Chapter 7: Let’s See How Far She’ll Go Editor: Henyee Translations

The thought of the past filled Tristan Lawson with guilt. He felt he had terribly wronged Sophie Hughes. If something really happened to Noelle Sutton and it reached the old man’s ears, it would be bad for her.

Tristan Lawson pressed his cigarette into the ashtray. "You stay here with Joshua. I’m going out to look for her."

Tristan Lawson grabbed his suit jacket and left. He said he was going to find her, but he had no idea where Noelle Sutton could have gone.

After driving off, he pulled over to the side of the road and dialed Noelle Sutton’s number. He called three times, but Noelle Sutton didn’t answer.

Tristan Lawson’s eyes darkened. He started the car again and drove to a nearby mall.

That afternoon, Noelle Sutton had gone to visit her grandmother’s grave and found it overgrown with small saplings and weeds.

She had gone to buy some tools to clean it up before finally heading home. It was only when she heard the phone ring that she realized she had forgotten to take it with her when she left.

By the time she found her phone, the call had ended.

It was from Tristan Lawson. He had called three times in a row.

There were also two missed calls from Mrs. Miller from earlier in the day. But there were none from Joshua Lawson.

Her young son wasn’t inseparable from her, after all.

A bitter smile touched her lips. She put her phone away, unwilling to dwell on it.

It was two hours later when Tristan Lawson returned home.

Joshua Lawson was asleep, but Sophie Hughes was still waiting for him in the living room. Seeing him return, she immediately went to greet him.

Tristan Lawson’s expression was grim.

Sophie Hughes frowned. "Still no word from Noelle?"

Tristan Lawson’s thin, handsome lips were set in a tight line. He grunted softly in affirmation.

"Tristan, we should call the police."

Tristan Lawson didn’t want to blow the situation out of proportion. He and Noelle Sutton had a secret marriage, and for now, he had no intention of letting outsiders know.

Besides, he had once promised Sophie Hughes that if he were to marry, he would not publicly reveal his wife’s identity.

"Don’t worry about her. You should get some rest."

"But..."

Sophie Hughes wanted to say more.

Tristan Lawson cut her off. "She’s not a child. Her phone is on, so she’ll be fine."

"Alright, then."

Only after Sophie Hughes had gone to her room did Tristan Lawson enter the master bedroom. His gaze unconsciously fell upon the enlarged marriage registration photo on the wall.

That little mute really knew how to stir things up. He had refused to take wedding photos, casually suggesting she just enlarge their registration photo instead. And she actually did it.

After the wedding, he hadn’t planned on sleeping with her, but she’d seized an opportunity to climb into his bed and had gotten pregnant with a son in one fell swoop.

All these years, she’d always been good-tempered and had never caused him any trouble.

But in the end, he had truly underestimated her. She was quiet until she wasn’t, and when she decided to cause a scene, it was a big one.

He was curious to see just how far she would take this.

Noelle Sutton arrived in Crestfall a day before Tristan Lawson and his son.

After a night’s rest, she went out to explore.

She spent most of the day out, and by a little after three in the afternoon, she was feeling drained and headed back to her hotel.

Just as she reached the hotel entrance, she was shocked to see Tristan Lawson and his son.

They really came to Crestfall.

Noelle Sutton took a few steps back, hiding behind a large potted plant near the hotel entrance.

Tristan Lawson got the room key and led Joshua Lawson by the hand toward the elevators.

"Dad, I called Sophie this morning, and she said she’s staying at this hotel. She’ll be so surprised to know we came all this way just for her, won’t she?"

"Of course."

Noelle Sutton’s hands tightened into fists.

Tristan Lawson had, for the first time, asked for her ID number to book a flight. She had thought it was for a family trip, just the three of them. But it turned out it was all a surprise for Sophie Hughes. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Good thing she hadn’t gotten her hopes up. Over the years, she had learned one lesson all too well.

The higher the hope, the greater the disappointment.

Joshua Lawson’s voice, brimming with joy, drifted over again. "Sophie came to see a comic convention. I made a whole book of paper-cut anime illustrations just for her. I wonder if she’ll like it?"

A lump formed in Noelle Sutton’s throat. She watched as the father and son walked into the elevator.

She was the one who had taught Joshua Lawson how to make paper-cut anime illustrations.

Almost all children love cartoons. Since she couldn’t speak, she worried Joshua would get bored when she looked after him. After they watched a cartoon, she would do crafts with him, cutting out his favorite anime characters, making up little stories, and pasting them into a scrapbook.

Joshua had even praised how beautiful her cutouts were and started learning from her. The two of them, mother and son, had completed many paper-cut illustration books together.

Joshua had once said that when he could finally complete one all by himself, the very first book of illustrations would be a gift for his mom.

She never imagined that Joshua was already capable of finishing an entire book of paper-cut illustrations on his own.

Noelle Sutton’s face was pale as she walked into the elevator, her expression blank. Back in her room, a dull ache started in her abdomen, and she felt incredibly drowsy.

She poured a glass of water, took some medicine, and lay down to rest. Her sleep was fitful, and she was eventually jolted awake by a nightmare.

She had dreamed of the great fire from seven years ago...

Noelle Sutton furrowed her brow and took out her phone. It was already 7:30 PM.

There was an old town near the hotel.

The town was built along the shore of a lake, and every night at eight o’clock sharp, there was a half-hour fireworks show by the water.

It was similar to the Myre River in Glenwater, where there were also fireworks every night. If you had dinner at the Myre River Pavilion, the view from the top floor was the best.

She had always wanted to see the fireworks. The Myre River Pavilion was only a half-hour drive from Westhill Villa, but in seven whole years, Tristan Lawson had never once gone with her.

Back then, probably because she was married, she always wanted to go with the person she loved. Since Tristan Lawson wouldn’t go, she felt there was no point in going alone.

So, the idea of seeing the fireworks show was shelved.

She was dying soon, anyway. She had to fulfill at least one of her own wishes.

She got up, washed her face, threw on a jacket, and went out.

By the lake, the crowd was bustling with people.

Many couples were walking hand in hand, their actions intimate. Some were kissing. As a result, many vendors were weaving through the crowd, pitching roses to any couple they saw.

Crestfall was like spring all year round. Almost all the roses in the country came from here, boasting the widest variety of types and a dazzling array of colors.

Noelle Sutton’s love life had never been graced by roses. It was more of a one-woman show, directed and performed by her alone.

She pulled her gaze away from the roses.

The fireworks show was about to begin.

BOOM—

The first firework shot into the air.

It lit up the twilight sky, its dazzling, colorful light reflecting on the shimmering surface of the lake.

Immediately after, twin lotuses bloomed one after another in the sky, prompting many people to take out their phones and start recording.

It really was beautiful. To watch it while holding hands with the one you love must be a completely different experience. No wonder so many couples loved watching fireworks.

After watching for ten or so minutes, Noelle Sutton suddenly lost interest.

A grand feast of fireworks like this... it wasn’t meant for her.

The night breeze blew past, carrying a slight chill.

Just as Noelle Sutton turned around, another firework soared into the sky, illuminating the surroundings. In that faint light, her eyes met Tristan Lawson’s deep gaze.

Tristan Lawson’s suit jacket was draped over Sophie Hughes’s shoulders. Sophie was holding Joshua Lawson, a blissful smile on her face.

It seemed Tristan Lawson had seen her too, as he took a step in her direction.

The light from the firework faded...