Chapter 64: Chapter 64: It’s Director Ford! Noelle Sutton Wants to Escape

"We just got to the restaurant. Is now a good time for you?"

Director Ford was very eager to see Noelle, so she said at once, "Yes, it is. Send me the address."

"Sending it to you right away."

Director Ford hung up.

’This is fantastic.’

The last time she had sent Noelle three or four long messages, Noelle had only replied with three words: "I’m sorry, Mentor."

So she didn’t say anything more.

But she still hoped for a chance to speak with Noelle in person.

They’d been married for seven years, and their son was already six.

Noelle had married Tristan Lawson, and with his financial resources, she didn’t necessarily have to be a stay-at-home wife.

When she visited Westhill Villa last time, she had seen for herself that the entire villa had servants inside and out.

Tristan Lawson didn’t even know about Noelle’s past career.

On one hand, Noelle herself didn’t want to return to work.

On the other hand, Tristan Lawson also felt it was unnecessary for Noelle to work.

Therefore, Director Ford felt there was still room for negotiation.

With both husband and wife present, it was the perfect opportunity.

In the past, Director Ford might have tried to persuade Noelle by talking about her career and making money.

But now that Noelle was the wife of a tycoon, career and money were no longer as important to her.

But she could appeal to Noelle’s passion and sentiment.

Noelle had mentioned before that her maternal grandmother was her first teacher.

Before her grandmother passed away, she had hoped Noelle would carry on the tradition of paper-cutting.

Director Ford thought that perhaps this angle could be the key to convincing Noelle.

Director Ford had spent the past few years searching far and wide, both at home and abroad, but she still hadn’t found anyone who could instantly design something that dazzled her.

An animation producer with as much talent and creative spark as Noelle would be nearly impossible to find.

She desperately needed Noelle.

The domestic animation industry had so much room for growth, and it desperately needed elite talent who could blend Eastern aesthetics with international appeal.

She couldn’t let Noelle slip away.

Director Ford was thrilled the entire way there.

Because Director Ford was coming—and because it was tied to whether she would accept Sophie Hughes as her final protégé—Tristan Lawson’s attitude toward Noelle softened considerably.

A server brought tea and menus to the table.

Noelle sat next to Tristan. He draped an arm over the back of her chair and, holding the menu in his other hand, leaned closer to her before flipping it open.

"See anything you want?"

His voice was magnetic and gentle.

The posture made it seem like he was cradling Noelle in his arms.

’Sophie sometimes felt a little dazed. She couldn’t tell if Tristan truly cared about Noelle or not.’

’If you said he cared, he didn’t seem to take matters concerning Noelle to heart.’

’But if you said he didn’t care, he would treat her as incredibly important in many small ways.’

’Take this moment, for instance.’

’The familiar intimacy between the couple felt like a natural expression, built up over many years.’

’She and Tristan had grown up together, and Tristan never got physically close to any woman.’

’And that included her.’

’They had a great relationship, but in terms of his behavior, he always maintained a safe distance. The only exception was when she was in trouble or danger; then, he would hold her.’

’In that regard, she was intensely jealous of Noelle.’

’Whether Tristan was cold or warm toward Noelle, he never shied away from physical intimacy with her.’

’The thought of that night, when Noelle’s lips had been bleeding, made her heart ache with frustration.’

Noelle knew that if she didn’t order anything, Tristan would get upset again.

’The sooner I get through this dinner with them, the sooner it’ll be over. I don’t want to spend a second longer with them than I have to.’

Noelle casually ordered two dishes.

Tristan took the menu back and ordered several more.

Noelle frowned.

’She didn’t believe in being wasteful.’

’When she prepared meals at home, she might make a variety of dishes, but she always made them in smaller portions.’

’That way, there wouldn’t be too many leftovers.’

’Her grandmother used to say that wastefulness was a way of squandering one’s blessings.’

’The greater the blessings, the greater the fortune.’

’Someone like Tristan, who had accumulated so much wealth, must be a person of great blessings.’

’As his wife, she never took part in his work, but at home, she did her best to manage everything perfectly.’

’She treated every servant at the villa with kindness.’

’She respected his elders.’

’She cared for his family.’

’And she was never wasteful with any expense.’

’In the past, she definitely would have told Tristan that they should order less, since there were only three of them.’

’But now, she couldn’t be bothered to care anymore.’

After Tristan finished ordering, he instructed the server to bring Sophie a glass of hot milk, specifying the brand, and a freshly squeezed orange juice for Noelle.

Sophie smiled faintly. "Tristan, you ordered freshly squeezed orange juice just for Noelle. You must know her preferences. Now that’s more like it. A man should be considerate of his wife."

Noelle kept her eyes lowered.

’It was obvious Sophie was trying to tell her that Tristan also remembered Sophie’s preferences.’

’A glass of hot milk, and he even had to specify the brand.’

’How considerate was that?’

As she spoke, Sophie turned to look at Noelle.

"Noelle, last time Tristan borrowed my phone to call you, I sent you a friend request afterward. You still haven’t accepted it. Have you not checked your phone?"

The moment Sophie said that, Tristan reached for Noelle’s purse and pulled out her phone.

’That night, Noelle had called him for help and had unblocked his number.’

’But she hadn’t unblocked him on WeChat yet.’

’He was going to unblock himself on her WeChat now.’

Noelle grabbed for the phone, trying to take it back.

’She and Tristan were still married, and even so, she had no desire to add Sophie as a friend.’

’And since she was planning to divorce him, adding Sophie was completely out of the question.’

’She wouldn’t let Tristan add Sophie without her permission.’

But Tristan didn’t let go.

Their hands were both clamped on the phone, locked in a stalemate.

Tristan raised his eyes and stared at Noelle. "What, you have something to hide on your phone that you can’t let me see?"

Noelle pressed her lips together and released her hand.

’Fine, let him add her.’

’I’ll just delete her after he’s done.’

Noelle’s phone didn’t have a passcode.

Tristan opened WeChat and removed himself from her block list.

Sophie piped up, "Tristan, while you’re in there, check her friend requests and accept mine for me."

Tristan opened the friend notifications. There was Sophie’s request.

It had been read, but Noelle hadn’t accepted it.

A barely perceptible smirk touched Tristan’s lips.

He didn’t force the friend request through. Instead, he went back to the main screen.

Just as he returned to the main screen, a new message arrived on Noelle’s WeChat.

It was from Wyatt Yates.

The message preview popped up on the screen.

"Noelle, I found the divorce lawyer you asked for. I’ll send you his contact info in a bit."

The smirk on Tristan’s lips froze.

’She’s serious?’

’Hiring a lawyer, even?’

’She’s certainly gotten bold.’

’Getting ready to sue her own husband!’

Tristan gripped the phone tighter, his knuckles turning white.

Suddenly, a gentle, melodious female voice sounded from behind him.

"CEO Lawson."

Noelle froze on the spot.

’Director Ford’s familiar voice... how could I not recognize it?’

’I don’t dare turn my head.’

’I even want to run away!’