Chapter 72: Chapter 72: I’m Going to Make It Public, What More Does She Want?

Noelle Sutton’s serene face turned pale, and her gaze seemed to freeze in place.

Tristan Lawson’s tenderness washed over her like moonlight, threatening to drown her.

A profound fear stirred within her.

She was afraid of falling for him all over again.

Beneath the silk duvet, her hand clenched into a fist. The sharp sting of her nails digging into her palm helped clear her mind.

She pressed her lips together and turned her delicate face away.

’I don’t want to accept any of his pity.’

For once, Tristan Lawson was patient. His deep, sensual voice murmured, "You don’t want me to feed you like this?"

She didn’t quite understand what he meant.

Even if it hurt, she wouldn’t drink the ginger tea he was trying to give her.

She just wanted to sever ties with him as soon as possible.

When she remained silent, the man’s long, slender fingers reached out and gently tilted her chin up.

He lifted the porcelain bowl and took a mouthful of the ginger tea. Then, he brought his handsome face close, covering her lips with his. He pinched her jaw, forcing her mouth open.

The warm ginger tea flooded into Noelle’s mouth.

She pushed at him in a panic, her face contorting in shock.

Tristan Lawson refused to let go.

Not until she had swallowed every last drop of the tea in her mouth.

She broke into a fit of coughing.

Was it the spiciness of the ginger tea irritating her throat, or was it...

Her almond-shaped eyes grew misty as she stared, teary-eyed, at the heart-stoppingly handsome face before her.

Tristan Lawson’s mood seemed to improve considerably. Her pure, shy, and pitiable appearance thoroughly pleased him. With a rough fingertip, he gently wiped the lingering traces of tea from the corner of her mouth.

"If you wanted it this way, you should’ve just said so."

As soon as the words left his lips, he took another mouthful of tea and kissed her again.

It caught Noelle completely off guard. Before she could close her lips, he had already passed the tea into her mouth.

It was sweet yet spicy, a spiciness wrapped in sweetness.

Just like the happiness and bitterness Tristan Lawson had given her over the past seven years.

She didn’t dare to imagine what would have happened if he had been this tender in the past. Would she have drowned in his affection?

The warm tea spread through her stomach, a sensation like the man’s own searing body heat. A current of warmth enveloped her, rushing to her head and plunging her mind into chaos.

Tristan Lawson spoke in a low, soft voice, "Finish it, be good. Joshua wants to go to the amusement park tomorrow, the three of us together. It’ll be hard on you if your cramps are still bothering you."

If not for everything that had happened between them, this would have been a picture of perfect bliss.

But Noelle knew it was all just a fleeting illusion, a soap bubble dream.

Just as her mind began to clear, the man delivered the next mouthful of tea.

His every action was both domineering and gentle.

He had always been the one in control of their relationship. She had no way to refuse him, much less the strength to push him away.

In a daze, she let him feed her the entire bowl of brown sugar ginger tea in this intensely intimate way.

Tristan Lawson set the porcelain bowl aside, lifted the covers, and climbed into bed.

He scooped Noelle into his arms, her back pressed firmly against his chest.

Under the covers, she was enveloped in his scent.

It was a scent unique to him, alluring and addictive.

His well-defined hand lifted her silk nightgown and rested on her cold lower abdomen.

The warmth from the tea in her stomach and the heat from his palm on her skin mingled, one from within and one from without. They combined into an even greater heat, easing the pain of her period cramps.

Battling cancer, with her family in shambles... even though she tried her best to hide it all, deep down, she was fragile.

Just as when you’re sick, you always want someone by your side.

Regardless of how coldly Tristan Lawson had treated her in the past, at this moment, she couldn’t deny feeling a genuine sense of comfort.

"Noelle."

Tristan Lawson whispered her name by her ear, his hot breath intoxicating.

"Go to sleep."

His palm moved in gentle circles over her lower abdomen.

Her heart felt heavy, and it trembled.

This unintentional tenderness from him was so alluring.

She drifted off to sleep in a daze.

「The next day.」

When Noelle Sutton opened her eyes, Tristan Lawson was no longer in bed.

The faint sounds of someone getting ready came from the bathroom.

She threw back the covers and got out of bed, realizing the pain from her period was gone.

Tristan Lawson emerged from the bathroom.

He was dressed impeccably in a suit, his hair neatly combed and his face clean-shaven. He looked refreshed and devastatingly handsome.

"Why aren’t you sleeping in?"

Noelle looked at the wall clock. It was almost nine.

It wasn’t early anymore.

Just as she stood up, Tristan Lawson strode over and swept her up into his arms.

In the instant she was lifted off the ground, her heart felt like it would shatter.

His dark eyes were deep and unreadable. "Save your strength. I’ll carry you to the bathroom."

Tristan Lawson set her down in front of the vanity. He picked up her light blue electric toothbrush, applied toothpaste, and handed it to her.

’If I’m not careful, my heart won’t be able to withstand this gentle affection.’

Noelle took the toothbrush. As she brushed her teeth, the man leaned against the wall nearby, his eyes narrowed and his tone mellow. "I’ve canceled my upcoming trips. I’ll be home on time every day. And as for you working with Director Ford, I’ll arrange it."

Noelle finished rinsing her mouth, put down her toothbrush, and gestured to Tristan Lawson. "Can I handle things with my mentor myself?"

Given her condition, she didn’t want to get her mentor’s hopes up only to have them dashed.

’I only said that because I wanted to use this as leverage to negotiate our divorce.’

’But he’s not even trying to make Sophie Hughes his mentor’s final disciple anymore.’

’He’s so unpredictable.’

’If he talks to my mentor, it will only create more problems for me later on.’

Tristan Lawson gazed at her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. You know Director Ford better. Just let me know once you’ve worked things out. I’ll find a way to get the job located here in Glenwater."

’He’s compromising like this just to keep the family stable.’

’There’s no way he’d let me work out of town and disrupt the family’s harmony.’

Noelle didn’t respond. ’I’ll just wait a little longer.’

’He cares so much about Sophie Hughes. I don’t believe for a second he’ll ignore her career.’

After getting dressed, Noelle came out of the bathroom. Tristan Lawson called her to have breakfast with him.

Surprisingly, she didn’t see Joshua Lawson or Sophie Hughes.

Noelle didn’t bother asking where they were.

After breakfast, Tristan Lawson retrieved a sun hat from the bedroom that matched Noelle’s outfit and placed it on her head.

"Joshua has been antsy to get to the amusement park all morning. Since you weren’t feeling well last night, I didn’t let him wake you. The driver took him ahead. We should get going now, too."

’Is he really taking me with him?’

A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes.

’It’s too late for all this.’

But Tristan Lawson simply took her hand and led her outside.

When they reached the car, he thoughtfully held the door open for her.

Noelle’s heart was in turmoil.

She didn’t dare let her heart be swayed again. She was afraid that if she did, her death would be that much more painful.

She raised her hand, gesturing, "I don’t feel well. I don’t want to go."

Her stomach no longer hurt, but being on her period was still uncomfortable in general.

Tristan Lawson’s eyes narrowed.

’She was so docile last night. I thought she’d stopped fighting me.’

’Besides, taking her to the amusement park was supposed to make up for not attending that parent-child event with her.’

’My intention to publicly acknowledge her is so obvious. What more does she want?’