Chapter 70: Chapter 70: She Won’t Eat This Sweet Date

Tristan Lawson’s thin, chiseled lips tightened into a firm line.

He didn’t answer Joshua Lawson for a long moment.

"Dad, are you still there?"

Tristan Lawson said sternly, "Copy the poem ’Wandering Song’ a hundred times. I’ll check it when I get home tonight. Not a single one less!"

"Dad!"

Tristan Lawson decisively hung up the phone.

Ever since Joshua Lawson was born, Noelle Sutton had personally cared for him with meticulous, unwavering attention.

When he was sick, she stayed by his bedside.

When it was cold, she rushed to add another layer of clothing.

When he was hungry, she served him gourmet meals.

And yet, Joshua Lawson showed not a single shred of gratitude for his mother!

’If Noelle Sutton knew, how heartbroken would she be?’

Tristan Lawson suddenly felt he had been a bit too harsh with Noelle Sutton just now.

He went back to the room.

Noelle Sutton was sitting on the floor.

He strode over, reached out to pull her up, his elegant voice much gentler now. "Women are delicate. The floor is cold, and sitting on it for too long can make you sick. Why don’t you know how to take care of yourself?"

The man’s eyes were as deep as whirlpools.

His sexy, pleasant voice left Noelle Sutton feeling both flattered and alarmed.

Before, the concern in his voice would have made her heart flutter for a long time.

’Now, looking back, it’s utterly laughable!’

’One slap, one sweet date.’

’He really knows how to play me.’

’Too bad, I’m not eating his sweet dates anymore.’

Noelle Sutton shook off his hand.

She didn’t want to just sit there waiting to die.

She had to leave him.

’Didn’t he want Sophie Hughes to become Director Ford’s final disciple?’

’Fine then.’

Noelle Sutton signed to him, "Tristan Lawson, I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to work with my mentor."

Her mentor’s intention was already very clear.

He was waiting for her.

If she went, there would be no place for Sophie Hughes.

’For Sophie Hughes’s sake, Tristan Lawson will surely refuse to let me go work.’

’My physical condition makes it impossible for me to actually work with Director Ford.’

’So I’ll use this as leverage to negotiate a divorce with Tristan Lawson.’

Tristan Lawson recalled what Director Ford and Sophie Hughes had said.

Noelle Sutton couldn’t speak.

She would be ridiculed.

She needed a chance to prove herself.

He had thought that the status of being Mrs. Lawson was enough.

The status of Mrs. Lawson was certainly respected outside, but within the Lawson Family, it probably wasn’t enough.

Joshua Lawson’s earlier attitude made him even more certain that Noelle Sutton truly needed a chance to prove herself.

Otherwise, the people of the Lawson Family would never accept her.

It was time to let them see Noelle Sutton’s capabilities.

"Fine. Go to work, then."

In truth, when he found out that the manga-style ’A Renaissance Cityscape Painting’ was her work, he had been astounded.

After coming back, asking her if she was willing to work was his way of compromising and supporting her.

She was finally willing to accept an olive branch.

Naturally, he wouldn’t continue to be stubborn with her.

Noelle Sutton’s eyelashes trembled as she stared at Tristan Lawson in a daze.

Tristan Lawson pulled her into his arms, rubbing his sharply defined jaw against the top of her head.

His palm rested on her back, stroking it gently.

"We’ve been married for seven years, and there are no major conflicts between us. Don’t talk about divorce all the time. Don’t you want our family of three to be happy and harmonious?"

Tristan Lawson’s voice, coming from above her head, was melodious and alluring.

’That had always been my wish, too.’

’But I can no longer afford it, nor do I want it anymore.’

His embrace was the warmth and breadth she had once depended on so much.

He didn’t smoke. His body carried the elegant, pure scent of cedarwood, a scent she had once been so addicted to and infatuated with.

Still, she decisively pulled away from his embrace.

’Who knows if he’ll change his mind in the next second.’

