Chapter 82: Chapter 82: The Flamboyant Peacock

Tristan Lawson’s handsome face darkened. "What’s so messed up about my business with her?"

"Seven years ago, you were ready to marry her and bring her into this family. Isn’t that messed up enough?"

This was the only thing the Lawson Patriarch had ever been dissatisfied with Tristan Lawson about in his entire life.

It was simply unacceptable.

Tristan Lawson’s thin lips tightened. Old Master Lawson knew that bringing this up would cause friction between them again, so his aged voice grew more earnest. "I don’t mean to blame you. After all, she saved your life, and she almost lost the ability to speak afterward. She suffered a great deal. You felt guilty and wanted to give her a future—I have no objection to that. But she is, after all, nominally your mother’s..."

Before the word "sister" could leave his lips, Old Master Lawson suddenly paused.

After the affair between Tristan Lawson and Sophie Hughes had thrown both families into turmoil, he had, in the blink of an eye, brought home that mute, Noelle Sutton, and announced he was going to marry her.

At the time, doctors had all but concluded that Sophie Hughes would never speak again.

’Could it be...’

Instantly, Old Master Lawson’s expression grew even darker.

For all these years, Old Master Lawson had never considered this possibility. He had assumed that Tristan, angry that both families opposed his relationship with Sophie Hughes, was acting out of spite—intentionally finding a mute woman to marry just to disgust them.

But now, it seemed things might not be so simple.

’His feelings for Sophie Hughes... is he still unable to let her go?’

’No. Something like this absolutely cannot be allowed to happen in the Lawson Family.’

Old Master Lawson changed the subject. "I heard you’ve been busy arranging her future, trying to get Director Ford to take her on as his final disciple. That’s a good idea, and I support you. Repaying a debt of gratitude doesn’t mean you have to marry her, especially now that you have a wife and son. The Lawson Family won’t treat her unfairly, that’s for sure. But as for anything else... Grandfather asks that you reconsider carefully."

The gloom on Tristan Lawson’s face lessened slightly. He said indifferently, "You’re worrying too much."

For a moment, Old Master Lawson didn’t quite grasp what Tristan Lawson meant.

Was he worrying too much about him and Sophie Hughes, or about him and Noelle Sutton?

Tristan Lawson picked up the handcrafted Jianzhan teacup before him and, with an elegant posture, drank the tea inside in three small sips.

Setting the cup down, he lifted his gaze to glance at Old Master Lawson. "If you’re so worried, then stay out of my business with Noelle Sutton."

With that, Tristan Lawson rose and stalked out.

Even after he had gone, his powerful presence seemed to linger in the study.

Old Master Lawson took a sip of tea, his gaze murky and unreadable.

’This eldest grandson of mine is becoming more and more capable. I’ve been shrewd my whole life, yet in the end, I can’t figure out my own grandson.’

Tristan Lawson left the old Lawson residence, got into his car, and irritably lit a cigarette.

He pulled out his phone, checking for missed calls and messages.

There was nothing.

He took a deeper drag from his cigarette.

’Tomorrow, Noelle Sutton will definitely come back.’

’In seven years of marriage, I’ve never seen her with anyone else. It’s only ever been me and Joshua.’

’As for Wyatt Yates... after the stunt the old man pulled on the Yates Group, her personality is such that she wouldn’t dare contact him again.’

’I have nothing to clarify, either. Let her think I was the one who did it.’

’She’ll learn that my authority as her husband is not to be challenged. She’ll naturally submit and come back obediently.’

’I’ve dominated the business world for years, conquering one opponent after another.’

’She’s just one woman. I refuse to believe I can’t conquer her.’

Noelle Sutton spotted a second-hand luxury goods store and went inside.

She still had two valuable items on her.

A pearl necklace Tristan Lawson had given her on her birthday, and a brooch he had forced her to wear, which was still pinned to her clothes.

She took them off, handed them to the shop owner, and typed a line of text on her phone.

"I want to sell these. Please give me an estimate."

The owner of a second-hand luxury store was, naturally, very knowledgeable about such items.

The brooch, of course, was listed at several million per piece. He had seen online that a single man had bought up the entire collection.

As for the pearl necklace, it wasn’t just any pearl necklace. It was an antique—Eastern pearls from a previous dynasty, each one perfectly round and full with an alluring luster.

"I’ll take both for sixty million. How about it?"

Noelle Sutton was taken aback. She knew a single brooch was priced at several million, and Tristan Lawson had bought all twenty-three that were released. Anyone in the know would realize that as long as Tristan Lawson didn’t release them, this brooch would only increase in value.

However, when selling to a second-hand shop, they wouldn’t consider such factors. This meant that the bulk of the money was for the pearl necklace.

’Anything from Tristan Lawson wouldn’t be cheap.’

Noelle Sutton hadn’t expected the necklace to be so expensive. If a resale shop was offering tens of millions, then its actual value must be even higher.

Noelle Sutton knew she would be taking a loss by selling at this price.

But she resolutely typed a single word on her phone: "Sell!"

Before she and Tristan Lawson got their marriage certificate, he had given her a prenuptial agreement to sign. At the time, he gave her a very reasonable explanation: as the group’s CEO, his personal assets were tied to his authority in the company. Life was unpredictable, and if something were to happen to their marriage in the future, the division of marital assets could trigger a series of crises.

His family situation was unique, so it was best that his financial structure remained unchanged.

Of course, he had also promised her that since they were getting married, he would not divorce her.

Back then, the fact that Tristan Lawson was willing to marry her was earth-shattering news. She hadn’t cared about assets or anything of the sort.

She wanted him, not his property.

Looking back now, it was just a joke she had played on herself.

That final promise was undoubtedly an empty check.

His real intention was to ensure she had no claim to his assets.

And just as expected, the moment he kicked her out of the house, he took back the money he had given her.

So why should she cling to these two pieces of jewelry? Even if it meant selling them at a lower price, turning them into cash was the most practical thing to do.

The shop owner offered to write Noelle Sutton a check.

She was penniless and needed cash. In the end, she negotiated with the owner to have half deposited into her bank account and the other half given as a check.

Coming out of the second-hand luxury store, Noelle Sutton suddenly felt a great weight lift from her shoulders.

On the weekend, Joshua Lawson had his hobby classes and had pestered Sophie Hughes early in the morning to take him there.

Tristan Lawson had Secretary Shaw deliver a number of the latest-season suits and proceeded to try them on right in the living room.

He even called Mrs. Miller over for her opinion on which suit looked the best.

’Having the other woman in the house really changes things,’ Mrs. Miller thought. ’Now the master even pays attention to his clothes at home.’

’Never before had she seen him trying on clothes in front of others like a peacock showing off its tail.’

Mrs. Miller casually pointed to one.

Tristan Lawson then asked for Secretary Shaw’s opinion. Secretary Shaw nodded. His boss looked lean in clothes but was muscular underneath, and his face was devastatingly handsome.

No matter which suit he put on, it was merely an accessory to him.

It really didn’t matter which one he chose.

Tristan Lawson settled on the smoke-gray suit that both Mrs. Miller and Secretary Shaw had agreed upon, and then sat in the living room for the entire morning.

Around noon, Sophie Hughes called to say she was taking the young master out to play and they would be back late.

Tristan Lawson didn’t move. Mrs. Miller was shocked; he had never stayed at home for so long.

It wasn’t until night fell that Tristan Lawson’s expression began to turn as dark and cold as the night outside.