmother passed away. She supported herself by taking on small jobs using the paper-cutting art her grandmother had taught her. Her meals were usually very simple, just enough to fill her stomach.

Later, when she went to college and lived on campus, she usually ate in the school cafeteria.

Tristan Lawson was a man at the apex of society, with extremely high standards for food, clothing, and lifestyle.

To be a good wife to him, Noelle Sutton learned everything. After Joshua was born, she wanted to be able to take better care of her son.

During her pregnancy, she mastered the art of cooking. She also applied her visual aesthetic to home decor, making their home exquisite and warm, keeping it spotless and immaculate every day.

Even so, Tristan Lawson rarely seemed to want to come home.

Joshua, on the other hand, often praised her cooking. He loved the meals she made most and wasn’t used to eating out.

She had thought that without her, Joshua wouldn’t be able to eat properly. Yet, she hadn’t prepared his breakfast or lunch for two days in a row, and he hadn’t contacted her once.

It seems she had overestimated her importance in Joshua’s heart.

Just then, she received a video call on her phone.

It was from Christopher Grant.

Noelle Sutton suddenly remembered something important: Christopher Grant hadn’t asked her for money in nearly half a year.

Christopher Grant was mute, but he had formed a team of other mute individuals who shared his passion for creating animation.

When they were on the verge of disbanding due to financial problems, Noelle Sutton had funded them. She wanted to help others continue their dreams, to achieve the dream she herself couldn’t complete.

She answered the video call and asked Christopher Grant in sign language if he needed funding.

Christopher Grant quickly waved his hands, signing, "No, no, no, we have enough funds. A friend told me today that they saw you at the hospital the day before yesterday. Are you feeling unwell? We wanted to come and see you."

The day before yesterday was when she went to get her physical exam report.

Noelle Sutton knew they were busy with post-production on their film and didn’t want to distract them. She smiled and signed back, "I’m fine, it was just a routine check-up. Don’t worry about me. When you’re done with your work, I’ll treat you all to a meal."

They chatted for a little while longer before ending the call.

Putting her phone away, Noelle Sutton thought about her cancer. She had toiled for her family for seven years without a single day of rest.

When she married Tristan Lawson, there was no wedding, no wedding ring, and certainly no honeymoon. Even when he sometimes took Joshua to an amusement park or on a trip, she was expected to stay away.

No matter how coldly he treated her, she always faced it with a smile. Even when she saw him fill pages with another woman’s name, she could pretend she didn’t know.

Seven years ago, when he had strode towards her, step by step, and said he wanted to marry her, she thought he had recognized her.

It wasn’t until later that she realized he hadn’t.

But by then, she no longer cared. I’m his wife now, she had thought. I believe that one day, he’ll see the good in me.

And yet...

Noelle Sutton closed her eyes, a bitter smile gracing her lips.

It doesn’t matter. From now on, she can do whatever she wants. She can be herself. Go wherever she wants, all by herself...

Noelle Sutton was browsing travel guides online when a news alert suddenly popped up on her phone.

[Animation Master Ms. Faith Ford’s National Tour, First Stop—Crestfall Stadium.]

Noelle Sutton clicked on it. The exhibition will start in three days. Without a second thought, she bought a ticket online. Then, she booked a flight to Crestfall for the next day.

Since she was making a rare trip back to her hometown, she decided to visit her grandmother’s grave today. She went out to buy offerings for the grave.

After messaging Noelle Sutton, Mrs. Miller waited, but there was no reply. She then tried calling her several times, but Noelle Sutton didn’t answer.

A whole day had passed. Genuinely worried, Mrs. Miller decided to call Tristan Lawson.

When Tristan Lawson saw the call from Mrs. Miller, a faint glimmer appeared in his dark eyes.

Noelle must be back.

He slowly answered the call.