Just like the time he invited her to dine at Myre River Pavilion. Before she had even seen the invitation, he had already sent a notice of cancellation.

And not long ago, the trip to Crestfall was the same.

He had pretended to ask for her ID number, saying he was booking plane tickets for a family vacation.

In reality, it was to go to Crestfall to see Sophie Hughes.

’If he had genuinely wanted to take me, he has our marriage certificate. The ID number is printed so clearly on it, could he really not have seen it?’

Such empty promises and false affection might have fooled the old her.

But the her of today would no longer be so foolishly obsessed.

’He’s just trying to placate me so I won’t divorce him.’

Noelle Sutton raised her hands. "If I go work with my mentor, what about Sophie Hughes? What will she do?"

’Would he really just let it go?’

"Why are you worrying about her? In short, if you want to work, I support you, hmm?"

His gaze softened, as gentle as rippling water.

Noble, aloof, and devastatingly handsome, he was naturally blessed with the capital to make anyone swoon with just a hint of gentleness.

But Noelle Sutton was clear-headed now.

She wouldn’t be bewitched again.

She just didn’t know if he truly didn’t care whether Sophie Hughes became the mentor’s final disciple, or if he was just playing mind games with her.

’Knowing I want to use this matter to negotiate a divorce, is he deliberately acting like he doesn’t care?’

Noelle Sutton felt this was highly likely.

Tristan Lawson had another identity: a businessman.

Cunning, calculating, and strategic planning were all his strong suits.

Many who had navigated the business world for years were no match for him, let alone Noelle Sutton.

She didn’t argue with him about it any further.

’Divorcing him smoothly won’t be so easy. I’d better wait and see how things develop.’

’If he’s still dead set on making Sophie Hughes Director Ford’s final disciple, he’s bound to get anxious soon.’

Noelle Sutton stopped making a fuss.

Tristan Lawson’s agitated mood finally calmed down.

He had his secretary book a flight for after dinner.

Tristan Lawson ordered dinner and had it sent to the room.

After the meal, he called Sophie Hughes to tell her they would be leaving together.

But Sophie Hughes’s phone was turned off.

Tristan Lawson saw an unread text message on his phone. He opened it. It was from Sophie Hughes.

[Tristan, I’ve gone back to Glenwater ahead of you.]

Tristan Lawson put his phone away and said to Noelle Sutton, "Give me your room key. I’ll get the luggage from your room. You go downstairs and wait for me at the front desk."

Noelle Sutton took the key card from her bag and gave it to Tristan Lawson.

It was inconvenient for her to speak, so he could do as he pleased.

This way, she could also save the energy it would take to sign strenuously.

Thinking of sign language, Sophie Hughes’s words from lunch echoed in her ears.

Sophie Hughes could understand sign language because an accident had damaged her vocal cords.

It happened seven years ago.

Half a year later, Sophie Hughes started learning sign language.

That was also when Tristan Lawson wanted to learn sign language.

’What a coincidence.’

’Some people are favored in ways she could only ever envy.’

Tristan Lawson came down with Noelle Sutton’s luggage, and a car sent by the branch office took them to the airport.

Once they were in first class, Noelle Sutton closed her eyes as soon as she sat down.

Tristan Lawson asked a flight attendant for a blanket and draped it over her.

Noelle Sutton could feel the gentleness in Tristan Lawson’s movements.

He had many good qualities. His gentlemanly conduct alone was something few could match.

She wouldn’t mistake these small gestures for him actually caring about her.

’It’s just something he would do for anyone out of habit.’

Two hours later, they arrived back at Westhill Villa.

The moment Noelle Sutton walked through the door, she heard Joshua Lawson reciting "Wandering Song."

"The thread in the hands of a loving mother, is the coat on the back of a traveling son... Who says that the heart of an inch-high grass, can repay the sunshine of the brightest spring?"

A tremor went through Noelle Sutton’s heart.

The next second, a familiar female voice pierced her eardrums.