Chapter 68: Chapter 68: This Marriage Must End!

"Don’t leave me hanging like this. It’s torture..."

His thin, cool lips brushed against her neck.

Noelle Sutton shuddered, her hands pressing hard against his chest, trying to push him away.

In Tristan Lawson’s eyes, her resistance was just playing hard to get.

He grabbed her wrists and pinned both of her hands above her head.

Making her submit and stop struggling wasn’t difficult for him.

He had his ways.

Tristan Lawson’s features were gentle, but he couldn’t hide the dominance that was etched into his very bones.

Noelle Sutton saw a dark, swirling undercurrent in his eyes.

She shook her head frantically. This time, after they had returned to the room, he had locked the door from the inside.

If he wanted to do something...

...she wouldn’t be able to escape.

She was so frantic she was on the verge of tears.

The corners of her eyes were moist, pink, and red—a truly pitiable sight.

Tristan Lawson had been holding back for a long time and didn’t feel much like restraining himself any longer.

But he didn’t have a penchant for bullying women. On the contrary, he valued quality and would naturally give her enough tenderness to soothe her fear.

Just then, Sophie Hughes tried to open the door with her key card, only to find it was locked from the inside.

She frowned and immediately rang the doorbell.

DING-DONG—DING-DONG—DING-DONG—

The doorbell rang continuously.

The insistent ringing forced Tristan Lawson to let go of Noelle Sutton.

He frowned, his impeccably handsome face cold and stern, and slowly straightened his clothes before heading out.

Noelle Sutton slowly sat up and pulled at her clothes, which Tristan Lawson had disheveled. ’He’s always ignored my wishes.’

Tristan Lawson went out and opened the door.

It was Sophie Hughes.

A layer of cold frost seemed to settle on Tristan Lawson’s flawlessly handsome face.

"What is it?"

The man’s voice was tinged with coldness.

Seeing that he wasn’t in a good mood, Sophie Hughes bit her lip and said apologetically, "Did I... interrupt you? I’m sorry, my suitcase is in your room."

In the morning, when they were heading to the exhibition, Tristan Lawson had gone to get the car, so she had brought the luggage up and deliberately placed her suitcase in his bedroom.

Tristan Lawson’s gaze fell on Sophie Hughes’s suitcase. His cold, aloof expression softened slightly as he went over, pulled the suitcase out, and pushed it toward her.

’He isn’t even trying to ask me to stay...’

A wave of sadness washed over Sophie Hughes.

Tristan Lawson’s clothes were neat, but there were some wrinkles that hadn’t smoothed out yet. His thick black hair, usually combed meticulously, now had a few stray, messy strands.

’So, he was with Noelle Sutton?’

’They were...’

The flames of jealousy burned hotter and hotter in Sophie Hughes’s heart.

She gripped the suitcase handle, her knuckles turning white. Her red lips parted as she spoke in a slightly sorrowful tone, "Tristan, I think... I’ll just head back to the country today. Could you please check out of my room for me when you leave?"

Tristan Lawson raised a slight eyebrow. "Why the sudden departure?"

Sophie Hughes maintained an elegant smile. "You saw Director Ford’s attitude. The person she’s waiting for is Noelle. She all but said it at lunch. I came back for this opportunity, and since the outcome is already decided, I’ll only be embarrassing myself if I stay."

Tristan Lawson’s pupils darkened. His voice was firm and devoid of warmth. "She won’t be taking any job. Director Ford’s final disciple can only be you."

Inside the room, Noelle Sutton heard every single word Tristan Lawson and Sophie Hughes said.

’It can only be Sophie Hughes...’

A bitter arc formed on Noelle Sutton’s lips.

’And Tristan Lawson had asked her if she wanted to work?’

’He never had any intention of letting her work.’

’He didn’t approve seven years ago, and seven years later, nothing has changed.’

’To him, she was just disposable.’

’He’d coax her a little when the mood struck.’

’Most of the time, he just left her hanging.’

’He would move heaven and earth for Sophie Hughes’s future, while she was expected to play the dutiful wife and accompany him as he paved the way for Sophie’s career.’

’She wouldn’t be deluded any longer. This marriage had to end.’

’He would probably never know that her heart was made of flesh and blood, that it could hurt.’

"Tristan, it doesn’t seem right. I think what Director Ford said makes a lot of sense. Noelle needs to achieve something to prove herself more than I do. If she succeeds in her career, her muteness will be a bonus, not a flaw. Everyone will think she had to work so much harder to succeed. Are you sure you won’t let her work?"

"It’s not that I won’t allow it; she doesn’t want to work herself. Besides, she doesn’t really need to do anything. Isn’t the title of Mrs. Lawson bonus enough?"

Tristan Lawson’s voice was deep and sexy, so pleasant to the ear, but every word he spoke was a dagger to the heart.

’This must be what it means to kill with words,’ Noelle Sutton thought.

’Tristan Lawson was an expert at it.’

From the other side, Sophie Hughes’s voice drifted over again.

"Tristan, you have a point. Marrying you was a meteoric success for her. With you doting on her, she doesn’t need to toil away at a career."

Tristan Lawson detected the bitterness in Sophie Hughes’s words. Remembering their past, his voice softened considerably as he comforted her softly, "Don’t overthink it. Get some rest. We’ll head back to Glenwater together later."

Sophie Hughes said goodbye to Tristan Lawson, pulling her suitcase behind her.

After she left, Tristan Lawson returned to the bedroom. Noelle Sutton was curled up on the sofa, her arms wrapped around her legs, the corners of her eyes still red.

Tristan Lawson walked over and crouched in front of her, his voice low and raspy. "I had my secretary book a flight for tonight. Joshua has been home alone for too long, and I’m worried. We should try to get back today."

With that, he swept her up into his arms, placed her on the bed, and tucked her under the covers.

He stood by the bed, unhurriedly taking off his jacket and suit, then lifted the covers to get in.

Noelle Sutton immediately sat up and shrank into the corner of the bed.

Tristan Lawson stared at her terrified expression, his eyes as dark as ink, his crimson lips pressed into a thin line.

Then, he forcibly dragged her over and pinned her in his arms.

"Go to sleep!"

His voice was stern.

He was exhausted.

After being interrupted twice, he had lost the mood to touch her.

He hadn’t been resting well lately.

He just wanted her to sleep with him for a while. They still had a flight to Glenwater to catch later.

Trapped in his arms, Noelle Sutton couldn’t move.

She didn’t want to be so disheveled in front of him any longer.

Fortunately, he didn’t do anything more, only holding her tightly.

Tristan Lawson must have been truly exhausted. Within a few minutes, his breathing became even and soft. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

He must be asleep.

His warm breath washed over Noelle Sutton’s skin.

Noelle Sutton looked at the man beside her, who was so captivatingly elegant even in sleep that he could charm the world.

She was no longer infatuated. And she would not be returning to Glenwater with him and Sophie Hughes.

She waited until he was in a deeper sleep before gently removing his hand.

After much difficulty, she managed to grab her bag and get to the bedroom door without waking him.

But just then, of all the inconvenient times, her phone rang.

The sudden ringtone was impossible to muffle.

On the bed, Tristan Lawson’s eyes opened...

Tristan Lawson propped his chin on one hand, his dark eyes fixed on her as he asked in a low voice, "Where are you going?"